Interior designer Ali Faulkner isn’t afraid to say what a lot of designers are thinking when it comes to running her studio AEF Interiors: You don’t have to be the star of every project. And honestly? Your work might turn out better if you’re not.
On Episode 99 of the podcast, Ali gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how she approaches projects with what she calls a “collaborative backbone.” That means less “my vision, my way” and more trust, transparency, and clear communication with the people around the table, contractors, architects, and yes, even clients.
“I really love what can happen when you let each expert be the expert,” she told us. “When we stop pretending we have to know everything and instead bring the right people into the room, the work gets smarter and the process feels better.”
From Solo Genius to Shared Goals
Ali’s philosophy is simple but not always easy: strong design outcomes start with aligned teams. As AEF Interiors has grown, Ali focused on putting the right people in the right roles, and that team believes in treating outside trades and collaborators like true partners, instead of hurdles to be managed.
“I think of myself as a guide,” she said. “Not the hero. My role is to help connect the dots between all the voices in the room and make sure the client’s vision is realized in a beautiful and functional way.”
It’s a perspective that requires humility and a lot of prep work. From their Newport Beach, CA, studio, Ali’s team invests time in onboarding collaborators, setting expectations early, and using visuals and documentation to cut down on the guesswork.
The Cure for Control Freak Fatigue
If you’ve ever found yourself drowning in micromanagement because you didn’t trust anyone else to “do it right,” Ali gets it. Been there. But she’s also clear about the cost: resentment, burnout, and inconsistent project results.
“When designers try to control every detail without collaboration, they often end up isolated, and their work can start to reflect that,” she said.
Instead, Ali focuses on building systems that create clarity without bottlenecks. That includes detailed FF&E specs, construction notes, and internal debriefs after major milestones. “The more aligned we are internally, the better we communicate externally.”
Clients Feel It, Too
This isn’t just about back-of-house ops. Clients can tell when the team is cohesive, and when it’s not. Ali shared that some of her best project outcomes happened when she clicked with the builder from the jump, creating a unified front for the client to trust.
“Your client will always pick up on weird energy,” Ali warned. “When your relationships with collaborators are strong, your client feels like they’re in good hands with the whole team.”
Want more from Ali? Listen to the full episode for stories about managing construction chaos, how to build better relationships with trades, and why letting go of ego might be the most powerful design move you can make.
