The Story Behind IntoDesign

IntoDesign was born from a simple but powerful vision – to create a place where interior designers could learn, grow, and belong. Before IntoDesign, we (Jo and Darius Chrobak) spent almost a decade mentoring hundreds of interior designers and architects through our Interior Designer’s Business School (IDBS). It was a one-of-a-kind mentorship that helped aspiring designers turn their passion into thriving careers and gave them the confidence to step into the industry as professionals. But over time, we saw something deeper.

So many talented people were working hard, yet felt shut out of the industry — unable to join formal institutions, priced out of qualifications, or simply isolated in their journey. Many were practising legally as interior designers but didn’t have access to the professional guidance or community they needed. We built IDBS to bridge that gap, and it worked.

More than 500 designers from around the world launched their careers through our mentorship. But when each 90-day round ended, the same question kept returning: “Where do I go now?” That’s when we realised it was time for something bigger, lasting, and open to everyone.

I (Jo) have spent over twenty years in the industry as an architect, interior designer, and mentor — working across everything from masterplans and hotels to boutique homes and e-design projects. My career has been shaped by not fitting in: I didn’t come from wealth, I worked through university, and I built my career through persistence and self-belief.

When I started mentoring, I found hundreds of others who felt the same — creative, determined designers who didn’t follow the traditional path but had the passion and talent to succeed. IntoDesign was created for them –  and for you. I wanted to build a professional space where every designer could belong all the time, not just for a few months. A place where beginners and experts work alongside one another, sharing knowledge and inspiration — just like in a real design studio, but accessible from anywhere. So, we built IntoDesign.

IntoDesign is entirely independent and family-run. Every feature, course, and tool is imagined, designed, and built by us. Darius develops the platform, writes the code, and ensures everything runs smoothly – drawing from his years as a builder and project manager in London. I continue to design and mentor, bringing real-world experience into every course, masterclass, and template.

Together, we’ve built a platform shaped by both creativity and construction, designed for practical use in the real world – not just theory. When you join IntoDesign, you’re not joining a faceless website. You’re joining a small, passionate team that has poured a decade of teaching, testing, and lived experience into one connected space.

Our mission is simple: To make interior design education accessible, practical, and professional — so that anyone, anywhere, can build a design career they’re proud of. We believe in removing barriers, replacing exclusivity with openness, and sharing the kind of knowledge that helps designers succeed in the real world.

We envision a world where design education is collaborative, inclusive, and empowering — where every designer has access to the knowledge, community, and tools they need to thrive.

Here, every designer has a place. Whether you’re self-taught or formally trained, just starting or well established, your voice matters.

If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in the design world, you’re not alone. IntoDesign is for the designers who took a different path, who want to learn and grow without judgement, and who believe that great design comes from collaboration and curiosity, not credentials.

It’s where you’ll find the education, tools, and community you’ve been looking for – all in one place. Because IntoDesign isn’t just where you learn. It’s where you belong