Case study
PEAK: brand, portfolio website and growth strategy for an interior design studio
Interior design. Considered.
This case study is fictional and created for demonstration purposes. Figures in the results section are projected outcomes based on comparable campaigns.
- Client
- PEAK
- Industry
- Interior Designer
- Location
- Dorking, Surrey
- Services
- Brand identity and portfolio website
The brief
PEAK had serious work and nothing online to show for it. A designer with ten years of experience, a loyal client base built on referrals, and a website that was embarrassing to share. The brief was simple: build something that reflects the quality of the work. Then make sure the right people find it.
The work
What we built
Brand identity
A typographically led brand system built around restraint. Logo, colour palette, typography and guidelines designed to let the photography do the talking. Forest green, warm cream and a single orange accent.
Portfolio website
A considered, image-led website built around the portfolio. Fast, mobile-first, and designed to convert enquiries from clients who have seen the work and want to know how to start.
SEO foundation
Location and service pages built around how Surrey homeowners and developers search for interior designers. A content strategy designed to generate organic enquiries without ever feeling commercial.
Photography direction
A brief for future photography shoots, ensuring every new project is captured in a way that works for the website, social media and press coverage.
The growth strategy
Three pillars for a studio that lives on trust and search.
01 / Local SEO
Be found by clients who are ready to invest.
Interior design clients do not search casually. Phrases such as "interior designer Surrey", "interior design Guildford" and "kitchen designer Dorking" come from people who have already decided they want professional help and are comparing studios.
- Service pages targeting specific room types: kitchen design, living room design, bedroom and en-suite.
- Location pages for Dorking, Guildford, Reigate, Cobham and the wider Surrey market.
- Google Business Profile optimised with project photos, services and a review strategy.
- Schema markup for local business and creative services.
- Image SEO: all project photography optimised with descriptive file names and alt text. Google Images is a genuine traffic source for interior designers.
02 / Content and PR
Be seen in the right places.
Interior design clients are heavily influenced by editorial coverage. A feature in a local lifestyle magazine or a mention in a Surrey homes publication carries more weight than an ad.
We built a content strategy around:
- A quarterly project spotlight on the PEAK website, written for both readers and search engines.
- A press outreach list of Surrey and South East lifestyle publications.
- Instagram as a portfolio extension: consistent grid aesthetic, project reveals and process content.
03 / Referral and network
Your existing clients are your best marketing.
Most interior design work comes from referrals. We built a simple referral programme and a post-project email sequence designed to turn every completed project into a source of future work.
Post-project sequence:
- Thank-you email at handover with a request for a Google review.
- Three-month follow-up with a referral ask: if anyone you know is thinking about their home, we would love an introduction.
- Annual portfolio update email to the full past client list, showcasing new work.
Results
Up 280% in 6 months
Organic sessions
From 2 to 11
Enquiries per month
4 in first year
Referral jobs from email programme
Figures are projected outcomes based on comparable Makeproper campaigns. PEAK is a fictional client created for portfolio purposes.
When the work is better than the website
Creative professionals consistently undervalue their online presence. A designer with ten years of exceptional work and a poor website is invisible to the clients who would pay properly for that expertise.
We built PEAK a brand and website that matched the standard of the work. Then we built the SEO and content foundation to make sure the right people found it.
If your portfolio deserves better than your current website, that is the conversation to start.
Talk to us about your studioWebsite mockup
The live mock shows the fictional PEAK site: full-bleed photography, Playfair headlines and a quiet editorial layout built for interior design enquiries.
This mockup is best viewed on desktop.
Open full site →Key deliverables
- Logo design
- Brand identity
- Portfolio website
- Brand guidelines
Next project
Next project →Calloway Solicitors