https://simplecast.com The Design Pop I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop, a podcast for dealer designers! The world of the dealer designer is changing and now more than ever, this community plays an ever-increasing role in the success of projects. These designers possess a wealth of knowledge and passion for furniture and design, but it seems this group is often left unrecognized. As the industry evolves, there is a growing recognition of the value of this role, leading to more opportunities for empowerment. Join me as I share my experiences as a designer, trainer, and consultant to help this community build more influence and recognition - this is the first step in building a community of dealers designers that are focused on learning, improving their craft, and growing their careers. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production. Imagine a Place en Tue, 3 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Tue, 3 Mar 2026 14:00:13 +0000 https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com The Design Pop https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/153c1a70-8356-47f9-b12f-e132707d5ea1/9bb015dd-107c-400b-a0c3-db4276697f91/3000x3000/the-design-pop-podcast.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com episodic I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop, a podcast for dealer designers! The world of the dealer designer is changing and now more than ever, this community plays an ever-increasing role in the success of projects. These designers possess a wealth of knowledge and passion for furniture and design, but it seems this group is often left unrecognized. As the industry evolves, there is a growing recognition of the value of this role, leading to more opportunities for empowerment. Join me as I share my experiences as a designer, trainer, and consultant to help this community build more influence and recognition - this is the first step in building a community of dealers designers that are focused on learning, improving their craft, and growing their careers. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production. Imagine a Place Productions false https://feeds.simplecast.com/CHEvhtiu alexandra tseffos, architecture and design, cet, cet training, commercial design, commercial design software, commercial interior designer, contract furniture, contract furniture industry, dealer designer, dealer designers, design, design manager, design pop, design pop podcast, design software, design training, designer community, designers, designing offices, designing workplaces, furniture design, imagine a place, imagine a place productions, interior design, office culture, office design, the design pop, tseffos, tseffos podcast, workplace culture, workplace design Aaron Estabrook aestabrook@ofs.com 6d493754-a27b-4837-948e-46b494ca3bec Configura’s New CEO | A Conversation with Steven Jenkins Before Steven Jenkins officially steps into the role of CEO at Configura, Alexandra is taking time to introduce him to The Design POP community. She reconnects with Steven who she worked with years ago during her time as a Configura trainer. He was known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to truly hear what users needed.

In this conversation, Steven shares how he first joined Configura as one of the company’s early employees, what he learned after leaving to build leadership experience in larger global organizations, and what it’s been like returning as a board member before stepping into the CEO role. While Alexandra plans to talk about the future in a later conversation, this episode is a chance to get to know the person behind the title.

Configura's Experience 2026 will be in Cincinnati. Stay tuned for more details by following Configura.

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn

Learn more about Configura

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

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Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


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]]> Tue, 3 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos, Steven Jenkins) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/configuras-new-ceo-a-conversation-with-steven-jenkins-RoHh2pFo Before Steven Jenkins officially steps into the role of CEO at Configura, Alexandra is taking time to introduce him to The Design POP community. She reconnects with Steven who she worked with years ago during her time as a Configura trainer. He was known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to truly hear what users needed.

In this conversation, Steven shares how he first joined Configura as one of the company’s early employees, what he learned after leaving to build leadership experience in larger global organizations, and what it’s been like returning as a board member before stepping into the CEO role. While Alexandra plans to talk about the future in a later conversation, this episode is a chance to get to know the person behind the title.

Configura's Experience 2026 will be in Cincinnati. Stay tuned for more details by following Configura.

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn

Learn more about Configura

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

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]]> Configura’s New CEO | A Conversation with Steven Jenkins Alexandra Tseffos, Steven Jenkins 00:38:04 Before officially stepping into his new role as CEO at Configura, Steven Jenkins reconnects with Alexandra to share his full-circle journey from early employee to global technology leader and now back as CEO. Get to know the steady, practical mind behind the title before he begins shaping Configura’s next chapter. Before officially stepping into his new role as CEO at Configura, Steven Jenkins reconnects with Alexandra to share his full-circle journey from early employee to global technology leader and now back as CEO. Get to know the steady, practical mind behind the title before he begins shaping Configura’s next chapter. software product strategy, imagine a place, cet designer innovation, the design pop, future of design tools, steven jenkins, design workflow automation, commercial interiors technology, alexandra tseffos, cet software, commercial interiors industry, ai in design software, dealer designer training, digital transformation, technology leadership, innovation in manufacturing, configura experience event, configura, ofs false full 44 1ecd6905-38b4-405f-bda3-a7bcfa2bf566 Strategist by Day, Artist by Night | Designer Duality with Rebekah Jacobi of Pivot Interiors What happens when a commercial interior designer falls in love with Excel spreadsheets and watercolor painting?

In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Rebekah Jacobi, Design Director at Pivot Interiors in San Francisco, to explore what it means to be a whole creative human in the commercial interiors industry. From leading high-level workplace design strategy and tracking performance metrics to rediscovering watercolor painting and surface pattern design, Rebekah shares how embracing her duality has transformed the way she leads.

We talk about data, design time tracking, decision making, creative identity, and the courage it takes to evolve beyond your job title. If you’re a design leader, interior designer, or creative professional navigating the balance between business and artistry, this conversation will leave you rethinking what it really means to thrive in this industry.

Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is make space to create.

Join a Design POP Circle

Connect with Rebekah on LinkedIn

Check out Rebekah's art on Lavender Canyon Co

Learn more about Pivot Interiors

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


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]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos, Rebekah Jacobi) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/rebekah-jacobi-3fZZwiNd What happens when a commercial interior designer falls in love with Excel spreadsheets and watercolor painting?

In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Rebekah Jacobi, Design Director at Pivot Interiors in San Francisco, to explore what it means to be a whole creative human in the commercial interiors industry. From leading high-level workplace design strategy and tracking performance metrics to rediscovering watercolor painting and surface pattern design, Rebekah shares how embracing her duality has transformed the way she leads.

We talk about data, design time tracking, decision making, creative identity, and the courage it takes to evolve beyond your job title. If you’re a design leader, interior designer, or creative professional navigating the balance between business and artistry, this conversation will leave you rethinking what it really means to thrive in this industry.

Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is make space to create.

Join a Design POP Circle

Connect with Rebekah on LinkedIn

Check out Rebekah's art on Lavender Canyon Co

Learn more about Pivot Interiors

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


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]]> Strategist by Day, Artist by Night | Designer Duality with Rebekah Jacobi of Pivot Interiors Alexandra Tseffos, Rebekah Jacobi 00:45:12 “If my sophomore-in-college self realized how much fun I’m having jamming out to an Excel spreadsheet right now, I would be on the floor.” Design leader by day. Watercolor artist by night. Rebekah Jacobi shares how embracing her duality has reshaped her leadership, her creativity, and her impact in the commercial interiors industry. “If my sophomore-in-college self realized how much fun I’m having jamming out to an Excel spreadsheet right now, I would be on the floor.” Design leader by day. Watercolor artist by night. Rebekah Jacobi shares how embracing her duality has reshaped her leadership, her creativity, and her impact in the commercial interiors industry. dealership design leadership, data driven design, design management, balancing creativity and business, imagine a place, strategic design thinking, interior design leadership, the design pop, contract furniture industry, design team management, creative professional development, pivot interiors san francisco, commercial interior design, alexandra tseffos, workplace strategy, interior design career growth, design metrics, watercolor artist designer, design director, surface pattern design, creative leadership, women in design leadership, time tracking, design operations, workplace design strategy, leadership in design industry, ofs false full 43 2da67201-d8fc-4d7c-b9cf-423d7ef31afc A Career Shaped by Strengths, Not Job Titles | Chad Bewley of Freeform Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy.

In this episode, Chad and Alexandra sit down at CETx 2025. Chad shares how he found success without a traditional design degree and why relationships matter more than resumes. He also reflects on how long-term commitment can unlock trust and influence that simply can’t be fast-tracked.

From drafting tables and early CAD days to live design, sales leadership—Chad’s story proves that experience and people skills still carry real weight in our industry. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “doing it wrong” and need permission to define success on their own terms.

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn

Learn more about Freeform

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Chad Bewley, Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/chad-bewley-SpJBPIj0 Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy.

In this episode, Chad and Alexandra sit down at CETx 2025. Chad shares how he found success without a traditional design degree and why relationships matter more than resumes. He also reflects on how long-term commitment can unlock trust and influence that simply can’t be fast-tracked.

From drafting tables and early CAD days to live design, sales leadership—Chad’s story proves that experience and people skills still carry real weight in our industry. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “doing it wrong” and need permission to define success on their own terms.

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn

Learn more about Freeform

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


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]]> A Career Shaped by Strengths, Not Job Titles | Chad Bewley of Freeform Chad Bewley, Alexandra Tseffos 00:44:45 Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy. He found success without a traditional design degree and proves that relationships matter more than resumes. Chad’s story proves that experience and people skills still carry real weight in our industry. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “doing it wrong” and need permission to define success on their own terms. Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy. He found success without a traditional design degree and proves that relationships matter more than resumes. Chad’s story proves that experience and people skills still carry real weight in our industry. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “doing it wrong” and need permission to define success on their own terms. hybrid design careers, sales leadership in design, imagine a place, design career paths, chad bewley, experience over credentials, freeform, design industry, nontraditional design career, the design pop, hybrid designer roles, commercial design, alexandra tseffos, career longevity, design without a degree, design professional development, workplace strategist, cet, design career advice, workplace design careers, furniture industry careers, commercial interiors, career path, design career growth, ofs, design and sales roles false full 42 bd2ea6d2-1211-4594-930f-d808481b60d2 The Joy of Saying "Done" As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small.

Thank you for listening, for sharing your time, and for supporting The Design POP this year.

Email Alexandra at alexandra@thedesignpop.com

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

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]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/the-joy-of-saying-done-YB_JY6eG As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small.

Thank you for listening, for sharing your time, and for supporting The Design POP this year.

Email Alexandra at alexandra@thedesignpop.com

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


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]]> The Joy of Saying "Done" Alexandra Tseffos 00:07:32 As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small. As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small. creative work habits, creative mindset, design education, creative professionals, imagine a place, slowing down, the design pop, design podcast, cet training, alexandra tseffos, professional growth, creative leadership, finishing projects, end of year reflection, celebrating wins, productivity mindset, design community, design leadership, design career growth, year end podcast episode, ofs, interior design podcast, work life balance false full 41 214ca081-135c-4bd8-9dbd-e805356dd686 The Renegade Mindset with Amy Jo Martin, Live at Configura's Experience 2025 In this episode, Alexandra returns from Experience 2025 with a renewed voice—literally and figuratively. After a whirlwind of hockey coaching, travel, and the inevitable fall-break cold, she reflects on what kids learning to skate can teach adults about bravery, mindset, and the power of getting back up quickly.

Alexandra sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host Amy Jo Martin, who describes herself as a “renegade of life” and a lifelong learner. Together, they explore what it means to embrace curiosity, take the next brave step, and say “Why not now?”—whether in your creative practice, your career, or your personal world.

Amy Jo shares her renegade rules, including asking for forgiveness instead of permission, buying back time through AI, and learning to green-light your own ideas today rather than someday. She also tells the incredible story of how she accidentally helped launch the very first Twitter verified checkmark and how that moment changed her career forever.

Alexandra also recaps her favorite moments from Experience 2025. Whether you’re a designer, a leader, or someone standing at the edge of your next “trampoline moment,” this episode challenges you to move forward—today, not tomorrow—and surround yourself with people who cheer when you fall and when you rise.

Learn more about Amy Jo Martin

Follow Amy Jo Martin on LinkedIn

Listen to Amy Jo's podcast "Why Not Now?"

Buy Amy Jo Martin's book: "Renegades Write The Rules"

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Join a Peer Circle

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Amy Jo Martin, Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/the-renegade-mindset-with-amy-jo-martin-live-at-configuras-experience-2025-9pSWQ_Mu In this episode, Alexandra returns from Experience 2025 with a renewed voice—literally and figuratively. After a whirlwind of hockey coaching, travel, and the inevitable fall-break cold, she reflects on what kids learning to skate can teach adults about bravery, mindset, and the power of getting back up quickly.

Alexandra sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host Amy Jo Martin, who describes herself as a “renegade of life” and a lifelong learner. Together, they explore what it means to embrace curiosity, take the next brave step, and say “Why not now?”—whether in your creative practice, your career, or your personal world.

Amy Jo shares her renegade rules, including asking for forgiveness instead of permission, buying back time through AI, and learning to green-light your own ideas today rather than someday. She also tells the incredible story of how she accidentally helped launch the very first Twitter verified checkmark and how that moment changed her career forever.

Alexandra also recaps her favorite moments from Experience 2025. Whether you’re a designer, a leader, or someone standing at the edge of your next “trampoline moment,” this episode challenges you to move forward—today, not tomorrow—and surround yourself with people who cheer when you fall and when you rise.

Learn more about Amy Jo Martin

Follow Amy Jo Martin on LinkedIn

Listen to Amy Jo's podcast "Why Not Now?"

Buy Amy Jo Martin's book: "Renegades Write The Rules"

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Join a Peer Circle

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

]]> The Renegade Mindset with Amy Jo Martin, Live at Configura's Experience 2025 Amy Jo Martin, Alexandra Tseffos 00:24:27 In this episode, Alexandra returns from Experience 2025 with a renewed voice—literally and figuratively. After a whirlwind of hockey coaching, travel, and the inevitable fall-break cold, she reflects on what kids learning to skate can teach adults about bravery, mindset, and the power of getting back up quickly. Alexandra sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host Amy Jo Martin, who describes herself as a “renegade of life” and a lifelong learner. Together, they explore what it means to embrace curiosity, take the next brave step, and say “Why not now?”—whether in your creative practice, your career, or your personal world. In this episode, Alexandra returns from Experience 2025 with a renewed voice—literally and figuratively. After a whirlwind of hockey coaching, travel, and the inevitable fall-break cold, she reflects on what kids learning to skate can teach adults about bravery, mindset, and the power of getting back up quickly. Alexandra sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host Amy Jo Martin, who describes herself as a “renegade of life” and a lifelong learner. Together, they explore what it means to embrace curiosity, take the next brave step, and say “Why not now?”—whether in your creative practice, your career, or your personal world. digital design tools, designer education, amy jo martin, imagine a place, mindset and motivation, starting new ideas, design industry podcast, business mindset, women in leadership, ai for designers, the design pop, why not now podcast, cet training insights, alexandra tseffos, professional development, empowering designers, lifelong learning, overcoming fear, cet experience 2025 recap, personal growth podcast, designer confidence report, creative entrepreneurship, design community, renegade leadership, leadership for creatives, curiosity in work, ofs false full 40 7b7f5e2a-0d1e-46fd-8dfc-3f3263f071a3 Live at Configura's Experience with Aaron Okkema and Rob Detrick We are coming to you live from Day 1 of Experience—formerly known as CET Experience—where nearly 500 designers, manufacturers, and sponsors are fueling the excitement and innovation shaping the design industry. This year marks a major shift not just in the name, but in what the event represents. Configura’s vision has expanded beyond CET, and Experience now captures the full scope of their technology solutions. 

In this episode Alexandra sits down with two of Configura's very own Aaron Okkema, Head of Sales for North America, and Rob Detrick, Product Manager for Commercial Interiors, about the big announcements from the opening keynote.

Check out Configura's Roadmap to discover upcoming projects and share your innovative ideas for future development.

Questions for Configura? Ask Alexandra or Brooke Snow

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

]]> Wed, 8 Oct 2025 19:38:04 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Rob Detrick, Alexandra Tseffos, Aaron Okkema) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/live-at-configuras-experience-with-aaron-okkema-and-rob-detrick-H32ZFkhF We are coming to you live from Day 1 of Experience—formerly known as CET Experience—where nearly 500 designers, manufacturers, and sponsors are fueling the excitement and innovation shaping the design industry. This year marks a major shift not just in the name, but in what the event represents. Configura’s vision has expanded beyond CET, and Experience now captures the full scope of their technology solutions. 

In this episode Alexandra sits down with two of Configura's very own Aaron Okkema, Head of Sales for North America, and Rob Detrick, Product Manager for Commercial Interiors, about the big announcements from the opening keynote.

Check out Configura's Roadmap to discover upcoming projects and share your innovative ideas for future development.

