It happens more often than design pros like to admit, a client falls in love with the process, decides they are a “designer,” and starts promoting themselves as one, sometimes using your finished project to launch a new “studio.” For those who have invested years in education, certifications, and experience, such a move can undermine credibility and create legal and business trouble. So, what should you do when a client starts acting like a designer?
Why is this happening more often?
Social platforms blur the line between inspiration and expertise. Clients are already involved in mood boards, finish selections, and approvals, which can make it easy to believe they have learned enough to go solo. The result can be clients using photos of your work as their portfolio or applying for trade accounts as professionals without training.
Real stories from the trade
Inside the Interior Design Community, designers shared what they are seeing in the field: uncredited work posted as a client’s own, studios sending contract reminders and threatening legal action to correct misattributed photos, clients hiring photographers without telling the designer, and even blocking the professional after reusing images. Several reported that it happens so frequently that they have stopped being shocked.
Protecting your work, contracts, and credit
The first step is protecting your intellectual property and your reputation. These are the strategies designers are using.
Tighten your contract
Spell out who owns the project photography, how photos can be shared, and whether images can be used for commercial purposes. Some firms require that the designer and photographer be tagged in all published images, and that photos are not used to market unrelated services.
Control the photography
Whenever possible, you or your photographer should manage the shoot. Retain copyright and provide licensed client access to images, so you control how photos are used.
Credit clauses that deter misuse
If you allow clients to share photos, require credit, such as tags, links, or mentions. It protects your reputation and reduces the chance of someone passing off your work as their own.
Enforce your rights when needed
If a client posts images without credit, request removal or proper attribution. In serious cases, legal letters can enforce copyright. Many designers find that a contract reminder resolves the issue quickly.
Navigating the emotions and mindset
Seeing your work repurposed by an unqualified client feels personal. Designers report anger, discouragement, and a sense of disrespect for their training and certification. A counter-view from the community is that unqualified clients rarely last without systems or craftsmanship, so the best response is to continue building your reputation and delivering exceptional work. One commenter put it bluntly: “If you’re scared about ‘competition’ with zero qualifications, that’s your problem. Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, it discredits actual designers. Is it worth wasting your time worrying about? Absolutely not.”
When to walk away
Sometimes, the most professional move is to end the relationship. If a client will not respect boundaries, ignores the contract, or undermines your work, continuing can do more harm than good. As one designer said, “Run.”
The bigger industry question
What does it mean to be a designer today, when anyone can hang a shingle online, sometimes without training, and call it a business? Designers worry that it devalues the profession. Communities that center on real trade conversations help designers share strategies and support one another when these situations arise.
Practical next steps
Use these steps to prevent issues and to respond confidently if they arise. Update your contracts with strict photo usage rules, manage the photography so you retain copyright, create a photo release policy that specifies tagging, educate clients on the value of professional design, and stand firm when boundaries are crossed.
Clients deciding they are designers is not just an annoyance, it is a business challenge. You cannot stop someone from opening an account and calling themselves a designer, but you can protect your portfolio, enforce your rights, and maintain your credibility. Your work has value.
Disclaimer
This article shares general business and client communication information for designers, it is not legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney about contracts, copyright, and photo licensing in your jurisdiction.
FAQ
Who owns project photos, the designer or the client?
Ownership depends on your contract and the photographer’s copyright. Spell out ownership, licensing, and commercial use in your agreement, and manage the shoot so you control image rights.
How do I prevent clients from reposting my work without credit?
Include a credit clause that requires tags or mentions when images are shared. If misuse happens, request attribution or removal, and follow with a contract reminder or a legal letter if needed.
What is a reasonable response when a client starts promoting themselves as a designer?
Stay professional, enforce your contract, and focus on reputation. Many unqualified attempts fizzle out without training and systems. If a client will not respect boundaries, consider ending the engagement. “Run.”