The Creator Spotlight Podcast
Ep. 54: She built a 150K-member, $1M/year community ft. Grace Ling
Apr 15, 2025
This week, Grace Ling, founder of Design Buddies, shares her journey in building a massive online community of over 150,000 designers. She discusses the secret to maintaining a healthy, engaged community while generating $1 million annually. Grace highlights the untapped potential of LinkedIn for growth and explores innovative networking strategies using 'Riz.' The conversation also dives into monetization methods, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections in the creator economy. Tune in for insights on community dynamics and effective revenue diversification!
51:23
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Quick takeaways
- Grace Ling founded Design Buddies to combat gatekeeping in design communities, fostering inclusivity and collaboration among designers of all levels.
- The community's rapid growth during the pandemic was fueled by hosting engaging events and workshops that connected members and promoted skill development.
Deep dives
The Foundation of Design Buddies
Design Buddies was founded to create an inclusive community for individuals interested in various design fields, primarily UX design. The need arose from the founder's experiences with gatekept design communities, which fostered a culture of imposter syndrome among newcomers. The platform originated as a Discord server aimed at encouraging collaboration and networking among designers at different career stages, including graphic designers, product managers, and engineers. Over the past five years, it has evolved into a robust community of over 150,000 members, providing resources, educational content, and opportunities for practical experience.
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