Questions for Configura? Ask Alexandra or Brooke Snow

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

]]> Live at Configura's Experience with Aaron Okkema and Rob Detrick Rob Detrick, Alexandra Tseffos, Aaron Okkema 00:34:56 We are coming to you live from Day 1 of Experience—formerly known as CET Experience—where nearly 500 designers, manufacturers, and sponsors are fueling the excitement and innovation shaping the design industry. This year marks a major shift not just in the name, but in what the event represents. Configura’s vision has expanded beyond CET, and Experience now captures the full scope of their technology solutions. In this episode Alexandra sits down with two of Configura's very own Aaron Okkema, Head of Sales for North America, and Rob Detrick, Product Manager for Commercial Interiors, about the big announcements from the opening keynote. We are coming to you live from Day 1 of Experience—formerly known as CET Experience—where nearly 500 designers, manufacturers, and sponsors are fueling the excitement and innovation shaping the design industry. This year marks a major shift not just in the name, but in what the event represents. Configura’s vision has expanded beyond CET, and Experience now captures the full scope of their technology solutions. In this episode Alexandra sits down with two of Configura's very own Aaron Okkema, Head of Sales for North America, and Rob Detrick, Product Manager for Commercial Interiors, about the big announcements from the opening keynote. industry trends, interior projects, design technology, workspace solutions, design innovation, user experience, design trends, collaborative design, furniture specification, interior architecture, configure presentation, alexandra tseffos, global design, rob dietrich, office design, tech in design, space planning tools, virtual design, user community, furniture design, innovation in interiors, commercial spaces, designer insights, cet updates, workplace solutions, product updates, aaron okkema, trade show highlights, design community, commercial interiors, cet experience, future of interiors, space planning, interior design, 3d modeling, configura, office furniture, design software false full 39 10eed6e6-2a40-4fa9-8e62-dca5e58d11ed The Confidence Report: How Designers Rate Themselves In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos breaks down the results of her latest dealer designer survey, which drew responses from nearly 175 professionals across the industry. The survey explores the confidence levels of designers in core responsibilities such as technical specification, ancillary selection, pricing, meeting participation, live design, and advanced visualization.

Not only did Alexandra share the numbers and highlight various results, but she also brings in two expert voices to put the findings into perspective. First, we hear from Shelley Rosetta, Principal at Solomon Coyle who reflects on the broader industry context, the importance of continuous learning, and how AI is reshaping workflows. Then we hear from Kari Anderson, Owner of Techbox Collective, who discusses what the survey results mean for manufacturers—plus she highlights how better tools, cleaner data, and thoughtful training can raise both confidence and competence across the field.

Together, these conversations uncover surprising gaps, celebrate areas of strength, and explore how designers—along with dealerships and manufacturers can evolve together. Whether you’re a dealer designer, leader, or manufacturer, there are plenty of insights to spark new conversations about the future of design.

Download the full report here.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

]]> Tue, 7 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Kari Anderson, Shelley Rosetta, Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/the-confidence-report-how-designers-rate-themselves-_T54oqIP In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos breaks down the results of her latest dealer designer survey, which drew responses from nearly 175 professionals across the industry. The survey explores the confidence levels of designers in core responsibilities such as technical specification, ancillary selection, pricing, meeting participation, live design, and advanced visualization.

Not only did Alexandra share the numbers and highlight various results, but she also brings in two expert voices to put the findings into perspective. First, we hear from Shelley Rosetta, Principal at Solomon Coyle who reflects on the broader industry context, the importance of continuous learning, and how AI is reshaping workflows. Then we hear from Kari Anderson, Owner of Techbox Collective, who discusses what the survey results mean for manufacturers—plus she highlights how better tools, cleaner data, and thoughtful training can raise both confidence and competence across the field.

Together, these conversations uncover surprising gaps, celebrate areas of strength, and explore how designers—along with dealerships and manufacturers can evolve together. Whether you’re a dealer designer, leader, or manufacturer, there are plenty of insights to spark new conversations about the future of design.

Download the full report here.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)


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]]> The Confidence Report: How Designers Rate Themselves Kari Anderson, Shelley Rosetta, Alexandra Tseffos 00:46:58 In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos breaks down the results of her latest dealer designer survey, which drew responses from nearly 175 professionals across the industry. She also brings in two expert voices to put the findings into perspective: Shelley Rosetta, Principal at Solomon Coyle and Kari Anderson, Owner of Techbox Collective. Together, these conversations uncover surprising gaps, celebrate areas of strength, and explore how designers—along with dealerships and manufacturers can evolve together. Whether you’re a dealer designer, leader, or manufacturer, there are plenty of insights to spark new conversations about the future of design. In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos breaks down the results of her latest dealer designer survey, which drew responses from nearly 175 professionals across the industry. She also brings in two expert voices to put the findings into perspective: Shelley Rosetta, Principal at Solomon Coyle and Kari Anderson, Owner of Techbox Collective. Together, these conversations uncover surprising gaps, celebrate areas of strength, and explore how designers—along with dealerships and manufacturers can evolve together. Whether you’re a dealer designer, leader, or manufacturer, there are plenty of insights to spark new conversations about the future of design. carrie anderson, ancillary specification challenges, ai in interior design, imagine a place, pricing challenges for designers, dealer designer survey, the design pop, designer training and development, design pop community, dealer designer roles, solomon coyle shelley rosetta, interior design industry insights, technical design specification, advanced visualization in design, interior design professional growth, dealership design trends, design survey, furniture manufacturer training, design survey results, dealer designer confidence, furniture design survey, live design confidence, design pop podcast, alexandra tseffos podcast, survey results, tech box collective false full 38 73f58dcc-de1f-452f-abab-c5c6cec64c01 What happens when you bet on yourself? | Christine Crawford of Alfred Williams & Company In this inspiring episode, Alexandra sits down with Christine Crawford, Design Manager at Alfred Williams & Company in Nashville and MillerKnoll’s Designer of the Year. Christine shares her journey from an eager design student who did whatever it took to land an internship, to becoming the leader of a design team and the force behind a $15 million project. Her story highlights the power of curiosity, tenacity, and taking bold risks—such as writing a letter to land her dream role.

Through Christine’s perspective, we explore what it means to redefine “perfect,” why dealer design can be a powerful accelerator for young careers, and how collaboration and courage shape long-term success. Whether you’re a student, a young designer, or a seasoned professional, Christine’s journey will leave you with practical wisdom and the confidence to bet on yourself.

Check out Alfred Williams & Company

Connect with Christine Crawford on LinkedIn

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Check out Configura's Experience Conference in Orlando

Explore more from Imagine a Place and OFS


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]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Christine Crawford, Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/what-happens-when-you-bet-on-yourself-MJvIERep In this inspiring episode, Alexandra sits down with Christine Crawford, Design Manager at Alfred Williams & Company in Nashville and MillerKnoll’s Designer of the Year. Christine shares her journey from an eager design student who did whatever it took to land an internship, to becoming the leader of a design team and the force behind a $15 million project. Her story highlights the power of curiosity, tenacity, and taking bold risks—such as writing a letter to land her dream role.

Through Christine’s perspective, we explore what it means to redefine “perfect,” why dealer design can be a powerful accelerator for young careers, and how collaboration and courage shape long-term success. Whether you’re a student, a young designer, or a seasoned professional, Christine’s journey will leave you with practical wisdom and the confidence to bet on yourself.

Check out Alfred Williams & Company

Connect with Christine Crawford on LinkedIn

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Check out Configura's Experience Conference in Orlando

Explore more from Imagine a Place and OFS


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]]> What happens when you bet on yourself? | Christine Crawford of Alfred Williams & Company Christine Crawford, Alexandra Tseffos 00:46:50 In this inspiring episode, Alexandra sits down with Christine Crawford, Design Manager at Alfred Williams & Company in Nashville and MillerKnoll’s Designer of the Year. Christine shares her journey from an eager design student who did whatever it took to land an internship, to becoming the leader of a design team and the force behind a $15 million project. Her story highlights the power of curiosity, tenacity, and taking bold risks—such as writing a letter to land her dream role. Through Christine’s perspective, we explore what it means to redefine “perfect,” why dealer design can be a powerful accelerator for young careers, and how collaboration and courage shape long-term success. Whether you’re a student, a young designer, or a seasoned professional, Christine’s journey will leave you with practical wisdom and the confidence to bet on yourself. In this inspiring episode, Alexandra sits down with Christine Crawford, Design Manager at Alfred Williams & Company in Nashville and MillerKnoll’s Designer of the Year. Christine shares her journey from an eager design student who did whatever it took to land an internship, to becoming the leader of a design team and the force behind a $15 million project. Her story highlights the power of curiosity, tenacity, and taking bold risks—such as writing a letter to land her dream role. Through Christine’s perspective, we explore what it means to redefine “perfect,” why dealer design can be a powerful accelerator for young careers, and how collaboration and courage shape long-term success. Whether you’re a student, a young designer, or a seasoned professional, Christine’s journey will leave you with practical wisdom and the confidence to bet on yourself. alfred williams and company, design manager, christine crawford, design mentorship, design mentorship stories, design career paths, design career journey, design podcast, design internships, design industry insights, career growth in design, design collaboration, millerknoll designer of the year, design career advice, career advice for designers, design inspiration, design team leadership, design community, design leadership, design career, dealer designer, dealer design success false full 37 57757251-88f9-440b-95d1-f19dbc114376 POP into Excellence: Building a Design Career You Love with Brittney Herrera In this episode, designer, author, and Thunder Egg founder Brittney Herrera shares her personal journey through the design industry—from internships and dealership work to leading her own firm. Along the way, she opens up about navigating firm politics, discovering her strengths, and learning how to turn every experience into a stepping stone for growth. Brittney's book Inside the Design Industry quickly became an Amazon best-seller and a must-read for students. This conversation brings her book and it's lessons to life.

Whether you’re a design student, recent graduate, or just starting out in your career, you’ll hear practical advice on networking, mentorship, interviews, and building confidence in an often-intimidating industry. Industry veteran Jeff Carlson from My Resource Library joins the conversation as well—adding some great advice about connecting with others through LinkedIn. This episode is both a guide and an encouragement for anyone ready to find their place in design.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn.

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Get $75 off CET Experience by using promo code: THEDESIGNPOP75 if you register before September 22, 2025.


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]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:02:51 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Jeff Carlson, Brittney Herrera, Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/building-a-design-career-you-love-with-brittney-herrera-IxTbX_DO In this episode, designer, author, and Thunder Egg founder Brittney Herrera shares her personal journey through the design industry—from internships and dealership work to leading her own firm. Along the way, she opens up about navigating firm politics, discovering her strengths, and learning how to turn every experience into a stepping stone for growth. Brittney's book Inside the Design Industry quickly became an Amazon best-seller and a must-read for students. This conversation brings her book and it's lessons to life.

Whether you’re a design student, recent graduate, or just starting out in your career, you’ll hear practical advice on networking, mentorship, interviews, and building confidence in an often-intimidating industry. Industry veteran Jeff Carlson from My Resource Library joins the conversation as well—adding some great advice about connecting with others through LinkedIn. This episode is both a guide and an encouragement for anyone ready to find their place in design.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn.

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Get $75 off CET Experience by using promo code: THEDESIGNPOP75 if you register before September 22, 2025.


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]]> POP into Excellence: Building a Design Career You Love with Brittney Herrera Jeff Carlson, Brittney Herrera, Alexandra Tseffos 01:10:16 In this episode, designer, author, and Thunder Egg founder Brittney Herrera shares her personal journey through the design industry—from internships and dealership work to leading her own firm. Along the way, she opens up about navigating firm politics, discovering her strengths, and learning how to turn every experience into a stepping stone for growth. Brittney's book Inside the Design Industry quickly became an Amazon best-seller and a must-read for students. This conversation brings her book and it's lessons to life. In this episode, designer, author, and Thunder Egg founder Brittney Herrera shares her personal journey through the design industry—from internships and dealership work to leading her own firm. Along the way, she opens up about navigating firm politics, discovering her strengths, and learning how to turn every experience into a stepping stone for growth. Brittney's book Inside the Design Industry quickly became an Amazon best-seller and a must-read for students. This conversation brings her book and it's lessons to life. design portfolio tips, design mentorship, my resource library, career tips for designers, thunder egg design, design students, design careers, design industry, a&d careers, architecture and design students, design internships, new designers, commercial design, design job interview tips, inside the design industry book, jeff carlson, dealer designers, design career advice, how to become a designer, brittney herrera, design networking tips, design leadership, starting a design career false full 36 bb20bf51-a915-429d-965d-e47c0fee4b6d How Designers Can Lead From Within with Jennifer Evans of Hyphn In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership.

She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebranding to strategic acquisition—has strengthened its culture and diversified its services to meet the changing demands of today’s workplace.

Jennifer also talks about building strong design teams, empowering designers through live design sessions, incentivizing client engagement, and embracing the "uncomfortable" as a pathway to growth. Throughout this episode, Jennifer shares insights on capacity challenges, industry training gaps, and the mindset shift that's required to lead effectively.

What if the key to elevating dealer design isn't just mastering tools, but learning how to create better conversations?

Subscribe to The Design POP to access POP into Excellence recordings.

Use this link for $75 off Configura's Experience in Orlando. Or use promo code TheDesignPOP75 at checkout.

Follow us on social media to hear more about our upcoming launches on The Design POP. Instagram and LinkedIn.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

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]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:21:30 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Jennifer Evans, Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/jennifer-evans-y0_cB_mN In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership.

She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebranding to strategic acquisition—has strengthened its culture and diversified its services to meet the changing demands of today’s workplace.

Jennifer also talks about building strong design teams, empowering designers through live design sessions, incentivizing client engagement, and embracing the "uncomfortable" as a pathway to growth. Throughout this episode, Jennifer shares insights on capacity challenges, industry training gaps, and the mindset shift that's required to lead effectively.

What if the key to elevating dealer design isn't just mastering tools, but learning how to create better conversations?

Subscribe to The Design POP to access POP into Excellence recordings.

Use this link for $75 off Configura's Experience in Orlando. Or use promo code TheDesignPOP75 at checkout.

Follow us on social media to hear more about our upcoming launches on The Design POP. Instagram and LinkedIn.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn


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]]> How Designers Can Lead From Within with Jennifer Evans of Hyphn Jennifer Evans, Alexandra Tseffos 00:51:01 In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership. She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebranding to strategic acquisition—has strengthened its culture and diversified its services to meet the changing demands of today’s workplace. Jennifer also talks about building strong design teams, empowering designers through live design sessions, incentivizing client engagement, and embracing the "uncomfortable" as a pathway to growth. Throughout this episode, Jennifer shares insights on capacity challenges, industry training gaps, and the mindset shift that's required to lead effectively. In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership. She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebranding to strategic acquisition—has strengthened its culture and diversified its services to meet the changing demands of today’s workplace. Jennifer also talks about building strong design teams, empowering designers through live design sessions, incentivizing client engagement, and embracing the "uncomfortable" as a pathway to growth. Throughout this episode, Jennifer shares insights on capacity challenges, industry training gaps, and the mindset shift that's required to lead effectively. design team building, client-facing designers, imagine a place, project designer, the design pop, design team management, furniture dealership, jennifer evans, dealership culture, dealer designer evolution, cet training, alexandra tseffos, workplace design, imagine a place production, designer mentorship, design consulting, design leadership development, design process improvement, design career path, creative leadership, design incentives, client experience, hyphn, commercial interiors, design leadership, live design, design pop podcast, dealership innovation, av technology in design, interior design industry, design career growth, dealer designer, design training, ofs false full 35 589c4d96-c815-4c99-b27b-d190546e0a76 The Office Furniture Girl: Building Credibility in Furniture, One Post at a Time On this episode of The Design POP Podcast, host Alexandra Tseffos sits down with Erica Jaffe—Creative Director & Ancillary Specialist at Benhar Office Interiors, and affectionately known as the "Office Furniture Girl" on Instagram, to explore how dealer designers can sharpen their approach and enhance their impact on client interactions.

From her early days in interior design, retail furniture sales, to business development at a dealership, Erica shares how clear communication, thoughtful expectation-setting, and a dose of humor can transform the designer-client relationship. Hear how she's leveraging social media to educate, entertain, and build both trust and credibility within the design community.

