Designwal: The Social Platform for the Interior Design Community
Designwal is a dynamic membership platform tailored specifically for the interior design community. It serves as a hub where interior designers, manufacturers, retailers, and brands can connect and collaborate seamlessly. The platform provides a rich array of private features including a social feed, groups, and member-to-member chats, fostering a vibrant and interactive community.
Beyond private interactions, Designwal offers public-facing features designed to help members expand their businesses and showcase their expertise. These include engaging stories, insightful articles, feature projects, and job posts. Members can also access a wealth of content curated to inspire and inform, such as podcasts, podcast episodes, online courses, and a products marketplace.
Designwal combines the best elements of social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Craigslist, allowing members to create accounts, publish posts, and engage with a network of peers on a web-based platform, accessible 24/7. It is the go-to destination for the design community to collaborate, share ideas, and grow together.
The History of Designwal
Designwal originated from an "Ah, ha!" moment for its founder, Joseph Haecker, in 2010. At that time, Joseph was a custom lighting design consultant working with nearly three dozen custom lighting manufacturing companies, creating light fixtures for hotels, casinos, and high-end residential projects worldwide. His career began in 2003 as an in-house CAD drafter for a custom lighting manufacturer in Santa Ana, CA. Joseph quickly rose through the ranks, transforming a five-person 2D CAD department into a 21-person 3D product design and engineering team. He restructured the business model, transitioning from in-house manufacturing to in-house design and final assembly with outsourced manufacturing.
In 2010, while sitting in a design office in Las Vegas, NV, Joseph noticed screen grabs from Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds on the "design wall"—a literal wall displaying catalogs, spec sheets, and material samples for a hotel project. When Joseph asked about them, the designer explained they used Pinterest, Houzz, and Instagram for design inspiration. In that moment, Joseph realized the future of design collaboration lay in a social media platform.
Throughout 2011, Joseph sought feedback from colleagues in the design space, and by 2012, he decided to launch his new tech concept, CPAD (Computer Aided Personal Design Assistant). However, without experience in the tech industry, Joseph faced financial difficulties, eventually draining his savings and downsizing to a small apartment in Santa Ana, CA. He took a $9-an-hour phone sales job but was quickly let go. A few weeks later, he was rehired by the same company in a customer service role, earning $12 an hour.
Joseph discovered a thriving startup ecosystem in Orange County, attending events hosted by Tech Coast Angels, the Eureka Building, UC Irvine, The Cove, and others. In 2014, with a supportive community and access to networking opportunities, Joseph founded Dezignwall, a marketplace for discovering commercial and residential products. Dezignwall developed groundbreaking features such as digital business cards, digital catalogs, downloadable product spec sheets, and its unique take on "Stories." However, like many social platforms, Dezignwall struggled with monetization and ran out of startup capital by December 2017, leading to its closure.
Over the following years, Joseph continued to innovate in the tech and design communities. He hosted and produced podcasts, launched tech startups, founded small businesses, published books, and remained active in both the interior design and startup communities. Advances in tech made it easier to implement features that once required teams of engineers.
On a trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, Joseph rebuilt a new platform, Designwal, designed to meet the unique needs of interior designers. Designwal offers a space for designers to develop creatively, network, and gain inspiration while also growing their businesses by creating content, sourcing products, connecting with manufacturers, and pursuing collaborations.
Designwal is a membership-based platform ensuring a focused and productive community. It provides access to a professional design network similar to LinkedIn but tailored for interior design. Members can browse products in the Designwal Marketplace and share content on other social platforms. Future features will include a members-only area for articles on sustainability, local product sourcing, and business management tips, fostering a private, engaging community.
Joseph's journey has been long and challenging, but he remains committed to bringing this level of connection and collaboration to the interior design community. Designwal continues to evolve, adding features to enhance the member experience and provide additional value.
Why Designwal Matters
Designwal matters because it fills a critical gap in the interior design community, offering a dedicated space where designers, manufacturers, retailers, and brands can connect, collaborate, and grow. Unlike generic social media platforms, Designwal is tailored to the unique needs of the design industry, providing both private and public features that foster creativity, business development, and professional networking. With tools for sharing ideas, sourcing products, and showcasing expertise, Designwal empowers designers to enhance their skills, expand their businesses, and engage with a supportive community. In a world where collaboration and inspiration are key to success, Designwal stands out as the essential platform for the interior design industry.
A Personal Invitation from Joseph Haecker, Founder of Designwal
Hey there design peeps! Joseph Haecker here.​ I hope this message finds you well!
As the founder of Designwal, I wanted to take a moment to reach out personally and share a bit about why this platform means so much to me, and why I think it could be an incredible resource for you.
Let me ask you something—have you ever been to one of those unforgettable events where you find yourself surrounded by people who just get it? That feeling of being in a room full of fellow creatives, designers, retailers, and industry pros who share your passion and understand your challenges? That's what Designwal is all about.
For me, the journey to creating Designwal has been nothing short of an adventure. From hosting the "Unofficial HGTV Reunion" in High Point, North Carolina, to battling it out in a lip sync with Drew and Jonathan Scott, Property Brothers. I've been fortunate to meet so many incredible people along the way. Every podcast episode, every show home tour, every Market event, phone call, and panel discussion, has been an opportunity to build a network of friends and collaborators.
But let's keep it real—it hasn't always been easy. There have been moments where I've wondered if all the effort, the late nights, and the sacrifices were worth it. Yet, through it all, one theme has remained constant in all my ventures: "Community".
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I believe deeply in the power that community has to foster creativity, support growth, and ultimately, help each of us achieve our own individual and family dreams.
That's why I created Designwal—a place where interior designers, retailers, and industry professionals can come together to connect, collaborate, and thrive. Whether you're looking to showcase your latest projects, find inspiration for your next design, or discover new products and partnerships, Designwal is designed with you in mind.
So, consider this a personal invitation from me to you. Join us at Designwal and become part of a vibrant community dedicated to elevating the interior design industry. Let's share ideas, support each other's endeavors, and make meaningful connections that propel us forward.
I look forward to seeing you on Designwal!
Cheers!
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Joseph Haecker
Founder, Designwal
