Behind the Scope

Most people run their business around deadlines, clients, and expectations. The toxic "hustle culture" rhetoric online tends to glorify consistent high productivity and being busy. Why are we leaving out the fact that half the population experiences a menstrual cycle is it left out of the productivity conversation?

Guest links:
Website: https://www.femergency.at
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femergency.at?igsh=MWhmdG5jemY0b25lZw%3D%3D

Photo credits:
© olivialaura.at

Behind the Scope hosts honest & transparent discussions about the creative industry, pricing creative work and all things business.

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Instagram
Threads
YouTube

We may have unintentionally triggered the AI vibe coders on Threads. We pointed out an obvious issue: many AI-generated websites look impressive at first, but fall apart once a real client needs to edit or maintain them. No proper content management, no flexibility, and no clear handover after launch. So we asked ourselves is this really the future or are we setting clients back decades while devaluing our industry further?

Some freelancers might know deep down that they should be charging more, but have they ever actually looked at their own numbers to confirm?

In this episode we talk about the psychology behind bad pricing decisions in the creative industry. Competition anxiety, fear of losing out on projects, and the discomfort of looking at your own financial reality. We explore why pricing stubbornness can be tied to identity and/or insecurity.

This week we’re joined by wedding stationery and branding designer Marina Brooks, who has spent years inside one of the most emotionally charged corners of the design industry. We talk about what really happens when design stops being a business decision and becomes identity, taste, pressure, and expectations all at once.

We also get into the stories. Unrealistic requests, disagreements between partners… and one project that sadly didn't end in a wedding. This episode is less about weddings and more about what happens when design becomes a deeply personal product.

Guest links:
Website: https://vonschoenstein.at
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vonschoenstein