Where to find The Design POP in Chicago https://www.thedesignpop.com/Chicago-2025

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

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]]> Mon, 2 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Erica Jaffe, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast On this episode of The Design POP Podcast, host Alexandra Tseffos sits down with Erica Jaffe—Creative Director & Ancillary Specialist at Benhar Office Interiors, and affectionately known as the "Office Furniture Girl" on Instagram, to explore how dealer designers can sharpen their approach and enhance their impact on client interactions.

From her early days in interior design, retail furniture sales, to business development at a dealership, Erica shares how clear communication, thoughtful expectation-setting, and a dose of humor can transform the designer-client relationship. Hear how she's leveraging social media to educate, entertain, and build both trust and credibility within the design community.

Where to find The Design POP in Chicago https://www.thedesignpop.com/Chicago-2025

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn


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]]> The Office Furniture Girl: Building Credibility in Furniture, One Post at a Time Erica Jaffe, Alexandra Tseffos 00:50:03 On this episode of The Design POP Podcast, host Alexandra Tseffos sits down with Erica Jaffe—Creative Director & Ancillary Specialist at Benhar Office Interiors, and affectionately known as the "Office Furniture Girl" on Instagram, to explore how dealer designers can sharpen their approach and enhance their impact on client interactions. From her early days in interior design, retail furniture sales, to business development at a dealership, Erica shares how clear communication, thoughtful expectation-setting, and a dose of humor can transform the designer-client relationship. Hear how she's leveraging social media to educate, entertain, and build both trust and credibility within the design community. On this episode of The Design POP Podcast, host Alexandra Tseffos sits down with Erica Jaffe—Creative Director & Ancillary Specialist at Benhar Office Interiors, and affectionately known as the "Office Furniture Girl" on Instagram, to explore how dealer designers can sharpen their approach and enhance their impact on client interactions. From her early days in interior design, retail furniture sales, to business development at a dealership, Erica shares how clear communication, thoughtful expectation-setting, and a dose of humor can transform the designer-client relationship. Hear how she's leveraging social media to educate, entertain, and build both trust and credibility within the design community. erica jaffe, social media marketing, design education, dealer design, imagine a place, instagram influencer, client communication, trust and credibility, expectation setting, creative director, the design pop, design podcast, alexandra tseffos, designer-client relationship, benhar office interiors, office furniture girl, client interactions, design impact, retail furniture sales, business development, design community, design pop, office furniture girl, creative marketing, interior design, the design pop podcast, dealer designer, office furniture, ancillary specialist false full 34 f423ab57-f665-4d1b-87fa-b65dc90c7c23 Building a Career on Curiosity with Stephanie Wolfson of HAT Collective Stephanie Wolfson, Design Manager at HAT Collective, didn’t set out to become a designer—she followed her curiosity, and it led her somewhere unexpected. With a background in theater and marketing, she found her way into the world of commercial interiors and discovered a love for the “3D puzzles” of furniture design.

In this episode, Stephanie shares how curiosity helped her carve out new roles, take a bold career pause, and navigate the tough conversations that come with growth. It’s a candid, inspiring look at what’s possible when you stop chasing the perfect plan—and start following what lights you up.

Learn more about POP into Excellence 2025; a professional development event for dealer designers & design leaders

Last chance for "All Access:" https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/dmdNUU2R/checkout 

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

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]]> Mon, 5 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Stephanie Wolfson, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Stephanie Wolfson, Design Manager at HAT Collective, didn’t set out to become a designer—she followed her curiosity, and it led her somewhere unexpected. With a background in theater and marketing, she found her way into the world of commercial interiors and discovered a love for the “3D puzzles” of furniture design.

In this episode, Stephanie shares how curiosity helped her carve out new roles, take a bold career pause, and navigate the tough conversations that come with growth. It’s a candid, inspiring look at what’s possible when you stop chasing the perfect plan—and start following what lights you up.

Learn more about POP into Excellence 2025; a professional development event for dealer designers & design leaders

Last chance for "All Access:" https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/dmdNUU2R/checkout 

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

 


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]]> Building a Career on Curiosity with Stephanie Wolfson of HAT Collective Stephanie Wolfson, Alexandra Tseffos 00:53:15 Stephanie Wolfson, Design Manager at HAT Collective, didn’t set out to become a designer—she followed her curiosity, and it led her somewhere unexpected. With a background in theater and marketing, she found her way into the world of commercial interiors and discovered a love for the “3D puzzles” of furniture design. In this episode, Stephanie shares how curiosity helped her carve out new roles, take a bold career pause, and navigate the tough conversations that come with growth. It’s a candid, inspiring look at what’s possible when you stop chasing the perfect plan—and start following what lights you up. Stephanie Wolfson, Design Manager at HAT Collective, didn’t set out to become a designer—she followed her curiosity, and it led her somewhere unexpected. With a background in theater and marketing, she found her way into the world of commercial interiors and discovered a love for the “3D puzzles” of furniture design. In this episode, Stephanie shares how curiosity helped her carve out new roles, take a bold career pause, and navigate the tough conversations that come with growth. It’s a candid, inspiring look at what’s possible when you stop chasing the perfect plan—and start following what lights you up. design stress, dealer math, imagine a place, career change, the design pop, furniture specification, rfp process, furniture dealership, commercial design, alexandra tseffos, hks, architectural firm, stephanie wolfson, design collaboration, cet, revit, imagine a place ofs, furniture industry, hat collective, career transition, design pop, furniture rendering, imagine a place podcast, interior design, design career, design procurement, the design pop podcast, design freedom, dealer designer, healthcare design, furniture standards, ofs, industry crossover, a&d firm false full 33 32d37c43-e20c-4732-b346-4ded2e4b07e1 Bridging the Gap with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith of HKS In this episode, we sit down with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith—two former dealer designers who made the jump to the A&D world and now work at HKS. They open up about what that transition was really like, from unexpected stress relief to letting go of manufacturer sales goals and adapting to new tech.

We dive into the sometimes tricky dynamic between dealerships and A&D firms, and what it takes to collaborate well. Kate and Pam share what they wish they had known earlier, bust a few myths (like whether fancy renderings actually help win projects), and offer real, practical advice for building better partnerships.

Register for FREE to attend the webinar Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Collaboration Between Dealer Designers and A+D

Submit a question for the panelists link: https://www.thedesignpop.com/pie-2025-questions

Learn more about POP into Excellence 2025; a professional development event for dealer designers & design leaders

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

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]]> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 11:51:04 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Kate Bradley, Pam Smith, Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/bridging-the-gap-with-kate-bradley-and-pam-smith-of-hks-7TzXEyeb In this episode, we sit down with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith—two former dealer designers who made the jump to the A&D world and now work at HKS. They open up about what that transition was really like, from unexpected stress relief to letting go of manufacturer sales goals and adapting to new tech.

We dive into the sometimes tricky dynamic between dealerships and A&D firms, and what it takes to collaborate well. Kate and Pam share what they wish they had known earlier, bust a few myths (like whether fancy renderings actually help win projects), and offer real, practical advice for building better partnerships.

Register for FREE to attend the webinar Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Collaboration Between Dealer Designers and A+D

Submit a question for the panelists link: https://www.thedesignpop.com/pie-2025-questions

Learn more about POP into Excellence 2025; a professional development event for dealer designers & design leaders

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn


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]]> Bridging the Gap with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith of HKS Kate Bradley, Pam Smith, Alexandra Tseffos 00:52:16 In this episode, we sit down with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith—two former dealer designers who made the jump to the A&D world and now work at HKS. They open up about what that transition was really like, from unexpected stress relief to letting go of manufacturer sales goals and adapting to new tech. We dive into the sometimes tricky dynamic between dealerships and A&D firms, and what it really takes to collaborate well. Kate and Pam share what they wish they had known earlier, bust a few myths (like whether fancy renderings actually help win projects), and offer real, practical advice for building better partnerships. In this episode, we sit down with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith—two former dealer designers who made the jump to the A&D world and now work at HKS. They open up about what that transition was really like, from unexpected stress relief to letting go of manufacturer sales goals and adapting to new tech. We dive into the sometimes tricky dynamic between dealerships and A&D firms, and what it really takes to collaborate well. Kate and Pam share what they wish they had known earlier, bust a few myths (like whether fancy renderings actually help win projects), and offer real, practical advice for building better partnerships. design stress, dealer math, imagine a place, career change, the design pop, furniture specification, rfp process, furniture dealership, commercial design, alexandra tseffos, hks, architectural firm, design collaboration, pam smith, ff&e specialist, cet, revit, imagine a place ofs, furniture industry, kate bradley, career transition, furniture rendering, interior design, design career, design procurement, the design pop podcast, design freedom, dealer designer, healthcare design, furniture standards, ofs, industry crossover, a&d firm false full 32 fc5ebca0-cf9c-4937-aa9b-98a77790d1eb Hard Truths and Real Talk with Wesley Edmonds of OFS In this candid conversation, Alexandra chats with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, about the challenges and opportunities for women in design. They tackle the evolving role of dealer designers, the gender gap in leadership, and how sponsorship can fuel career growth.

With personal stories, industry insights, and plenty of laughter, they explore the disconnect between A&D and dealer designers, the need to break down silos, and why empowering all designers—regardless of title—matters. Plus, they get real about juggling careers and motherhood in a fast-paced, male-dominated industry.

Honest, funny, and full of actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in workplace design or leadership.

Oh, and Pop Into Excellence kicks off on May 5th! (Stay tuned for more information). 

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

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]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:23:45 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Wesley Edmonds, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In this candid conversation, Alexandra chats with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, about the challenges and opportunities for women in design. They tackle the evolving role of dealer designers, the gender gap in leadership, and how sponsorship can fuel career growth.

With personal stories, industry insights, and plenty of laughter, they explore the disconnect between A&D and dealer designers, the need to break down silos, and why empowering all designers—regardless of title—matters. Plus, they get real about juggling careers and motherhood in a fast-paced, male-dominated industry.

Honest, funny, and full of actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in workplace design or leadership.

Oh, and Pop Into Excellence kicks off on May 5th! (Stay tuned for more information). 

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

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]]> Hard Truths and Real Talk with Wesley Edmonds of OFS Wesley Edmonds, Alexandra Tseffos 00:47:26 In this candid conversation, Alexandra chats with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, about the challenges and opportunities for women in design. They tackle the evolving role of dealer designers, the gender gap in leadership, and how sponsorship can fuel career growth. With personal stories, industry insights, and plenty of laughter, they explore the disconnect between A&D and dealer designers, the need to break down silos, and why empowering all designers—regardless of title—matters. Plus, they get real about juggling careers and motherhood in a fast-paced, male-dominated industry. Honest, funny, and full of actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in workplace design or leadership. In this candid conversation, Alexandra chats with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, about the challenges and opportunities for women in design. They tackle the evolving role of dealer designers, the gender gap in leadership, and how sponsorship can fuel career growth. With personal stories, industry insights, and plenty of laughter, they explore the disconnect between A&D and dealer designers, the need to break down silos, and why empowering all designers—regardless of title—matters. Plus, they get real about juggling careers and motherhood in a fast-paced, male-dominated industry. Honest, funny, and full of actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in workplace design or leadership. a&d industry, industry disconnect, wesley edmonds, female leaders in design, working moms in design, balancing career and motherhood, workplace trends, women in leadership, the design pop, workplace diversity, leadership in workplace design, workplace design, design industry insights, dealer designers, women in design, empowering designers, sponsorship in design, breaking industry silos, design career advice, contract furniture, mentorship in design, navigating design careers, career growth, design leadership, design industry challenges, gender gap in design, ofs, image a place false full 31 c741b68e-4321-4be5-8b61-aff608d0fbdb Thriving in an AI Era: Why Remarkability Wins with Shawn Kanungo Join Alexandra Tseffos as she chats with innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo about how AI is shaking up the commercial interiors industry. After crossing paths at CET Experience, where Shawn delivered a keynote that got everyone thinking, they dive into what it really means to be "remarkable" in an AI-powered world. From lessons in cross-industry innovation to the future of furniture specification, this conversation will challenge how you see technology’s role in design. Whether you’re all-in on AI or still a little skeptical, Shawn’s take on embracing disruption "without losing the human touch" is one you won’t want to miss.

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]]> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Shawn Kanungo, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Join Alexandra Tseffos as she chats with innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo about how AI is shaking up the commercial interiors industry. After crossing paths at CET Experience, where Shawn delivered a keynote that got everyone thinking, they dive into what it really means to be "remarkable" in an AI-powered world. From lessons in cross-industry innovation to the future of furniture specification, this conversation will challenge how you see technology’s role in design. Whether you’re all-in on AI or still a little skeptical, Shawn’s take on embracing disruption "without losing the human touch" is one you won’t want to miss.

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]]> Thriving in an AI Era: Why Remarkability Wins with Shawn Kanungo Shawn Kanungo, Alexandra Tseffos 00:42:12 Join Alexandra Tseffos as she chats with innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo about how AI is shaking up the commercial interiors industry. After crossing paths at CET Experience, where Shawn delivered a keynote that got everyone thinking, they dive into what it really means to be "remarkable" in an AI-powered world. From lessons in cross-industry innovation to the future of furniture specification, this conversation will challenge how you see technology’s role in design. Whether you’re all-in on AI or still a little skeptical, Shawn’s take on embracing disruption "without losing the human touch" is one you won’t want to miss. Join Alexandra Tseffos as she chats with innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo about how AI is shaking up the commercial interiors industry. After crossing paths at CET Experience, where Shawn delivered a keynote that got everyone thinking, they dive into what it really means to be "remarkable" in an AI-powered world. From lessons in cross-industry innovation to the future of furniture specification, this conversation will challenge how you see technology’s role in design. Whether you’re all-in on AI or still a little skeptical, Shawn’s take on embracing disruption "without losing the human touch" is one you won’t want to miss. keynote speaker, embracing ai, imagine a place, ai and human creativity, ai-driven workflows, furniture specification, contract interiors industry, shawn kanungo, ai and creativity, ai in manufacturing, alexandra tseffos, innovation in furniture, design strategy, automation in design, future of work, digital transformation, interior design technology, technology in interiors, contract furniture, ai-powered innovation, commercial interiors, imagine a place podcast, cross-industry innovation, future of design, ct experience, ai disruption, ai in design, ofs false full 29 22fbccd0-a216-44f9-a730-891175ef07f0 LIVE at CET Experience with Rob Kirkbride of officeinsight magazine On this episode, I sit down with Rob Kirkbride (Editor in Chief of officeinsight magazine), a true legend in commercial furniture journalism. Rob’s seen it all—from covering “just office furniture” in the early days to witnessing the incredible changes shaping our industry today. Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience in October, we dive into some seriously interesting stuff, like how AI is shaking up design and journalism, why in-person workplace connections are more important than ever, and what it’s like to have toured almost every furniture factory out there. Rob also shares his thoughts on mentorship, the future of dealer networks, and how we can better connect with younger professionals. It’s a lively, thoughtful conversation with someone who’s been at the heart of our industry for years—join us! 

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]]> Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Aaron Estabrook) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast On this episode, I sit down with Rob Kirkbride (Editor in Chief of officeinsight magazine), a true legend in commercial furniture journalism. Rob’s seen it all—from covering “just office furniture” in the early days to witnessing the incredible changes shaping our industry today. Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience in October, we dive into some seriously interesting stuff, like how AI is shaking up design and journalism, why in-person workplace connections are more important than ever, and what it’s like to have toured almost every furniture factory out there. Rob also shares his thoughts on mentorship, the future of dealer networks, and how we can better connect with younger professionals. It’s a lively, thoughtful conversation with someone who’s been at the heart of our industry for years—join us! 

