Google Just Changed. Here's What It Means for Your Interior Design Studio.

This week, Google released its May 2026 core update and while most interior designers probably scrolled right past that news, it's worth paying attention to.

Because something bigger than a routine update is happening. Google has officially moved to an AI-first search experience. And the rules around how your studio gets found online have quietly, significantly shifted.

This isn't theory. It's already live.

What actually changed

For the last decade or so, SEO - search engine optimisation - was the strategy. You'd build a website, use the right keywords, get some backlinks, and work your way up the Google rankings. It was a system, and it worked.

But the way people search has changed. ChatGPT is now how millions of people find answers. Google itself has built AI overviews directly into search results, surfacing responses rather than just links. The front door to the internet looks different now - and it's getting more different by the month.

The term starting to replace SEO in these conversations is AIO: AI search optimisation. Same basic idea, very different execution.

Where traditional SEO rewarded keyword-stuffed pages and backlink counts, AI-powered search rewards something else entirely: credibility, community, and content that genuinely answers questions.

What AI search actually looks for

When an AI tool - whether that's Google's AI overview, ChatGPT, Claude or anything else - generates a response to a search query, it isn't just pulling from your website. It's drawing on a much wider picture of what exists about you and around you online.

It looks for articles and written content that reference your work. It values third-party mentions - features in publications, forum discussions, community conversations. It pays attention to websites that answer real questions clearly and directly, not just websites that look beautiful.

For interior designers, this is a meaningful shift. A stunning portfolio site with minimal written content and no external presence was never a great SEO strategy, but it's an even weaker AIO strategy. The way your studio shows up online now needs to extend beyond your own website.

What this practically means for a small interior design studio

None of this needs to feel overwhelming. It's a shift in direction, not a complete rebuild.

A few things are worth thinking about:

Your website needs to answer questions, not just describe services. AI tools are looking for content that speaks to real search queries - the things your potential clients are actually typing. "How do I find an interior designer in [city]", "what does a full interior design service include", "how long does an interior design project take." If your website doesn't address those questions anywhere, it's harder for AI to surface you as a relevant result.

Being talked about elsewhere matters more than it used to. Getting featured in a design publication, being mentioned in a relevant blog post, showing up in community spaces where designers or homeowners are discussing your kind of work - all of this signals credibility to AI search tools. It's no longer just about what you say about yourself.

Community is now part of your marketing strategy. This doesn't mean you need to be everywhere or build a massive following. It means having a presence in the right places - consistent content, genuine engagement, and a digital footprint that gives AI tools something to find and reference.

Your website copy needs to actually say things. Vague, aesthetic-first copy ("we create beautiful spaces that tell your story") is fine for the feel of a page, but AI needs substance alongside it. Clear descriptions of what you do, who you work with, how you work, and what results clients can expect.

The practical next step

If you want to start moving in the right direction, one useful exercise is to open ChatGPT or Google's AI search and type in a query your ideal client might use - something like "interior designers in [your area]" or "how to hire an interior designer for a full house renovation."

See what comes up. See who comes up. Notice what kind of content and sources are being referenced.

That's your benchmark. That's the kind of presence that's now worth building toward.

The designers who understand this shift now - and start making small, consistent moves in this direction - are going to be in a much stronger position than those who are still optimising for a version of Google that no longer really exists.

A note on not panicking

This is not a reason to throw out everything you've been doing and start over. Good content, a clear website, consistent posting - all of that still matters. The foundations haven't changed.

What has changed is the wider picture. Your online presence now needs to extend beyond your own platforms. Community, credibility, and content that answers real questions are the things that AI search rewards.

The good news is that for interior designers who are already building something genuine - sharing real work, writing honestly about the process, showing up consistently - the shift to AIO plays to your strengths.

It just requires being a bit more intentional about it.

Studio Sidekick supports interior designers with the behind-the-scenes side of running a studio - including content, AIO/SEO strategy, and making sure your online presence is working as hard as you are. If this is something you'd like support with, get in touch.