What is the 6 Step Vetting Process?
Step One: Application
Every pro starts with a detailed application through our website. This gives us a first look at their business, their services, and what makes them unique. We only consider applicants who are serious about building long-term partnerships with designers.
Step 2: Application Review + Business Deep Dive
Our team takes the time to really understand each applicant’s business. We look at how they operate, how organized their systems are, and whether their business is set up for growth. This ensures that the pros you work with aren’t just talented, but also dependable and structured.
We look for pros who not only offer expert level services but also offer specialty skillsets. We want pros who not only are experts but also offer different skillsets and different investment levels.
Step 3: Referral + Client Reviews
Evert single pro that applies to the platform has to provide past client referrals. It is a crucial part of our vetting process. We reach out to past clients and collaborators to hear firsthand about their professionalism, communication style, and overall experience. These behind-the-scenes conversations confirm that each pro is as trustworthy and reliable as they claim to be.
Step 4: Portfolio Review
Our creative board carefully reviews every portfolio to evaluate quality, creativity, and execution. We look for consistency and attention to detail—so when you browse the directory, you know you’re seeing only top-level work.
This step is reserved for creative categories such as Rendering Artists, VDA’s, Web designers etc.
Step 5: A meeting with the founder
Every pro has a one-on-one conversation with our founder, Ronniesha. This step ensures that they not only have the skills, but also the mindset and values that align with successful design collaborations. It’s our way of making sure they’re a fit for the designer community we’re building. It’s not enough to be an expert level pro, you must also be a good human and have business acumen. If a pro makes it past step 6 they are accepted onto the platform.
Step 6: On-going vetting
Our process doesn’t stop once a pro is accepted. We continually monitor quality and professionalism to ensure that standards are upheld over time. This way, you can trust that the directory stays current with only the best and most reliable partners. We hold 6-month review with our pros to ensure they are still providing top level quality of services.
For Designers:
Q: Is there a cost for designers to use the directory?
A: No—browsing and connecting with pros through Vetted by Design is completely free for designers. You’ll work out terms, pricing, and scope directly with the pro you choose.
Q: What is Vetted by Design?
A: Vetted by Design is a curated directory of trusted, thoroughly vetted service providers that interior designers can confidently outsource to. Every pro has been hand-selected through our multi-step vetting process to ensure quality, reliability, and professionalism.
Q: How do I use the platform?
A: Simply browse by category and connect directly with the pro that best fits your project needs. We’ve limited our directory to just 10 pros per category, so you won’t be overwhelmed with endless options—only the best of the best.
Q: How do I know the pros are trustworthy?
A: Each pro goes through a six-step vetting process, including a business deep dive, referral checks, portfolio review, and a personal interview with our founder. Plus, our vetting is ongoing, so quality standards stay high.
For Pro’s
Q: Do pros ever get declined from the platform?
A: Yes, we hold a very high standard for every pro listed on Vetted by Design. There have been rare instances where we permanently disqualified a pro from the platform due to a serious misalignment with our values or standards. However, in 99.9% of cases, if an applicant is not accepted, we provide thoughtful feedback and encourage them to reapply in six months. Our goal is to support growth while ensuring the platform remains a trusted resource for designers.
Q: Who can apply to be listed on Vetted by Design?
A: We welcome service providers who specialize in supporting interior designers—whether that’s rendering, bookkeeping, social media management, procurement, drafting, or other design-adjacent services.
Q: What’s the vetting process like?
A: Our six-step process includes an application, business deep dive, referral checks, portfolio review, an interview with our founder, and ongoing quality reviews. We only accept pros who meet our high standards and align with our values.
Q: How selective is Vetted by Design?
A: Very selective! Each category is capped at 10 pros to keep the directory curated and manageable. We focus on quality over quantity to make sure designers feel confident choosing from the platform.
Q: Is there a cost to join?
A: Yes, there is a membership fee to be listed as a vetted pro. The fee helps us maintain the platform, market the directory, and ensure ongoing quality control. (Exact pricing details are available during the vetted process.)
Q: If I’m accepted, how will designers find me?
A: Designers will be able to browse by category and view your profile, services, and portfolio. They can connect with you directly, making it easy for the right clients to discover and hire you.
Q: What happens if my business changes or grows?
A: That’s great! We encourage innovation and growth among our pros. We’ll periodically check in to make sure your profile is up to date and that you’re still aligned with our standards as your business evolves.
While we take great care in thoroughly vetting every professional listed on Vetted by Design, we cannot guarantee that every experience will be perfect. Each business in the directory is independently owned and operated, and we are not responsible for their outcomes or services. What we can promise is that we do our absolute best to review, vet, and uphold the highest standards—so you’re connecting with the best of the best available to support your design business.