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]]> LIVE at CET Experience with Rob Kirkbride of officeinsight magazine Aaron Estabrook 00:31:54 On this episode, I sit down with Rob Kirkbride, a true legend in commercial furniture journalism. Rob’s seen it all—from covering “just office furniture” in the early days to witnessing the incredible changes shaping our industry today. Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience in October, we dive into some seriously interesting stuff, like how AI is shaking up design and journalism, why in-person workplace connections are more important than ever, and what it’s like to have toured almost every furniture factory out there. Rob also shares his thoughts on mentorship, the future of dealer networks, and how we can better connect with younger professionals. It’s a lively, thoughtful conversation with someone who’s been at the heart of our industry for years—join us! On this episode, I sit down with Rob Kirkbride, a true legend in commercial furniture journalism. Rob’s seen it all—from covering “just office furniture” in the early days to witnessing the incredible changes shaping our industry today. Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience in October, we dive into some seriously interesting stuff, like how AI is shaking up design and journalism, why in-person workplace connections are more important than ever, and what it’s like to have toured almost every furniture factory out there. Rob also shares his thoughts on mentorship, the future of dealer networks, and how we can better connect with younger professionals. It’s a lively, thoughtful conversation with someone who’s been at the heart of our industry for years—join us! design technology, design mentorship, design innovation, furniture craftsmanship, office furniture industry, workplace trends, industry education, furniture specification, industry journalism, workplace strategy, workplace design, furniture dealerships, professional development, dealer network, rob kirkbride, commercial furniture, furniture manufacturing, contract furniture, young designers, commercial interiors, cet experience, office insight, dealer designer, ai in design, workplace culture false full 28 d6a15ce8-5dba-4af4-a36e-8e06ca6fa9c0 Milestones and Progress, Starting 2025 with Purpose The Design Pop starts the new year with a reflective and forward-looking episode. Alexandra takes you on a journey through the milestones of the past year while sharing her vision for the year ahead. Discover how experiences from 2024 are shaping bold new initiatives, inspiring personal growth, and fostering deeper connections in the design community. Tune in to be inspired, refocus your goals, and gear up for an impactful 2025!

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]]> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:32:22 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/starting-2025-with-purpose-aWryc6Pu The Design Pop starts the new year with a reflective and forward-looking episode. Alexandra takes you on a journey through the milestones of the past year while sharing her vision for the year ahead. Discover how experiences from 2024 are shaping bold new initiatives, inspiring personal growth, and fostering deeper connections in the design community. Tune in to be inspired, refocus your goals, and gear up for an impactful 2025!

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]]> Milestones and Progress, Starting 2025 with Purpose Alexandra Tseffos 00:11:53 Kicking off the new year, Host Alexandra Tseffos reflects on the milestones of 2024 sharing her vision for a bold, inspiring, and connected 2025 with The Design Pop. Kicking off the new year, Host Alexandra Tseffos reflects on the milestones of 2024 sharing her vision for a bold, inspiring, and connected 2025 with The Design Pop. design reflections, designer inspiration, design innovation, design education, cetx, the design pop, design podcast, alexandra tseffos, design inspiration 2025, design vision, professional development, dealer designers, design strategy, professional growth, podcast for designers, cet, career journey, design impact, 2025 goals, design community, design leadership, design events, design planning, 2024 recap, design milestones, ofs, image a place, design initiatives false full 27 1f09c863-3400-477e-8545-44d49c3a8b69 Rebuilding After the Storm: A Story of Resilience with Trisha Harp In this candid conversation, Trisha Harp from Young Office shares her incredible story of resilience in the wake of Hurricane damage to their Asheville location. She walks through the devastating impact of the hurricane, how her team rallied together, and the unexpected silver linings of rebuilding their showroom from scratch. From navigating disaster recovery to sharing insights about her career journey through working for a dealer and manufacturer, Trisha offers a powerful look at adaptability, teamwork, and finding opportunities in challenging moments. 

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]]> Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Trisha Harp, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In this candid conversation, Trisha Harp from Young Office shares her incredible story of resilience in the wake of Hurricane damage to their Asheville location. She walks through the devastating impact of the hurricane, how her team rallied together, and the unexpected silver linings of rebuilding their showroom from scratch. From navigating disaster recovery to sharing insights about her career journey through working for a dealer and manufacturer, Trisha offers a powerful look at adaptability, teamwork, and finding opportunities in challenging moments. 

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]]> Rebuilding After the Storm: A Story of Resilience with Trisha Harp Trisha Harp, Alexandra Tseffos 00:51:49 In this candid conversation, Trisha Harp from Young Office shares her incredible story of resilience in the wake of Hurricane damage to their Asheville location. She walks through the devastating impact of the hurricane, how her team rallied together, and the unexpected silver linings of rebuilding their showroom from scratch. From navigating disaster recovery to sharing insights about her career journey through working for a dealer and manufacturer, Trisha offers a powerful look at adaptability, teamwork, and finding opportunities in challenging moments. In this candid conversation, Trisha Harp from Young Office shares her incredible story of resilience in the wake of Hurricane damage to their Asheville location. She walks through the devastating impact of the hurricane, how her team rallied together, and the unexpected silver linings of rebuilding their showroom from scratch. From navigating disaster recovery to sharing insights about her career journey through working for a dealer and manufacturer, Trisha offers a powerful look at adaptability, teamwork, and finding opportunities in challenging moments. manufacturing design, rebuilding after disaster, asheville hurricane, navigating challenges, tricia harp, overcoming adversity, young office, disaster resilience, design industry insights, post-hurricane recovery, community rebuilding, dealership design, disaster recovery, showroom design, hurricane recovery, career journey, teamwork stories, leadership in crisis, design inspiration, showroom rebuilding, career growth, teamwork, resilience, adaptability false full 26 bbf48742-0203-4430-9c89-159172955d68 The Art of the Proposal with Erick Gama of BOS Join us as we chat with Erick Gama, a strategic RFP specialist at BOS in Chicago, about his unique journey in the design world. From his college days studying interior design to becoming an integral part of a specialized response team, Erick shares how he carved out his career path. He opens up about the challenges of working on RFPs, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his advice for emerging designers eager to make their mark. Erick’s story is a testament to the power of teamwork, personal growth, and staying open to unexpected opportunities in the design industry.

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]]> Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:46:34 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (erick gama, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Join us as we chat with Erick Gama, a strategic RFP specialist at BOS in Chicago, about his unique journey in the design world. From his college days studying interior design to becoming an integral part of a specialized response team, Erick shares how he carved out his career path. He opens up about the challenges of working on RFPs, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his advice for emerging designers eager to make their mark. Erick’s story is a testament to the power of teamwork, personal growth, and staying open to unexpected opportunities in the design industry.

Sign up for The Design POP’s Monthly webinar as we continue to learn existing design technologies and explore new ones too! https://www.thedesignpop.com/webinar

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]]> The Art of the Proposal with Erick Gama of BOS erick gama, Alexandra Tseffos 00:27:12 Join us as we chat with Erick Gama, a strategic RFP specialist at BOS in Chicago, about his unique journey in the design world. From his college days studying interior design to becoming an integral part of a specialized response team, Erick shares how he carved out his career path. He opens up about the challenges of working on RFPs, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his advice for emerging designers eager to make their mark. Erick’s story is a testament to the power of teamwork, personal growth, and staying open to unexpected opportunities in the design industry. Join us as we chat with Erick Gama, a strategic RFP specialist at BOS in Chicago, about his unique journey in the design world. From his college days studying interior design to becoming an integral part of a specialized response team, Erick shares how he carved out his career path. He opens up about the challenges of working on RFPs, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his advice for emerging designers eager to make their mark. Erick’s story is a testament to the power of teamwork, personal growth, and staying open to unexpected opportunities in the design industry. design technology, personal branding, design innovation, design education, design dealership, career advice, design proposals, professional networking, design industry, business strategy, linkedin networking, career transformation, workplace strategy, workplace design, professional development, cet software, design skills, creative career, design entrepreneurship, design team, design opportunities, strategic response, workplace solutions, design creativity, design professional, specification, career growth, interior design, design career, rfp specialist false full 25 76832e8d-2346-4632-9e48-aca89e8f0558 LIVE at CET Experience with Lance Amato of CANOA In this episode of The Design Pop, host Alexandra chats with Lance Amato, Head of Customer Experience at CANOA, live from CET Experience. Together, they explore how design technology is changing the commercial furniture industry, especially for dealer designers. Lance opens up on his journey from architecture and design to tech, admitting he once underestimated the complexity of dealer designers' work. They discuss CANOA’s bottom-up tech adoption, new SIF file integration, and how AI enhances (not replaces) the design process. It’s a conversation about bridging gaps, improving data access, and making tools work better for everyone in design.

Sign up for The Design POP’s Monthly webinar as we continue to learn existing design technologies and explore new ones too! https://www.thedesignpop.com/webinar

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]]> Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:09:10 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Lance Amato, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In this episode of The Design Pop, host Alexandra chats with Lance Amato, Head of Customer Experience at CANOA, live from CET Experience. Together, they explore how design technology is changing the commercial furniture industry, especially for dealer designers. Lance opens up on his journey from architecture and design to tech, admitting he once underestimated the complexity of dealer designers' work. They discuss CANOA’s bottom-up tech adoption, new SIF file integration, and how AI enhances (not replaces) the design process. It’s a conversation about bridging gaps, improving data access, and making tools work better for everyone in design.

Sign up for The Design POP’s Monthly webinar as we continue to learn existing design technologies and explore new ones too! https://www.thedesignpop.com/webinar

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]]> LIVE at CET Experience with Lance Amato of CANOA Lance Amato, Alexandra Tseffos 00:32:03 In this episode of Design Pop, host Alexandra chats with Lance Amato, Head of Customer Experience at CANOA, live from CET Experience. Together, they explore how design technology is changing the commercial furniture industry, especially for dealer designers. Lance opens up on his journey from architecture and design to tech, admitting he once underestimated the complexity of dealer designers' work. They discuss CANOA’s bottom-up tech adoption, new SIF file integration, and how AI enhances (not replaces) the design process. It’s a conversation about bridging gaps, improving data access, and making tools work better for everyone in design. In this episode of Design Pop, host Alexandra chats with Lance Amato, Head of Customer Experience at CANOA, live from CET Experience. Together, they explore how design technology is changing the commercial furniture industry, especially for dealer designers. Lance opens up on his journey from architecture and design to tech, admitting he once underestimated the complexity of dealer designers' work. They discuss CANOA’s bottom-up tech adoption, new SIF file integration, and how AI enhances (not replaces) the design process. It’s a conversation about bridging gaps, improving data access, and making tools work better for everyone in design. design technology, architecture and design, emerging technologies, cif file integration, imagine a place, design insights, bottom-up approach, canoa, alexandra tseffos, dealer designers, tech innovation, design tools, interoperability, commercial furniture, customer experience, digital transformation, data accessibility, cet experience 2024, design process, furniture industry, a&d, design pop, technology adoption, customer journey, ai in design, lance amato false full 24 8797b10a-b575-47f5-9fea-f5bf20a21916 LIVE at CET Experience with Aaron Okkema and Erin Corrill of Configura  I'm at CET Experience this week, meeting with designers and hugging friends, new and old - this is one happy place!  This morning, Configura hit the stage with some exciting updates, and though you might’ve missed it, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!  In this episode, I sit down with two very special guests: Aaron Okkema (Global Head of Interiors at Configura) and Erin Corrill (Global Head of User Community at Configura). Together, we discuss what's happening at this year's show,  what's new at Configura, and what might be on the horizon for the commercial interiors industry. 

Sign up for The Design POP’s Monthly webinar as we continue to learn existing design technologies and explore new ones too! https://www.thedesignpop.com/webinar

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]]> Wed, 9 Oct 2024 02:11:21 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Aaron Okkema, Erin Corrill, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast  I'm at CET Experience this week, meeting with designers and hugging friends, new and old - this is one happy place!  This morning, Configura hit the stage with some exciting updates, and though you might’ve missed it, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!  In this episode, I sit down with two very special guests: Aaron Okkema (Global Head of Interiors at Configura) and Erin Corrill (Global Head of User Community at Configura). Together, we discuss what's happening at this year's show,  what's new at Configura, and what might be on the horizon for the commercial interiors industry. 

Sign up for The Design POP’s Monthly webinar as we continue to learn existing design technologies and explore new ones too! https://www.thedesignpop.com/webinar

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]]> LIVE at CET Experience with Aaron Okkema and Erin Corrill of Configura Aaron Okkema, Erin Corrill, Alexandra Tseffos 00:29:29 I'm at CET Experience this week, meeting with designers and hugging friends, new and old - this is one happy place! This morning, Configura hit the stage with some exciting updates, and though you might’ve missed it, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! In this episode, I sit down with two very special guests: Aaron Okkema (Global Head of Interiors at Configura) and Erin Corrill (Global Head of User Community at Configura). Together, we discuss what's happening at this year's show, what's new at Configura, and what might be on the horizon for the commercial interiors industry. I'm at CET Experience this week, meeting with designers and hugging friends, new and old - this is one happy place! This morning, Configura hit the stage with some exciting updates, and though you might’ve missed it, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! In this episode, I sit down with two very special guests: Aaron Okkema (Global Head of Interiors at Configura) and Erin Corrill (Global Head of User Community at Configura). Together, we discuss what's happening at this year's show, what's new at Configura, and what might be on the horizon for the commercial interiors industry. industry trends, interior projects, design technology, workspace solutions, design innovation, user experience, design trends, collaborative design, furniture specification, interior architecture, configure presentation, erin corrill, alexandra tseffos, global design, office design, tech in design, space planning tools, virtual design, user community, furniture design, innovation in interiors, commercial spaces, designer insights, cet updates, workplace solutions, product updates, aaron okkema, design community, commercial interiors, cet experience, trade show highlights., future of interiors, space planning, interior design, 3d modeling, configura, office furniture, design software false full 23 f0fd609a-0d24-4ba7-abc9-1d633b12d12f AI in Design: Friend, Foe, or Just a Fancy Tool? Are you using AI without even realizing it? In this episode, Alexandra takes a fun dive into how AI is shaking up the design world. She’s joined by Kari Anderson, founder of Techbox Collective, Scott Loomis from Steelcase, and Felipe Teixeira of Encodec to chat about how AI is being used in real design projects. They break down the perks, the pitfalls, and what we need to watch out for as AI becomes a bigger part of our creative process. From ditching boring tasks to unlocking new levels of creativity, they explore how AI shapes the future of design and what it means for you!

Sign up for The Design POP’s Monthly webinar as we continue to learn existing design technologies and explore new ones too! https://www.thedesignpop.com/webinar

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]]> Thu, 3 Oct 2024 11:16:18 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Scott Loomis, Felipe Teixeira, Alexandra Tseffos, Kari Anderson) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Are you using AI without even realizing it? In this episode, Alexandra takes a fun dive into how AI is shaking up the design world. She’s joined by Kari Anderson, founder of Techbox Collective, Scott Loomis from Steelcase, and Felipe Teixeira of Encodec to chat about how AI is being used in real design projects. They break down the perks, the pitfalls, and what we need to watch out for as AI becomes a bigger part of our creative process. From ditching boring tasks to unlocking new levels of creativity, they explore how AI shapes the future of design and what it means for you!

Sign up for The Design POP’s Monthly webinar as we continue to learn existing design technologies and explore new ones too! https://www.thedesignpop.com/webinar

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]]> AI in Design: Friend, Foe, or Just a Fancy Tool? Scott Loomis, Felipe Teixeira, Alexandra Tseffos, Kari Anderson 01:03:03 ai efficiency, design technology, ai education, ai trends, artificial intelligence, ai in architecture, ai tools, human-ai collaboration, design workflows, ai design solutions, design industry, ai and creativity, creative technology, design strategy, ai future, design automation, responsible ai, ai job impact, ai innovation, ai in creativity, ai integration, ai design tools, ai in manufacturing., data privacy, ai applications false full 22 54416201-1c4b-4e27-9851-09bbbd3e3ef0 Look for Friendly Faces Join Alexandra as she takes you on a journey to the CET Experience, Configura's annual user conference. From her emotional first attendance in 2009 to her current role as a media sponsor, Alexandra shares personal anecdotes and insights into this unique industry event.

Featuring interviews with Configura CEO Stefan Persson and award-winning designer Allessandra Sollazzo, this episode explores what makes the CET Experience special. Whether you're a seasoned CET user or new to the commercial interior design industry, this episode offers valuable perspectives on professional growth, industry connections, and the latest in design technology.

Also - don't miss exclusive details about the 2024 CET Experience and a special discount code for Design Pop listeners!

For $75 off registration to CETX: https://www.cetexperience.com?promo=CETXDESIGNPOP2024

Or use the code: CETXDESIGNPOP2024

If you are heading to CETX let us know! We are looking for people who want to participate in the pod. Contact alexandra@thedesignpop.com

Want to sign up for a free monthly pop webinar in the future?  Follow this link to register.

