Beyond the Mood Board: How Vendor Diversity and Partnership Building Elevate Design Projects

We talk a lot about the soul of a space—what gives it weight, meaning, dimension. But often, that richness begins not with the furnishings themselves, but with the people behind them. Design is a conversation. Between past and present, craft and culture, vision and execution. And one of the most powerful ways to make that conversation deeper and more compelling? Diversify who’s in the room with you. In an industry long reliant on legacy suppliers and familiar trade routes, opening the door to new makers, overlooked artisans, and global partners isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a creative imperative. Here’s how building more intentional, diverse vendor relationships can transform not only your projects, but your practice.

1. Design That Tells a Bigger Story

When you source from a wider network—across cultures, continents, and communities—you unlock new narratives. A hand-carved stool from a third-generation Kenyan workshop brings more than aesthetic appeal; it brings heritage. A woven pendant by a collective of Indigenous artisans from Oaxaca doesn’t just light a room—it illuminates a lineage.

Great design isn’t just what’s new.

It’s what’s layered, lived-in, and often unexpected. Working with diverse vendors means you can infuse spaces with texture and meaning that can’t be replicated by mass production.

2. More Unique Products = More Signature Projects

If you’re aiming to stand out in an industry where Pinterest boards often look eerily similar, your vendor list can be your greatest secret weapon. Diverse vendors often create in smaller batches, lean into handcraft, and break from Western design conventions. This means sourcing from them not only supports a more inclusive ecosystem—it gives your project that essential “where did you find that?” factor. The result? Spaces that feel editorial, not cookie-cutter.

3. Collaborative Relationships That Last

Think of your vendors as your extended creative team. When you build real partnerships—not just transactions—you create room for customizations, better service, and long-term trust.

Working with underrepresented or emerging makers often opens the door to collaborative possibilities you won’t find with big-box suppliers. They’re more likely to co-create, prototype, or adapt pieces to your needs—something that’s incredibly valuable when designing bespoke spaces.

And let’s be honest: those creative dialogues often spark your best work.

4. Aligning Design With Values (And Clients Love It Too)

We’re living in an age where clients want their homes—and their designers—to reflect their values. Whether it’s sustainability, equity, or cultural appreciation, your sourcing choices say something.

By supporting diverse and underrepresented makers, you’re making a statement: that good design is inclusive design.

Many clients will thank you for it. Some may even hire you because of it.

5. Resilience Through Variety

Beyond the creative benefits, vendor diversity also builds business resilience. Depending solely on a handful of big suppliers makes you more vulnerable to delays, shortages, and rigid lead times.

Diversifying your network means you can stay nimble. It gives you more sourcing flexibility when timelines are tight or budgets shift. And in today’s market, that kind of agility is gold.

Where to Start?

You don’t need to overhaul your whole process overnight. Start small. Add one new artisan-led vendor to your sourcing list each month. Ask your existing network who they’ve loved working with recently. Platforms like Maison Source are making this easier by curating diverse, trade-friendly brands and makers all in one place.

Here are a few sourcing questions to keep in mind:

Who made this, and where?
Does the vendor offer customization or storytelling around the product?
Are there ways I can support smaller or lesser-known makers in this project?

It’s not just sourcing—it’s storytelling through partnership.

The Takeaway

At its best, interior design is about transformation, not just of space, but of experience, perspective, and value. The more diverse your partnerships, the more layered and original your projects become.

So, go beyond the familiar catalogues. Seek out makers with stories to tell. Build relationships, not just pipelines. Because what you bring into a space reflects who you are as a designer—and who you choose to support is part of that identity.

Let your sourcing be as bold, intentional, and imaginative as your vision.