 


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]]> Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Stefan Pearson, Alexandra Tseffos, Allessandra Sollazzo) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Join Alexandra as she takes you on a journey to the CET Experience, Configura's annual user conference. From her emotional first attendance in 2009 to her current role as a media sponsor, Alexandra shares personal anecdotes and insights into this unique industry event.

Featuring interviews with Configura CEO Stefan Persson and award-winning designer Allessandra Sollazzo, this episode explores what makes the CET Experience special. Whether you're a seasoned CET user or new to the commercial interior design industry, this episode offers valuable perspectives on professional growth, industry connections, and the latest in design technology.

Also - don't miss exclusive details about the 2024 CET Experience and a special discount code for Design Pop listeners!

For $75 off registration to CETX: https://www.cetexperience.com?promo=CETXDESIGNPOP2024

Or use the code: CETXDESIGNPOP2024

If you are heading to CETX let us know! We are looking for people who want to participate in the pod. Contact alexandra@thedesignpop.com

Want to sign up for a free monthly pop webinar in the future?  Follow this link to register.

 


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]]> Look for Friendly Faces Stefan Pearson, Alexandra Tseffos, Allessandra Sollazzo 00:34:00 Join Alexandra as she takes you on a journey to the CET Experience, Configura's annual user conference. From her emotional first attendance in 2009 to her current role as a media sponsor, Alexandra shares personal anecdotes and insights into this unique industry event. Featuring interviews with Configura CEO Stefan Persson and award-winning designer Allessandra Sollazzo, this episode explores what makes the CET Experience special. Whether you're a seasoned CET user or new to the commercial interior design industry, this episode offers valuable perspectives on professional growth, industry connections, and the latest in design technology. Also - don't miss exclusive details about the 2024 CET Experience and a special discount code for Design Pop listeners! For $75 off registration to CETX: https://www.cetexperience.com?promo=CETXDESIGNPOP2024 Or use the code: CETXDESIGNPOP2024 Want to sign up for a free monthly pop webinar in the future? Follow this link to register. Join Alexandra as she takes you on a journey to the CET Experience, Configura's annual user conference. From her emotional first attendance in 2009 to her current role as a media sponsor, Alexandra shares personal anecdotes and insights into this unique industry event. Featuring interviews with Configura CEO Stefan Persson and award-winning designer Allessandra Sollazzo, this episode explores what makes the CET Experience special. Whether you're a seasoned CET user or new to the commercial interior design industry, this episode offers valuable perspectives on professional growth, industry connections, and the latest in design technology. Also - don't miss exclusive details about the 2024 CET Experience and a special discount code for Design Pop listeners! For $75 off registration to CETX: https://www.cetexperience.com?promo=CETXDESIGNPOP2024 Or use the code: CETXDESIGNPOP2024 Want to sign up for a free monthly pop webinar in the future? Follow this link to register. industry trends, alessandra salazzo, design technology, awards, design innovation, industry connections, manufacturer relationships, workplace technology, stefan pearson, commercial interior design, professional development, technology updates, cet software, design collaboration, professional growth, networking, furniture design, career development, dealership experience, design community, cet experience, interior design industry, configura, design software, conference false full 21 0fd7ce18-ef31-4a79-9d44-a444fae98cb4 Jet Lagged and Inspired: From NeoCon + Design Days, to Greece, and Beyond In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos takes a moment to reflect and reconnect after a whirlwind month. She shares stories from a recent journey to Greece, exploring her heritage and creating memorable family experiences. From historic landmarks to unique family dynamics, Alexandra's travel tales reveal deeper connections to her life's purpose.

She also dives into her experiences at NeoCon and Design Days and how reconnecting with others creates true moments of gratitude and curiosity. Tune in for a heartfelt blend of personal stories and professional insights that underscore the importance of human connection and discovery.

To access the Pop into Excellence recordings, please visit: https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/AP2S9W9L

POP into Excellence 2024 recordings are a limited release. This offer ends on August 1st at 12am central time.

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]]> Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:43:21 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos takes a moment to reflect and reconnect after a whirlwind month. She shares stories from a recent journey to Greece, exploring her heritage and creating memorable family experiences. From historic landmarks to unique family dynamics, Alexandra's travel tales reveal deeper connections to her life's purpose.

She also dives into her experiences at NeoCon and Design Days and how reconnecting with others creates true moments of gratitude and curiosity. Tune in for a heartfelt blend of personal stories and professional insights that underscore the importance of human connection and discovery.

To access the Pop into Excellence recordings, please visit: https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/AP2S9W9L

POP into Excellence 2024 recordings are a limited release. This offer ends on August 1st at 12am central time.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

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]]> Jet Lagged and Inspired: From NeoCon + Design Days, to Greece, and Beyond Alexandra Tseffos 00:21:24 In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos takes a moment to reflect and reconnect after a whirlwind month. She shares stories from a recent journey to Greece, exploring her heritage and creating memorable family experiences. From historic landmarks to unique family dynamics, Alexandra's travel tales reveal deeper connections to her life's purpose. She also dives into her experiences at NeoCon and Design Days and how reconnecting with others creates true moments of gratitude and curiosity. Tune in for a heartfelt blend of personal stories and professional insights that underscore the importance of human connection and discovery. To access the Pop into Excellence recordings, please visit: https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/AP2S9W9L POP into Excellence 2024 recordings are a limited release. This offer ends on August 1st at 12am central time. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos takes a moment to reflect and reconnect after a whirlwind month. She shares stories from a recent journey to Greece, exploring her heritage and creating memorable family experiences. From historic landmarks to unique family dynamics, Alexandra's travel tales reveal deeper connections to her life's purpose. She also dives into her experiences at NeoCon and Design Days and how reconnecting with others creates true moments of gratitude and curiosity. Tune in for a heartfelt blend of personal stories and professional insights that underscore the importance of human connection and discovery. To access the Pop into Excellence recordings, please visit: https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/AP2S9W9L POP into Excellence 2024 recordings are a limited release. This offer ends on August 1st at 12am central time. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) dealer design, industry challenges, travel tales, design industry, the design pop, design podcast, professional insights, neocon, alexandra tseffos, mediterranean heritage, dealer designers, dealers, human connection, design community, design days false full 20 0103200b-44bf-4e1f-9f0a-15c6795d7f7b Less Noise, More Flow: What drives rep-designer collaboration? What truly drives collaboration between sales reps and designers? Today, we cut through the noise to explore how technology and simplified processes can foster better partnerships.

Join us as we hear from industry experts Lindsey Shepherd, owner of Full Circle, and Tom Caterino, principal at Contract Sources in Boston, as they share how they use technology and unique approaches to communication to create harmonious and impactful relationships that deliver real results for their businesses and people.

But wait, there’s more! Alexandra also examines survey results from the North American Independent Rep Council (NAIRC), hosted by Jeff Carlson, on the use of specification services and technology by independent rep groups. The results may surprise you.

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]]> Fri, 7 Jun 2024 11:52:25 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Lindsey Shepherd, Tom Caterino, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast What truly drives collaboration between sales reps and designers? Today, we cut through the noise to explore how technology and simplified processes can foster better partnerships.

Join us as we hear from industry experts Lindsey Shepherd, owner of Full Circle, and Tom Caterino, principal at Contract Sources in Boston, as they share how they use technology and unique approaches to communication to create harmonious and impactful relationships that deliver real results for their businesses and people.

But wait, there’s more! Alexandra also examines survey results from the North American Independent Rep Council (NAIRC), hosted by Jeff Carlson, on the use of specification services and technology by independent rep groups. The results may surprise you.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

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]]> Less Noise, More Flow: What drives rep-designer collaboration? Lindsey Shepherd, Tom Caterino, Alexandra Tseffos 00:48:09 What truly drives collaboration between sales reps and designers? Today, we cut through the noise to explore how technology and simplified processes can foster better partnerships. Join us as we hear from industry experts Lindsey Shepherd, owner of Full Circle, and Tom Caterino, principal at Contract Sources in Boston, as they share how they use technology and unique approaches to communication to create harmonious and impactful relationships that deliver real results for their businesses and people. But wait, there’s more! Alexandra also examines survey results from the North American Independent Rep Council (NAIRC), hosted by Jeff Carlson, on the use of specification services and technology by independent rep groups. The results may surprise you. What truly drives collaboration between sales reps and designers? Today, we cut through the noise to explore how technology and simplified processes can foster better partnerships. Join us as we hear from industry experts Lindsey Shepherd, owner of Full Circle, and Tom Caterino, principal at Contract Sources in Boston, as they share how they use technology and unique approaches to communication to create harmonious and impactful relationships that deliver real results for their businesses and people. But wait, there’s more! Alexandra also examines survey results from the North American Independent Rep Council (NAIRC), hosted by Jeff Carlson, on the use of specification services and technology by independent rep groups. The results may surprise you. rep-designer collaboration, contract sources, impactful results, reducing complexity, imagine a place, communication approaches, enhancing productivity, productivity, industry experts, design industry, tom catarino, the design pop, nairc survey, improving workflows, cet technology, business relationships, alexandra tseffos, independent rep groups, specification services, streamlining work, sales reps, technology in design, fostering partnerships, lindsay shepherd, simplifying processes, effective collaboration, full circle, ofs, partnerships false full 18 a76c2187-14a0-4840-bf3b-173bc3dc6a3f The Power of YOU: Designing Your Personal Brand for Growth with Aaron Estabrook, OFS In today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Estabrook, Director of Digital Marketing and Media Strategy at OFS, who shares compelling insights on building a personal brand that resonates and stands out in a crowded market. Together, they explore the impact of personal branding on career advancement, the psychological barriers professionals face, and practical strategies for overcoming them. Aaron offers actionable advice on how individuals can express their unique values and skills, enhancing visibility and connections within their industry. This episode is an essential listen for anyone eager to elevate their professional profile and forge meaningful connections in the design world. Whether you're an emerging designer or a seasoned professional, you'll find valuable lessons in building a brand that truly represents who you are and attracts the opportunities you seek.

Register for Aaron's Pop into Excellence personal branding workshop here. 

Learn more about The Design POP into Excellence event 

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]]> Mon, 6 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Aaron Estabrook, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/excellence In today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Estabrook, Director of Digital Marketing and Media Strategy at OFS, who shares compelling insights on building a personal brand that resonates and stands out in a crowded market. Together, they explore the impact of personal branding on career advancement, the psychological barriers professionals face, and practical strategies for overcoming them. Aaron offers actionable advice on how individuals can express their unique values and skills, enhancing visibility and connections within their industry. This episode is an essential listen for anyone eager to elevate their professional profile and forge meaningful connections in the design world. Whether you're an emerging designer or a seasoned professional, you'll find valuable lessons in building a brand that truly represents who you are and attracts the opportunities you seek.

Register for Aaron's Pop into Excellence personal branding workshop here. 

Learn more about The Design POP into Excellence event 

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

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]]> The Power of YOU: Designing Your Personal Brand for Growth with Aaron Estabrook, OFS Aaron Estabrook, Alexandra Tseffos 01:15:18 In today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Estabrook, Director of Digital Marketing and Media Strategy at OFS, who shares compelling insights on building a personal brand that resonates and stands out in a crowded market. Together, they explore the impact of personal branding on career advancement, the psychological barriers professionals face, and practical strategies for overcoming them. Aaron offers actionable advice on how individuals can express their unique values and skills, enhancing visibility and connections within their industry. This episode is an essential listen for anyone eager to elevate their professional profile and forge meaningful connections in the design world. Whether you're an emerging designer or a seasoned professional, you'll find valuable lessons in building a brand that truly represents who you are and attracts the opportunities you seek. In today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Estabrook, Director of Digital Marketing and Media Strategy at OFS, who shares compelling insights on building a personal brand that resonates and stands out in a crowded market. Together, they explore the impact of personal branding on career advancement, the psychological barriers professionals face, and practical strategies for overcoming them. Aaron offers actionable advice on how individuals can express their unique values and skills, enhancing visibility and connections within their industry. This episode is an essential listen for anyone eager to elevate their professional profile and forge meaningful connections in the design world. Whether you're an emerging designer or a seasoned professional, you'll find valuable lessons in building a brand that truly represents who you are and attracts the opportunities you seek. personal brand examples, personal branding, entrepreneurial skills in design, design innovation, design education, imagine a place, career advancement, networking in design, design industry, leadership in design, the design pop, value of personal branding, digital marketing strategies, alexandra tseffos, brand building techniques, professional development, personal growth, design career tips, brand strategy, branding, imagine a place production, effective communication, enhancing career opportunities, professional growth, overcoming psychological barriers, and social media branding for designers., employee engagement, career coaching, brand differentiation, design community, professional visibility, professional identity in design, interior design, the design pop podcast, building a personal brand, workplace culture in design, aaron estabrook, ofs, personal brand false full 17 a77ab077-099c-4290-8c22-e0367c12ad61 Crossing Over: From Designer to Dealmaker with Alison Kulisek Are you thinking of "crossing over?" 

On this episode,  we welcome Alison Kulisek, a designer-turned-salesperson who has experienced multiple "crossover" events in her design industry career. Alison is currently an Account Executive at MDC Interior Solutions and today she'll share her path from dealer designer to sales, discussing the stresses and challenges of both roles.

This episode offers a deep dive into the diverse career trajectories within the design field, exploring the essential skills required to excel in both design and sales roles. Highlighting the significance of embracing risks and innovation, our discussion underscores the necessity of adaptability and courage to distinguish oneself in the ever-evolving design industry.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

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]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alison Kulisek, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Are you thinking of "crossing over?" 

On this episode,  we welcome Alison Kulisek, a designer-turned-salesperson who has experienced multiple "crossover" events in her design industry career. Alison is currently an Account Executive at MDC Interior Solutions and today she'll share her path from dealer designer to sales, discussing the stresses and challenges of both roles.

This episode offers a deep dive into the diverse career trajectories within the design field, exploring the essential skills required to excel in both design and sales roles. Highlighting the significance of embracing risks and innovation, our discussion underscores the necessity of adaptability and courage to distinguish oneself in the ever-evolving design industry.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Learn more about The Design POP into Excellence event 

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

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]]> Crossing Over: From Designer to Dealmaker with Alison Kulisek Alison Kulisek, Alexandra Tseffos 00:55:01 Are you thinking of "crossing over?" On this episode, we welcome Alison Kulisek, a designer-turned-salesperson who has experienced multiple "crossover" events in her design industry career. Alison is currently an Account Executive at MDC Interior Solutions and today she'll share her path from dealer designer to sales, discussing the stresses and challenges of both roles. This episode offers a deep dive into the diverse career trajectories within the design field, exploring the essential skills required to excel in both design and sales roles. Highlighting the significance of embracing risks and innovation, our discussion underscores the necessity of adaptability and courage to distinguish oneself in the ever-evolving design industry. Are you thinking of "crossing over?" On this episode, we welcome Alison Kulisek, a designer-turned-salesperson who has experienced multiple "crossover" events in her design industry career. Alison is currently an Account Executive at MDC Interior Solutions and today she'll share her path from dealer designer to sales, discussing the stresses and challenges of both roles. This episode offers a deep dive into the diverse career trajectories within the design field, exploring the essential skills required to excel in both design and sales roles. Highlighting the significance of embracing risks and innovation, our discussion underscores the necessity of adaptability and courage to distinguish oneself in the ever-evolving design industry. account executive, technology impact, manufacturer, alison kulisek, design education, designer, pandemic impact, design trends, imagine a place, career advice, career change, salesperson, client relationships, design-sales relationship, the design pop, overtime work, installation, unconventional career, design, product knowledge, customer service, dual expertise, commercial design, alexandra tseffos, crossover, workplace design, workplace evolution, industry disruption, professional development, hard skills, commission-based income, design portfolio, design firm, imagine a place production, collaboration, sales, risk-taking, soft skills, project management, cet, presentations, industry insights, work-life balance, design process, furniture industry, career transition, design leadership, interior design, adaptability, career path, the design pop podcast, design vs. sales, dealer designer, versatility, product specification, stress management false full 16 2b916e10-d992-40fb-b1ba-65588ac1c469 Flipping the Traditional Dealer Script with Laura Boone On today's episode, Laura Boone, co-founder and principal of turnerboone, shares the unique business model and company culture that drives their success. During our chat, Laura discusses prioritizing highly skilled account managers (who have design backgrounds) over traditional commission-based sales, emphasizing hiring for culture fit and developing leaders internally. Laura also highlights embracing remote work for top talent, prioritizing customer experience, and staying open to industry evolution. Her insights offer a glimpse into an innovative dealership structure centered on service excellence and employee satisfaction.

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]]> Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Laura Boone, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast On today's episode, Laura Boone, co-founder and principal of turnerboone, shares the unique business model and company culture that drives their success. During our chat, Laura discusses prioritizing highly skilled account managers (who have design backgrounds) over traditional commission-based sales, emphasizing hiring for culture fit and developing leaders internally. Laura also highlights embracing remote work for top talent, prioritizing customer experience, and staying open to industry evolution. Her insights offer a glimpse into an innovative dealership structure centered on service excellence and employee satisfaction.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

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]]> Flipping the Traditional Dealer Script with Laura Boone Laura Boone, Alexandra Tseffos 00:53:10 On today's episode, Laura Boone, co-founder and principal of turnerboone, shares the unique business model and company culture that drives their success. During our chat, Laura discusses prioritizing highly skilled account managers (who have design backgrounds) over traditional commission-based sales, emphasizing hiring for culture fit and developing leaders internally. Laura also highlights embracing remote work for top talent, prioritizing customer experience, and staying open to industry evolution. Her insights offer a glimpse into an innovative dealership structure centered on service excellence and employee satisfaction. On today's episode, Laura Boone, co-founder and principal of turnerboone, shares the unique business model and company culture that drives their success. During our chat, Laura discusses prioritizing highly skilled account managers (who have design backgrounds) over traditional commission-based sales, emphasizing hiring for culture fit and developing leaders internally. Laura also highlights embracing remote work for top talent, prioritizing customer experience, and staying open to industry evolution. Her insights offer a glimpse into an innovative dealership structure centered on service excellence and employee satisfaction. sales strategy, industry trends, talent acquisition, employee engagement., hiring for culture fit, talent management, interior designers, leadership development, top talent, dealership structure, industry evolution, interview, innovative structure, company values, imagine a place, employee retention, skilled account managers, unique, insights, remote workforce, high-touch service, workplace trends, service excellence, innovation, employee development, organizational culture, commercial furniture dealership, customer-centric approach, company culture, customer service, alexandra tseffos, remote work, leadership philosophy, internal promotion, collaboration, service-oriented, turner boone, success, leadership, industry insights, design pop, business model, teamwork, exceptional customer experience, evolving industry, business growth, employee satisfaction, client-centric approach, workplace culture, laura boone, remote work culture, client satisfaction false full 15 3574e438-c938-4098-b6d6-2e02130f251b Pivoting with Purpose Despite starting his design career in his 30s, Paul Riches has become a distinguished leader at MillerKnoll. Captured during a conversation between long-time industry friends at the CET Experience, Paul traces his winding path to design. From deciding against law school to touring with a heavy metal band, his journey demonstrates how saying "yes" can unlock unforeseen opportunities.

Now a celebrated technological trailblazer, Paul helped push early dealer design software to the limits. He shares valuable insights on innovation, client expectations around speed-to-market, and why designers shouldn't fear AI. Tune in to discover Paul's unconventional trajectory and perspective on technology transforming the workplace.

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]]> Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Paul Riches, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Despite starting his design career in his 30s, Paul Riches has become a distinguished leader at MillerKnoll. Captured during a conversation between long-time industry friends at the CET Experience, Paul traces his winding path to design. From deciding against law school to touring with a heavy metal band, his journey demonstrates how saying "yes" can unlock unforeseen opportunities.

Now a celebrated technological trailblazer, Paul helped push early dealer design software to the limits. He shares valuable insights on innovation, client expectations around speed-to-market, and why designers shouldn't fear AI. Tune in to discover Paul's unconventional trajectory and perspective on technology transforming the workplace.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

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]]> Pivoting with Purpose Paul Riches, Alexandra Tseffos 01:03:06 Despite starting his design career in his 30s, Paul Riches has become a distinguished leader at MillerKnoll. Captured during a conversation between long-time industry friends at the CET Experience, Paul traces his winding path to design. From deciding against law school to touring with a heavy metal band, his journey demonstrates how saying "yes" can unlock unforeseen opportunities. Now a celebrated technological trailblazer, Paul helped push early dealer design software to the limits. He shares valuable insights on innovation, client expectations around speed-to-market, and why designers shouldn't fear AI. Tune in to discover Paul's unconventional trajectory and perspective on technology transforming the workplace. Despite starting his design career in his 30s, Paul Riches has become a distinguished leader at MillerKnoll. Captured during a conversation between long-time industry friends at the CET Experience, Paul traces his winding path to design. From deciding against law school to touring with a heavy metal band, his journey demonstrates how saying "yes" can unlock unforeseen opportunities. Now a celebrated technological trailblazer, Paul helped push early dealer design software to the limits. He shares valuable insights on innovation, client expectations around speed-to-market, and why designers shouldn't fear AI. Tune in to discover Paul's unconventional trajectory and perspective on technology transforming the workplace. openness, canada, creative leader, knoll, career pivot, organizational mission, empathetic leadership, perseverance, winding career path, period of reflection, embracing uncertainty, artificial intelligence, career reinvention, saying yes, career surprises, imagine a place, hi-tech, supporting employees, career change, career transitions, interior designer, taking risks, curiosity, authenticity, future of technology, innovation, career serendipity, herman miller, the design pop, organizational culture, business leader, unexpected career, operations, vancouver, career evolution, victoria bc, steelcase, miller knoll, unconventional career, alexandra tseffos, rock bands, organizational development, criminology, non-traditional career, future of work, paul riches, early technology adopter, design leader, lifelong learning, musician, flexibility, entrepreneurship, heavy metal bands, cet, career journey, strategic thinking, law school, non-linear career, ai, imposter syndrome, career opportunities, speed to market, furniture industry, technology, design pop, embracing change, introvert, organizational values, adaptability, interior design industry, career path, career trajectory, dealer designer, design software, ofs, legal industry false full 14 c953327e-7dab-4065-aa8b-55c937f0f8ba Part 2 of Exploring Design Incentives In the second installment of our series, we delve deeper into the actual practices of dealer design incentives.

Join us as we speak with Brent Matthews, President of Price Modern, who explains the rationale behind introducing designer incentives in their organization.

We'll also engage with two design leaders who take distinctly different approaches to incentives. Joining us are Julia Machado, a familiar voice on The Design Pop, who collaborated with Brent on these incentives, and Kim Melka from Duet Resource Group, bringing a fresh perspective.

To cap off the episode, I'll break down the findings from our online survey about design incentives used by both manufacturers and dealers. This episode is packed with real-world insights that are sure to enlighten you.

Get the Incentives Report here

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]]> Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Brent Matthews, Kim Melka, Alexandra Tseffos, Julia Machado) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In the second installment of our series, we delve deeper into the actual practices of dealer design incentives.

Join us as we speak with Brent Matthews, President of Price Modern, who explains the rationale behind introducing designer incentives in their organization.

We'll also engage with two design leaders who take distinctly different approaches to incentives. Joining us are Julia Machado, a familiar voice on The Design Pop, who collaborated with Brent on these incentives, and Kim Melka from Duet Resource Group, bringing a fresh perspective.

To cap off the episode, I'll break down the findings from our online survey about design incentives used by both manufacturers and dealers. This episode is packed with real-world insights that are sure to enlighten you.

Get the Incentives Report here

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

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]]> Part 2 of Exploring Design Incentives Brent Matthews, Kim Melka, Alexandra Tseffos, Julia Machado 01:01:02 In the second installment of our series, we delve deeper into the actual practices of dealer design incentives. Join us as we speak with Brent Matthews, President of Price Modern, who explains the rationale behind introducing designer incentives in their organization. We'll also engage with two design leaders who take distinctly different approaches to incentives. Joining us are Julia Machado, a familiar voice on The Design Pop, who collaborated with Brent on these incentives, and Kim Melka from Duet Resource Group, bringing a fresh perspective. To cap off the episode, I'll break down the findings from our online survey about design incentives used by both manufacturers and dealers. This episode is packed with real-world insights that are sure to enlighten you. In the second installment of our series, we delve deeper into the actual practices of dealer design incentives. Join us as we speak with Brent Matthews, President of Price Modern, who explains the rationale behind introducing designer incentives in their organization. We'll also engage with two design leaders who take distinctly different approaches to incentives. Joining us are Julia Machado, a familiar voice on The Design Pop, who collaborated with Brent on these incentives, and Kim Melka from Duet Resource Group, bringing a fresh perspective. To cap off the episode, I'll break down the findings from our online survey about design incentives used by both manufacturers and dealers. This episode is packed with real-world insights that are sure to enlighten you. industry trends, design priorities., sales objectives, vendor relationships, salesperson roles, project efficiency, specification strategies, dealer stress, sales strategies, design innovation, design trends, workload management, imagine a place, project deadlines, the design pop, furniture specification, team communication, efficiency concerns, furniture selection, client expectations, product selection, product knowledge, design solutions, alexandra tseffos, creative energy, workplace design, professional development, budget management, specification challenges, design tools, sales support, project management, project coordination, design inspiration, design challenges, team dynamics, designers, design process, workplace solutions, design creativity, ancillary products, design leadership, design pop, workload balance, sales techniques, market trends, team engagement, ancillary specification, technical design, ancillary management, team collaboration, design software, process improvement, client satisfaction false full 13 12c85858-339e-425d-b2f2-ac73104cb591 Skin in the Game: Part 1 of Exploring Design Incentives As projects get more complex, dealer designers juggle more responsibilities - and as more responsibilities grow, so too does dealer designer compensation, right? RIGHT?! Well, apparently, not always…

In this first episode of our two-part series, we dive into the complexities of dealer designer compensation and incentives. Join us with consultant Shelley Rosetta from Solomon Coyle, who helps shed light on why, despite rising pay, 80% of designers are leaving for better opportunities. Together, we tackle how Dealer Principals can better retain and motivate talent by aligning compensation with skills, setting clear KPIs, and offering more than just monetary rewards. 

Expect insights on transparency, training, and recognition in part 1 of today’s episode, setting the stage for more in-depth discussions and survey data in part two. Stay tuned!

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]]> Mon, 15 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Shelley Rosetta, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast As projects get more complex, dealer designers juggle more responsibilities - and as more responsibilities grow, so too does dealer designer compensation, right? RIGHT?! Well, apparently, not always…

In this first episode of our two-part series, we dive into the complexities of dealer designer compensation and incentives. Join us with consultant Shelley Rosetta from Solomon Coyle, who helps shed light on why, despite rising pay, 80% of designers are leaving for better opportunities. Together, we tackle how Dealer Principals can better retain and motivate talent by aligning compensation with skills, setting clear KPIs, and offering more than just monetary rewards. 

Expect insights on transparency, training, and recognition in part 1 of today’s episode, setting the stage for more in-depth discussions and survey data in part two. Stay tuned!

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]]> Skin in the Game: Part 1 of Exploring Design Incentives Shelley Rosetta, Alexandra Tseffos 00:27:07 As projects get more complex, dealer designers juggle more responsibilities - and as more responsibilities grow, so too does dealer designer compensation, right? RIGHT?! Well, apparently, not always… In this first episode of our two-part series, we dive into the complexities of dealer designer compensation and incentives. Join us with consultant Shelley Rosetta from Solomon Coyle, who helps shed light on why, despite rising pay, 80% of designers are leaving for better opportunities. Together, we tackle how Dealer Principals can better retain and motivate talent by aligning compensation with skills, setting clear KPIs, and offering more than just monetary rewards. Expect insights on transparency, training, and recognition in part 1 of today’s episode, setting the stage for more in-depth discussions and survey data in part two. Stay tuned! As projects get more complex, dealer designers juggle more responsibilities - and as more responsibilities grow, so too does dealer designer compensation, right? RIGHT?! Well, apparently, not always… In this first episode of our two-part series, we dive into the complexities of dealer designer compensation and incentives. Join us with consultant Shelley Rosetta from Solomon Coyle, who helps shed light on why, despite rising pay, 80% of designers are leaving for better opportunities. Together, we tackle how Dealer Principals can better retain and motivate talent by aligning compensation with skills, setting clear KPIs, and offering more than just monetary rewards. Expect insights on transparency, training, and recognition in part 1 of today’s episode, setting the stage for more in-depth discussions and survey data in part two. Stay tuned! team incentives, designer pay, design turnover, training, design retention, monetary incentives, design teams, design exits, education, imagine a place, design talent, design salaries, inflation, the design pop, designer compensation, company incentives, designer bonuses, designer workload, design rewards, designer incentives, alexandra tseffos, design perks, project complexity, business transparency, shelley rosetta, design motivation, individual incentives, pay growth, design value, imagine a place productions, design appreciation, non-monetary incentives, design pop, designer responsibilities, profit margins, recognition false full 12 5d87d34a-5090-4193-9b88-d5459c57d163 Embracing the Unknowns: My First Year Podcasting Can you believe it's been a whole year of podcasting already? Crazy! As a new podcaster, 2023 has been a fun and surprising journey. For instance, my kiddos now call this podcast, "mama’s show" and my hairstylist mentioned she “digs the sound of my voice.” It’s a little startling to know so many folks are listening, both inside and outside our industry. Even though I’m still adjusting to this new reality, I’ve loved strengthening old connections and making new friends through this podcast journey.

Looking ahead into 2024, I hope to bring more leadership perspectives to the table and chat about topics that impact the life of a dealer designer, like the role of incentives, career advancement, work-life balance, and so much more.

I hope you enjoy this episode and take time this holiday season and unplug. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I look forward to sharing more with you in the new year, so stay tuned!

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]]> Mon, 18 Dec 2023 21:54:26 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Can you believe it's been a whole year of podcasting already? Crazy! As a new podcaster, 2023 has been a fun and surprising journey. For instance, my kiddos now call this podcast, "mama’s show" and my hairstylist mentioned she “digs the sound of my voice.” It’s a little startling to know so many folks are listening, both inside and outside our industry. Even though I’m still adjusting to this new reality, I’ve loved strengthening old connections and making new friends through this podcast journey.

Looking ahead into 2024, I hope to bring more leadership perspectives to the table and chat about topics that impact the life of a dealer designer, like the role of incentives, career advancement, work-life balance, and so much more.

I hope you enjoy this episode and take time this holiday season and unplug. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I look forward to sharing more with you in the new year, so stay tuned!

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]]> Embracing the Unknowns: My First Year Podcasting Alexandra Tseffos 00:27:58 Can you believe it's been a whole year of podcasting already? Crazy! As a new podcaster, 2023 has been a fun and surprising journey. For instance, my kiddos now call this podcast, "mama’s show" and my hairstylist mentioned she “digs the sound of my voice.” It’s a little startling to know so many folks are listening, both inside and outside our industry. Even though I’m still adjusting to this new reality, I’ve loved strengthening old connections and making new friends through this podcast journey. Looking ahead into 2024, I hope to bring more leadership perspectives to the table and chat about topics that impact the life of a dealer designer, like the role of incentives, career advancement, work-life balance, and so much more. I hope you enjoy this episode and take time this holiday season and unplug. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I look forward to sharing more with you in the new year, so stay tuned! Can you believe it's been a whole year of podcasting already? Crazy! As a new podcaster, 2023 has been a fun and surprising journey. For instance, my kiddos now call this podcast, "mama’s show" and my hairstylist mentioned she “digs the sound of my voice.” It’s a little startling to know so many folks are listening, both inside and outside our industry. Even though I’m still adjusting to this new reality, I’ve loved strengthening old connections and making new friends through this podcast journey. Looking ahead into 2024, I hope to bring more leadership perspectives to the table and chat about topics that impact the life of a dealer designer, like the role of incentives, career advancement, work-life balance, and so much more. I hope you enjoy this episode and take time this holiday season and unplug. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I look forward to sharing more with you in the new year, so stay tuned! job transitions, efficiency, career paths, career changes, job incentives, mentor relationships, design management, career fulfillment, imagine a place, advancement opportunities, designer leaders, problem solving, continuing education, public speaking, visibility, generational differences, innovation, the design pop, price modern, company culture, evolution of design careers, taking initiative, customer service, alexandra tseffos, personalization, design director, personal stories, future of work, collaboration, economic impacts, time management, flexibility, leadership, imagine a place productions, podcasting, skill development, production designer, career trajectories, julia machado, work motivations, furniture industry careers, thought leadership, industry insights, management perspectives, work-life balance, design evolution, quality focus, technological impacts, dealership organizations, pandemic impacts, design pop, office furniture dealerships, empowering teams, design career growth, compensation, creative careers, ofs, process improvement, specialization, creativity false full 11 51f4fb27-646d-484c-bcfa-19216d360753 Squeaky Wheels Get Promoted: Taking Initiative in Your Design Career Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience, Alexandra sits down with Julia Machado, Director of Design at Price Modern. Together, they explore Julia's transformative journey from a production designer to a leader in management. Their discussion delves into  the evolution of her leadership skills, the criticality of maintaining work-life balance, and the art of empowering teams while fostering specialization. A significant part of their conversation revolves around the industry's ambiguous career paths and how professionals can proactively navigate and advance their design careers. Julia shares her valuable insights, providing perspectives from both an individual contributor and a managerial standpoint, offering a comprehensive view of the potential trajectories of a design career within a dealer organization.

And make sure to stay tuned for the last few minutes of today's episode, as we look ahead to our next episode, in which we'll need your help learning more about "incentives" for dealer designers. 

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]]> Mon, 27 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Julia Machado, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience, Alexandra sits down with Julia Machado, Director of Design at Price Modern. Together, they explore Julia's transformative journey from a production designer to a leader in management. Their discussion delves into  the evolution of her leadership skills, the criticality of maintaining work-life balance, and the art of empowering teams while fostering specialization. A significant part of their conversation revolves around the industry's ambiguous career paths and how professionals can proactively navigate and advance their design careers. Julia shares her valuable insights, providing perspectives from both an individual contributor and a managerial standpoint, offering a comprehensive view of the potential trajectories of a design career within a dealer organization.

And make sure to stay tuned for the last few minutes of today's episode, as we look ahead to our next episode, in which we'll need your help learning more about "incentives" for dealer designers. 

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]]> Squeaky Wheels Get Promoted: Taking Initiative in Your Design Career Julia Machado, Alexandra Tseffos 01:03:08 Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience, Alexandra sits down with Julia Machado, Director of Design at Price Modern. Together, they explore Julia's transformative journey from a production designer to a leader in management. Their discussion delves into the evolution of her leadership skills, the criticality of maintaining work-life balance, and the art of empowering teams while fostering specialization. A significant part of their conversation revolves around the industry's ambiguous career paths and how professionals can proactively navigate and advance their design careers. Julia shares her valuable insights, providing perspectives from both an individual contributor and a managerial standpoint, offering a comprehensive view of the potential trajectories of a design career within a dealer organization. And make sure to stay tuned for the last few minutes of today's episode, as we look ahead to our next episode, in which we'll need your help learning more about "incentives" for dealer designers. Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience, Alexandra sits down with Julia Machado, Director of Design at Price Modern. Together, they explore Julia's transformative journey from a production designer to a leader in management. Their discussion delves into the evolution of her leadership skills, the criticality of maintaining work-life balance, and the art of empowering teams while fostering specialization. A significant part of their conversation revolves around the industry's ambiguous career paths and how professionals can proactively navigate and advance their design careers. Julia shares her valuable insights, providing perspectives from both an individual contributor and a managerial standpoint, offering a comprehensive view of the potential trajectories of a design career within a dealer organization. And make sure to stay tuned for the last few minutes of today's episode, as we look ahead to our next episode, in which we'll need your help learning more about "incentives" for dealer designers. job transitions, efficiency, career paths, career changes, job incentives, mentor relationships, design management, career fulfillment, imagine a place, advancement opportunities, designer leaders, problem solving, continuing education, public speaking, visibility, generational differences, innovation, the design pop, price modern, company culture, evolution of design careers, taking initiative, customer service, alexandra tseffos, personalization, design director, personal stories, future of work, collaboration, economic impacts, time management, flexibility, leadership, imagine a place productions, podcasting, skill development, production designer, career trajectories, julia machado, work motivations, furniture industry careers, thought leadership, industry insights, management perspectives, work-life balance, design evolution, quality focus, technological impacts, dealership organizations, pandemic impacts, design pop, office furniture dealerships, empowering teams, design career growth, compensation, creative careers, ofs, process improvement, specialization, creativity false full 10 9029a3a8-f613-43dc-9ff5-b12d360e8101 LIVE from CET Experience with Stefan Persson, CEO at Configura CET Experience is Configura's annual user community conference. This year, CETx was in Scottsdale, Arizona and The Design Pop Podcast was lucky enough to get to speak to, interview, and mingle with the attendees of this incredible event. In fact, we were excited to get some time with a very special guest, Stefan Persson, Chief Executive Officer at Configura (maker of CET Commercial Interiors software). 

In this episode, Stefan walks us through his unique path to Configura and the exciting new changes coming to the CET program, such as integrating AI, updating the user interface, and releasing other new exciting features. Tune in to hear his insights on Configura's origins, values, and exciting plans ahead.

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]]> Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:27:45 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Steffan Persson, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast CET Experience is Configura's annual user community conference. This year, CETx was in Scottsdale, Arizona and The Design Pop Podcast was lucky enough to get to speak to, interview, and mingle with the attendees of this incredible event. In fact, we were excited to get some time with a very special guest, Stefan Persson, Chief Executive Officer at Configura (maker of CET Commercial Interiors software). 

In this episode, Stefan walks us through his unique path to Configura and the exciting new changes coming to the CET program, such as integrating AI, updating the user interface, and releasing other new exciting features. Tune in to hear his insights on Configura's origins, values, and exciting plans ahead.

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]]> LIVE from CET Experience with Stefan Persson, CEO at Configura Steffan Persson, Alexandra Tseffos 00:39:21 CET Experience is Configura's annual user community conference. This year, CETx was in Scottsdale, Arizona and The Design Pop Podcast was lucky enough to get to speak to, interview, and mingle with the attendees of this incredible event. In fact, we were excited to get some time with a very special guest, Stefan Persson, Chief Executive Officer at Configura (maker of CET Commercial Interiors software). In this episode, Stefan walks us through his unique path to Configura and the exciting new changes coming to the CET program, such as integrating AI, updating the user interface, and releasing other new exciting features. Tune in to hear his insights on Configura's origins, values, and exciting plans ahead. CET Experience is Configura's annual user community conference. This year, CETx was in Scottsdale, Arizona and The Design Pop Podcast was lucky enough to get to speak to, interview, and mingle with the attendees of this incredible event. In fact, we were excited to get some time with a very special guest, Stefan Persson, Chief Executive Officer at Configura (maker of CET Commercial Interiors software). In this episode, Stefan walks us through his unique path to Configura and the exciting new changes coming to the CET program, such as integrating AI, updating the user interface, and releasing other new exciting features. Tune in to hear his insights on Configura's origins, values, and exciting plans ahead. stefan persson, artificial intelligence, user experience, imagine a place, innovation, the design pop, steelcase, community, alexandra tseffos, dealer designers, collaboration, leadership, imagine a place productions, cet, ceo, ai, culture, commercial interiors, the design pop podcast, configura, haworth, ui/ux false full 9 a2474a9d-9ab0-4edf-910f-06b9749f29f9 Making the Leap: Pivoting from Physical to Digital Design While at AIA’s Women's Leadership Summit, there were references to the fact that women were leaving the profession between graduating and becoming licensed.  When I asked where they were going, a common response was: Interior Design and UX.

Kari Anderson has spent 3 decades in the industry, mostly at dealerships, and has always been fascinated by technology. I met her as an early adopter of CET in 2009. In 2018, she made a shift and was re-educated as a UX designer. This episode explores her journey personally and professionally as she applied her existing interior design experience to a new function of design.

Kari Anderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uxandkari/

UX&Kari: https://uxandkari.com/

Techbox Collective: https://techboxcollective.com/

Where are the women?

https://www.acsa-arch.org/resource/where-are-the-women-measuring-progress-on-gender-in-architecture-2/

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]]> Mon, 9 Oct 2023 15:27:56 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Kari Anderson, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast While at AIA’s Women's Leadership Summit, there were references to the fact that women were leaving the profession between graduating and becoming licensed.  When I asked where they were going, a common response was: Interior Design and UX.

Kari Anderson has spent 3 decades in the industry, mostly at dealerships, and has always been fascinated by technology. I met her as an early adopter of CET in 2009. In 2018, she made a shift and was re-educated as a UX designer. This episode explores her journey personally and professionally as she applied her existing interior design experience to a new function of design.

Kari Anderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uxandkari/

UX&Kari: https://uxandkari.com/

Techbox Collective: https://techboxcollective.com/

Where are the women?

https://www.acsa-arch.org/resource/where-are-the-women-measuring-progress-on-gender-in-architecture-2/

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]]> Making the Leap: Pivoting from Physical to Digital Design Kari Anderson, Alexandra Tseffos 00:54:41 While at AIA’s Women's Leadership Summit, there were references to the fact that women were leaving the profession between graduating and becoming licensed. When I asked where they were going, a common response was: Interior Design and UX. Kari Anderson has spent 3 decades in the industry, mostly at dealerships, and has always been fascinated by technology. I met her as an early adopter of CET in 2009. In 2018, she made a shift and was re-educated as a UX designer. This episode explores her journey personally and professionally as she applied her existing interior design experience to a new function of design. While at AIA’s Women's Leadership Summit, there were references to the fact that women were leaving the profession between graduating and becoming licensed. When I asked where they were going, a common response was: Interior Design and UX. Kari Anderson has spent 3 decades in the industry, mostly at dealerships, and has always been fascinated by technology. I met her as an early adopter of CET in 2009. In 2018, she made a shift and was re-educated as a UX designer. This episode explores her journey personally and professionally as she applied her existing interior design experience to a new function of design. career pivot, physical design, user experience, dealerships, imagine a place, technical skills, problem solving, career change, design industry, innovation, the design pop, alexandra tseffos, personal development, kari anderson, professional development, design skills, design thinking, collaboration, digital design, soft skills, imagine a place productions, networking, cet, furniture design, prototyping, design process, technology, e-tools, interior design, interface design, ux design, design training, space design, journey mapping false full 8 1a5a82e7-b75c-4832-addb-fc07362676e2 The Ancillary Dilemma: Who Calls the Shots? In today's episode, we're going deep into a surprisingly hot topic in the world of the dealer designer. Should the reins of ancillary decisions be in the hands of designers, salespeople, a specialist, A&D, manufacturer’s rep… all of them? To help break down this debate, we welcome two very special guests, Jodi Sorenson (Director of Furniture Design at AGILE INTERIORS) and Abby Leopold (Principal at CH411). We discuss how ancillary has become more complex, the differences between specification & selection, and explore ideas on how dealerships can enhance the ancillary process as the demand for ancillary grows.

Plus, we glean findings from a survey put out by The Design POP, revealing how dealerships approach ancillary, with some eye-opening feedback. Join us for a comprehensive look into the evolving realm of ancillary furniture and how this topic just might make or break your dealer design team.

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]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Jodi Sorenson, Abby Leopold, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In today's episode, we're going deep into a surprisingly hot topic in the world of the dealer designer. Should the reins of ancillary decisions be in the hands of designers, salespeople, a specialist, A&D, manufacturer’s rep… all of them? To help break down this debate, we welcome two very special guests, Jodi Sorenson (Director of Furniture Design at AGILE INTERIORS) and Abby Leopold (Principal at CH411). We discuss how ancillary has become more complex, the differences between specification & selection, and explore ideas on how dealerships can enhance the ancillary process as the demand for ancillary grows.

Plus, we glean findings from a survey put out by The Design POP, revealing how dealerships approach ancillary, with some eye-opening feedback. Join us for a comprehensive look into the evolving realm of ancillary furniture and how this topic just might make or break your dealer design team.

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]]> The Ancillary Dilemma: Who Calls the Shots? Jodi Sorenson, Abby Leopold, Alexandra Tseffos 01:06:32 In today's episode, we're going deep into a surprisingly hot topic in the world of the dealer designer. Should the reins of ancillary decisions be in the hands of designers, salespeople, a specialist, A&D, manufacturer’s rep… all of them? To help break down this debate, we welcome two very special guests, Jodi Sorenson (Director of Furniture Design at AGILE INTERIORS) and Abby Leopold (Principal at CH411). We discuss how ancillary has become more complex, the differences between specification & selection, and explore ideas on how dealerships can enhance the ancillary process as the demand for ancillary grows. Plus, we glean findings from a survey put out by The Design POP, revealing how dealerships approach ancillary, with some eye-opening feedback. Join us for a comprehensive look into the evolving realm of ancillary furniture and how this topic just might make or break your dealer design team. In today's episode, we're going deep into a surprisingly hot topic in the world of the dealer designer. Should the reins of ancillary decisions be in the hands of designers, salespeople, a specialist, A&D, manufacturer’s rep… all of them? To help break down this debate, we welcome two very special guests, Jodi Sorenson (Director of Furniture Design at AGILE INTERIORS) and Abby Leopold (Principal at CH411). We discuss how ancillary has become more complex, the differences between specification & selection, and explore ideas on how dealerships can enhance the ancillary process as the demand for ancillary grows. Plus, we glean findings from a survey put out by The Design POP, revealing how dealerships approach ancillary, with some eye-opening feedback. Join us for a comprehensive look into the evolving realm of ancillary furniture and how this topic just might make or break your dealer design team. vendor relationships, ancillary furniture, furniture trends, specification process, ch411, ancillary specialists, ancillary decisions, design perspective, designer vs. salespeople, office interiors, agile interiors, furniture design, design debate, dealership methodologies, design leadership, design team dynamics, commercial sector, abby leopold, jodi sorenson, design pop survey, commercial furniture industry. false full 7 b0398d22-e9fb-468e-b1e1-bcc2767f2863 Crafting Expectations: A Designer Parent's Guide | Ellen Gerovac, BSI In today's episode, Alexandra interviews Ellen Gerovac, VP of Design at BSI-Milwaukee and Mother of 4 children. Together, they discuss their experiences becoming parents while building design careers, including overcoming early misconceptions about motherhood in the industry. 

Ellen shares advice on setting boundaries between work and home life, being creative about managing workload, and involving kids in your design passion. Alexandra and Ellen offer clear advice for managing your mental health as a Mom, emphasizing clear communication, asking for help when needed, and maintaining balance during stressful seasons of life. 

As you'll hear, this conversation aims to empower designers to advocate for their needs while bringing their best selves to their families and their work.

Looking to make a change? The independent designer registry is a way to help you market your skills, in a field you love, to those who need your design expertise.  

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]]> Mon, 7 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Ellen Gerovac, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In today's episode, Alexandra interviews Ellen Gerovac, VP of Design at BSI-Milwaukee and Mother of 4 children. Together, they discuss their experiences becoming parents while building design careers, including overcoming early misconceptions about motherhood in the industry. 

Ellen shares advice on setting boundaries between work and home life, being creative about managing workload, and involving kids in your design passion. Alexandra and Ellen offer clear advice for managing your mental health as a Mom, emphasizing clear communication, asking for help when needed, and maintaining balance during stressful seasons of life. 

As you'll hear, this conversation aims to empower designers to advocate for their needs while bringing their best selves to their families and their work.

Looking to make a change? The independent designer registry is a way to help you market your skills, in a field you love, to those who need your design expertise.  

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]]> Crafting Expectations: A Designer Parent's Guide | Ellen Gerovac, BSI Ellen Gerovac, Alexandra Tseffos 00:59:58 In today's episode, Alexandra interviews Ellen Gerovac, VP of Design at BSI-Milwaukee and Mother of 4 children. Together, they discuss their experiences becoming parents while building design careers, including overcoming early misconceptions about motherhood in the industry. Ellen shares advice on setting boundaries between work and home life, being creative about managing workload, and involving kids in your design passion. Alexandra and Ellen offer clear advice for managing your mental health as a Mom, emphasizing clear communication, asking for help when needed, and maintaining balance during stressful seasons of life. As you'll hear, this conversation aims to empower designers to advocate for their needs while bringing their best selves to their families and their work. In today's episode, Alexandra interviews Ellen Gerovac, VP of Design at BSI-Milwaukee and Mother of 4 children. Together, they discuss their experiences becoming parents while building design careers, including overcoming early misconceptions about motherhood in the industry. Ellen shares advice on setting boundaries between work and home life, being creative about managing workload, and involving kids in your design passion. Alexandra and Ellen offer clear advice for managing your mental health as a Mom, emphasizing clear communication, asking for help when needed, and maintaining balance during stressful seasons of life. As you'll hear, this conversation aims to empower designers to advocate for their needs while bringing their best selves to their families and their work. maternity leave, school, designer, children, imagine a place, daycare, the design pop, furniture dealer, motherhood, communication, legacy, quality time, designer mom, guilt, alexandra tseffos, ellen gerovac, podcasts, parenting, support, empathy, commute, parent, flexibility, imagine a place productions, workload, bsi, resources, work-life balance, boundaries, technology, fulfillment, interior design, woman in desig, self-advocacy, family, postpartum, creativity false full 6 572640bf-8f5a-4292-98d9-42d61f36b25f Dealer Designers Can Dent the Universe | Josh Collins, Atmosphere Commercial Interiors Today, we chat with Josh Collins, Design Director at Atmosphere Commercial Interiors. In this episode, we discover how Josh's experience working in A&D and data analysis led him to prioritize design and embrace the challenges of the dealership industry, realizing the immense potential for dealer designers to make a lasting impact on the world of work environments.

We also explore the transformative effects of the pandemic on redefining work and consider how dealer designers can shape the future, leaving their mark on the universe of design.

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]]> Mon, 10 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Josh Collins, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Today, we chat with Josh Collins, Design Director at Atmosphere Commercial Interiors. In this episode, we discover how Josh's experience working in A&D and data analysis led him to prioritize design and embrace the challenges of the dealership industry, realizing the immense potential for dealer designers to make a lasting impact on the world of work environments.

We also explore the transformative effects of the pandemic on redefining work and consider how dealer designers can shape the future, leaving their mark on the universe of design.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production

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]]> Dealer Designers Can Dent the Universe | Josh Collins, Atmosphere Commercial Interiors Josh Collins, Alexandra Tseffos 00:53:54 Today, we chat with Josh Collins, Design Director at Atmosphere Commercial Interiors. In this episode, we discover how Josh's experience working in A&D and data analysis led him to prioritize design and embrace the challenges of the dealership industry, realizing the immense potential for dealer designers to make a lasting impact on the world of work environments. We also explore the transformative effects of the pandemic on redefining work and consider how dealer designers can shape the future, leaving their mark on the universe of design. Today, we chat with Josh Collins, Design Director at Atmosphere Commercial Interiors. In this episode, we discover how Josh's experience working in A&D and data analysis led him to prioritize design and embrace the challenges of the dealership industry, realizing the immense potential for dealer designers to make a lasting impact on the world of work environments. We also explore the transformative effects of the pandemic on redefining work and consider how dealer designers can shape the future, leaving their mark on the universe of design. josh collins, dealership industry, pandemic, lasting impact, functional and aesthetic considerations, space optimization, dealer design, design trends, customer needs, imagine a place, the design pop, data analysis, innovative design approaches, furniture selection, redefining work, shaping the future, design implementation, prioritize design, alexandra tseffos, atmosphere commercial interiors, design strategy, design director, collaborative design process, challenges, transformative effects, shaping spaces, design pop, interior design, work environments, universe of design, transformative solutions, creativity false full 5 ed00ae0b-07b2-416f-80ad-2133680a213d The Dealer Stress Index | Rob Langejans, AlwaysStrategic In Part 2 of our designer stress series, I team up with esteemed communication coach and AlwaysStrategic founder, Rob Langejans, as we explore the findings from our Dealer Designer Stress Assessment. With his extensive expertise in Architecture, Engineering & Construction, and Contract Furniture, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation.

Tune in as we go further on the topic of managing stress, enhancing workplace satisfaction, and improving communication techniques. 

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]]> Thu, 15 Jun 2023 08:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Rob Langejans, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast In Part 2 of our designer stress series, I team up with esteemed communication coach and AlwaysStrategic founder, Rob Langejans, as we explore the findings from our Dealer Designer Stress Assessment. With his extensive expertise in Architecture, Engineering & Construction, and Contract Furniture, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation.

Tune in as we go further on the topic of managing stress, enhancing workplace satisfaction, and improving communication techniques. 

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]]> The Dealer Stress Index | Rob Langejans, AlwaysStrategic Rob Langejans, Alexandra Tseffos 00:37:41 In Part 2 of our designer stress series, I team up with esteemed communication coach and AlwaysStrategic founder, Rob Langejans, as we explore the findings from our Dealer Designer Stress Assessment. With his extensive expertise in Architecture, Engineering & Construction, and Contract Furniture, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. Tune in as we go further on the topic of managing stress, enhancing workplace satisfaction, and improving communication techniques. In Part 2 of our designer stress series, I team up with esteemed communication coach and AlwaysStrategic founder, Rob Langejans, as we explore the findings from our Dealer Designer Stress Assessment. With his extensive expertise in Architecture, Engineering & Construction, and Contract Furniture, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. Tune in as we go further on the topic of managing stress, enhancing workplace satisfaction, and improving communication techniques. trainer, workplace satisfaction, control deprivation, imagine a place, rewards, productivity, alwaysstrategic, organizational stress, workplace stress, coach, engagement, the design pop, data analysis, communication techniques, alexandra suffis, professional insights, effective communication techniques, commercial real estate, meaningfulness, design, rob langejans, survey, alexandra tseffos, architecture & design, designer stress, job security, stress assessment, results, time management, management effectiveness, imagine a place productions, workload, real-world data, contract furniture, dealer designer stress assessment, stress management strategies, job satisfaction, individual level, recognition, stress management false full 4 e6d3b352-0673-4b0a-9464-58f667891242 Under Pressure: Navigating Stress as a Dealer Designer Let's talk stress. In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into the complex stress landscape that dealer designers confront daily. From relentless requests for deliverables, quick deadlines, exhaustive email chains, and unending creative demands - we examine how these tasks can grind you down. This balancing act between projects and people strains not just the mind and body, but also begins to cross over into every facet of life and business.

So, what's the greatest source of your work-related stress? How do you counteract this daily pressure?  Join me as we navigate these questions and consider solutions for managing and mitigating the stresses that many dealer designers are facing daily.

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]]> Mon, 5 Jun 2023 11:53:27 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast Let's talk stress. In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into the complex stress landscape that dealer designers confront daily. From relentless requests for deliverables, quick deadlines, exhaustive email chains, and unending creative demands - we examine how these tasks can grind you down. This balancing act between projects and people strains not just the mind and body, but also begins to cross over into every facet of life and business.

So, what's the greatest source of your work-related stress? How do you counteract this daily pressure?  Join me as we navigate these questions and consider solutions for managing and mitigating the stresses that many dealer designers are facing daily.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production

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]]> Under Pressure: Navigating Stress as a Dealer Designer Alexandra Tseffos 00:36:06 Let's talk stress. In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into the complex stress landscape that dealer designers confront daily. From relentless requests for deliverables, quick deadlines, exhaustive email chains, and unending creative demands - we examine how these tasks can grind you down. This balancing act between projects and people strains not just the mind and body, but also begins to cross over into every facet of life and business. So, what's the greatest source of your work-related stress? How do you counteract this daily pressure? Join me as we navigate these questions and consider solutions for managing and mitigating the stresses that many dealer designers are facing daily. Let's talk stress. In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into the complex stress landscape that dealer designers confront daily. From relentless requests for deliverables, quick deadlines, exhaustive email chains, and unending creative demands - we examine how these tasks can grind you down. This balancing act between projects and people strains not just the mind and body, but also begins to cross over into every facet of life and business. So, what's the greatest source of your work-related stress? How do you counteract this daily pressure? Join me as we navigate these questions and consider solutions for managing and mitigating the stresses that many dealer designers are facing daily. architecture and design, design stress, stress in design, architecture, dealer design, the design pop, design podcast, alexandra tseffos, dealer designers, imagine a place productions, managing stress, design pop, design pop podcast, interior design, interior design podcast, stress management false full 3 1f25ad67-27a1-48da-8def-8961dea4408e Get to the Table | Jill Stewart, Office Revolution On this episode of The Design Pop, I sit down with the brilliant Jill Stewart, VP of Business Strategy at Office Revolution. Together, we dive into Jill's journey, starting as a dealer designer to leading a diverse team of designers and workplace professionals today.  Jill breaks down what she's learned on this journey and how embracing change just might be the most important skill we can learn in today's fast-moving, tech-enabled, world.

We also explore the power of a design team and how to unleash their potential. Jill emphasizes the significance of recognizing and respecting the work of dealer designers, and how their unique ability to connect with people can help elevate your organization.

Tune in to this episode to discover how to "get to the table" and take your career to the next level.

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]]> Tue, 9 May 2023 08:00:00 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Jill Stewart, Alexandra Tseffos) https://www.thedesignpop.com/podcast On this episode of The Design Pop, I sit down with the brilliant Jill Stewart, VP of Business Strategy at Office Revolution. Together, we dive into Jill's journey, starting as a dealer designer to leading a diverse team of designers and workplace professionals today.  Jill breaks down what she's learned on this journey and how embracing change just might be the most important skill we can learn in today's fast-moving, tech-enabled, world.

We also explore the power of a design team and how to unleash their potential. Jill emphasizes the significance of recognizing and respecting the work of dealer designers, and how their unique ability to connect with people can help elevate your organization.

Tune in to this episode to discover how to "get to the table" and take your career to the next level.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production

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]]> Get to the Table | Jill Stewart, Office Revolution Jill Stewart, Alexandra Tseffos 00:34:18 On this episode of The Design Pop, I sit down with the brilliant Jill Stewart, VP of Business Strategy at Office Revolution. Together, we dive into Jill's journey, starting as a dealer designer to leading a diverse team of designers and workplace professionals today. Jill breaks down what she's learned on this journey and how embracing change just might be the most important skill we can learn in today's fast-moving, tech-enabled, world. We also explore the power of a design team and how to unleash their potential. Jill emphasizes the significance of recognizing and respecting the work of dealer designers, and how their unique ability to connect with people can help elevate your organization. Tune in to this episode to discover how to "get to the table" and take your career to the next level. On this episode of The Design Pop, I sit down with the brilliant Jill Stewart, VP of Business Strategy at Office Revolution. Together, we dive into Jill's journey, starting as a dealer designer to leading a diverse team of designers and workplace professionals today. Jill breaks down what she's learned on this journey and how embracing change just might be the most important skill we can learn in today's fast-moving, tech-enabled, world. We also explore the power of a design team and how to unleash their potential. Jill emphasizes the significance of recognizing and respecting the work of dealer designers, and how their unique ability to connect with people can help elevate your organization. Tune in to this episode to discover how to "get to the table" and take your career to the next level. office, ofs brands, workplace insights, dealer design, imagine a place, workplace trends, office trends, the design pop, design podcast, design, jill stewart, alexandra tseffos, dealer design podcast, office design, dealer designers, design skills, office revolution, leadership, imagine a place productions, office leadership, design leadership, design pop, design sales, interior design, workplace, ofs false full 2 ea4c95a2-8a91-4337-a946-f7e22d49feea The Best Place to Start Welcome to the very first episode of The Design Pop! So...where should I start?

In this inaugural episode, I take a moment to reflect on my design career and share the valuable lessons I've learned along the way. As I delve into the topic of success, I ponder which skills have truly contributed to my achievements. For instance, could it be that figure skating, a passion nurtured by my Mom, has played a role in my current career path?

Join me as I delve into the importance of identifying our unique strengths as designers, and how leveraging these strengths can pave the way for success in our businesses. In today's episode, we'll explore the crucial role of self-awareness in design, and how recognizing our strengths can lead to creating meaningful and impactful work.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production

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]]> Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:26:03 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/the-best-place-to-start-lvVC5eHU Welcome to the very first episode of The Design Pop! So...where should I start?

In this inaugural episode, I take a moment to reflect on my design career and share the valuable lessons I've learned along the way. As I delve into the topic of success, I ponder which skills have truly contributed to my achievements. For instance, could it be that figure skating, a passion nurtured by my Mom, has played a role in my current career path?

Join me as I delve into the importance of identifying our unique strengths as designers, and how leveraging these strengths can pave the way for success in our businesses. In today's episode, we'll explore the crucial role of self-awareness in design, and how recognizing our strengths can lead to creating meaningful and impactful work.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production

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]]> The Best Place to Start Alexandra Tseffos 00:27:59 Welcome to the very first episode of The Design Pop! So...where should I start? In this inaugural episode, I take a moment to reflect on my design career and share the valuable lessons I've learned along the way. As I delve into the topic of success, I ponder which skills have truly contributed to my achievements. For instance, could it be that figure skating, a passion nurtured by my Mom, has played a role in my current career path? Join me as I delve into the importance of identifying our unique strengths as designers, and how leveraging these strengths can pave the way for success in our businesses. In today's episode, we'll explore the crucial role of self-awareness in design, and how recognizing our strengths can lead to creating meaningful and impactful work. Welcome to the very first episode of The Design Pop! So...where should I start? In this inaugural episode, I take a moment to reflect on my design career and share the valuable lessons I've learned along the way. As I delve into the topic of success, I ponder which skills have truly contributed to my achievements. For instance, could it be that figure skating, a passion nurtured by my Mom, has played a role in my current career path? Join me as I delve into the importance of identifying our unique strengths as designers, and how leveraging these strengths can pave the way for success in our businesses. In today's episode, we'll explore the crucial role of self-awareness in design, and how recognizing our strengths can lead to creating meaningful and impactful work. career skills, building a career in design, imagine a place, the design pop, skill sets, career, design, alexandra tseffos, design skills, imagine a place productions, cet, designer skills, design pop, design planning, a career in design, interior design, design career, skills false full 1 41265808-022b-456e-a4f3-201cb9d35830 Introducing The Design Pop with Alexandra Tseffos! I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop! I'm here to help you build a design career that you love by learning and understanding perspectives from within our industry. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here.

Through my journey as a designer and trainer in the design community, discovered the importance of understanding dealer processes to effectively train and understand designers. Along the way, I noticed a common craving among designers for community, partnership, and validation. Now self-employed, I aim to raise awareness about frequently asked questions in the design community and explore topics such as the future of design, better collaboration between designers and salespeople or manufacturer reps, and what flexibility means to a designer. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production.


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]]> Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:31:19 +0000 aestabrook@ofs.com (Alexandra Tseffos) https://the-design-pop.simplecast.com/episodes/introducing-the-design-pop-with-alexandra-tseffos-LYsUObDS I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop! I'm here to help you build a design career that you love by learning and understanding perspectives from within our industry. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here.

Through my journey as a designer and trainer in the design community, discovered the importance of understanding dealer processes to effectively train and understand designers. Along the way, I noticed a common craving among designers for community, partnership, and validation. Now self-employed, I aim to raise awareness about frequently asked questions in the design community and explore topics such as the future of design, better collaboration between designers and salespeople or manufacturer reps, and what flexibility means to a designer. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design.

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production.


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]]> Introducing The Design Pop with Alexandra Tseffos! Alexandra Tseffos 00:02:26 I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop! I'm here to help you build a design career that you love by learning and understanding perspectives from within our industry. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here. Through my journey as a designer and trainer in the design community, discovered the importance of understanding dealer processes to effectively train and understand designers. Along the way, I noticed a common craving among designers for community, partnership, and validation. Now self-employed, I aim to raise awareness about frequently asked questions in the design community and explore topics such as the future of design, better collaboration between designers and salespeople or manufacturer reps, and what flexibility means to a designer. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production. I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop! I'm here to help you build a design career that you love by learning and understanding perspectives from within our industry. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here. Through my journey as a designer and trainer in the design community, discovered the importance of understanding dealer processes to effectively train and understand designers. Along the way, I noticed a common craving among designers for community, partnership, and validation. Now self-employed, I aim to raise awareness about frequently asked questions in the design community and explore topics such as the future of design, better collaboration between designers and salespeople or manufacturer reps, and what flexibility means to a designer. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production. architecture and design, dealer design, the design pop, tseffos, design podcast, dealers and designers, design, alexandra tseffos, workplace design, office design, dealer designers, dealers, design pop, design pop podcast, interior design, the design pop podcast false full 0