The Architectural Canvas | 264 | Erik B. Peterson

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is another episode of Convo By Design with noted architect and founder of PHX Architecture, Erik Peterson

Erik likes to say about his canvas, “As you study it, the land starts to talk to you, it guides you.” And that is how the following conversation went. Architecture is an art form, comprised of equal parts creativity and math. The manner in which the architect applies his craft to create and use space to its fullest potential, all the while artistically sculpting the form into a form that fits the client. This is my conversation with architect and founder of PHX Architecture, Erik Petersen.

That is a wrap on this episode of Convo By Design. Thank you, Erik, for your time. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your generous support of the show and thank you for listening and subscribing to the show. If you haven’t yet, it’s easy. You can find the show everywhere you find your favorite podcasts or ask Siri. Say, “Hey Siri, play Convo By Design podcast.”, and she will. Until next week, stay healthy and keep creating.

Special Series on Designing for Disaster | 3 | Katrien Van Der Schueren – Space & Furniture Fabrication

We ALL have more going on at home now. You are not alone, as a matter of fact, I don’t think we’ve all been in more similar circumstances. Our homes were not designed for this. I am talking with some of the best and brightest in design and architecture to get their strategies for making space more efficient.

This episode features Katrien Van Der Shueren. Voila Creative Studio specializes in furniture design and fabrication. You have to work, you still have to be mom, dad, teacher, babysitter, chef, and you still have to figure out how to make your home multi-functional. Even when this disaster is over, we will be looking at how our homes failed to function in the new ways we needed. We are going to look at ways to make sure we are better prepared should it happen again. These ideas are going to make your life a little bit easier. Katrien has some amazing advice regarding approaching your spaces like a movie set. A functioning set that allows you to instantly repurpose spaces for multiple uses and finding dedicated areas for your most important tasks. And a whole lot more.

Thank you, Katrien for both your time and talent. For more about Voila Creative Studio, check them out online, Voila Creative Studio dot com. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Special Series on Designing for Disaster | 2 | Brian Ferrick | Multi-Purpose Staging Ideas for Your Home

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a special series of episodes designed to help you manage the coronavirus disaster by providing you with actionable ideas and tips from world-class designers and architects to run your home more efficiently. We ALL have more going on at home now. You are not alone, as a matter of fact, I don’t think we’ve all been in more similar circumstances. While the stories of conference call disasters provide a little levity, I realized that our homes and resources are being taxed like never before. Our homes were not designed for this. I am talking with some of the best and brightest in design and architecture to get their strategies for making space more efficient.

This episode features Brian Ferrick of Meridith Baer Home. Meridith Baer Home specializes in the art of home staging. Staging a home is all about placement, space, light, and accommodation. It is about creating a feeling and making everything work to its full capabilities. Brian shares ideas about making your space more efficient and functional. This is always important, but never more so than right now if you are one of the millions who are sheltering in place. You still have to work, you still have to be mom, dad, teacher, babysitter, chef, you get the point. These ideas are going to make your life a little bit easier.

Thank you, Brian, for both your time and talent. For more about Meridith Baer Home, visit them online. Meridith Baer Home dot com. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

You Need Some Inspiration, Find it Here | 263 | WESCOVER

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is another episode of Convo By Design with an incredible digital resource for any creator, designer or artist who wants to get some new eyes on their work.

The resource is called WESCOVER, you can find them at WESCOVER dot com and you’re about to hear from Allison Murray, Content Director at WESCOVER. This is a digital portal for amazing creative work, they connect people, places and the work.

I spoke with Allison late in 2019 and while editing the piece, I was trying to find the best time on my editorial calendar to share this with you and then things sort of made the choice for me. 2020 stared off great in SoCal design… KBIS in January, Modernism Week in February and then coronavirus happened. The most amazing thing about creative endeavors is that they are an experience to be a part of and to share with others and when something like COVID-19 strikes, it makes the sharing part very difficult. There will most likely be many more canceled events in the spring and possibly summer months. The life’s blood of creative types is the export of work and import of inspiration. This is about connections and finding new sources of inspiration one artist, designer, architect, creator, or podcaster at a time. This is Allison Murray, Content Director of WESCOVER.

That is a wrap on this episode of Convo By Design. Thank you, Allison, for your time. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your generous support of the show and thank you for listening and subscribing to the show. If you haven’t yet, it’s easy. You can find the show everywhere you find your favorite podcasts or ask Alexa. Say, “Hey Alexa, play Convo By Design podcast.”, and she will. Until next week, stay healthy and keep creating.

Special Series on Designing for Disaster | 1 | Marissa Zajack | How to Make Your Entertaining Areas More Efficient

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a special series of episodes designed to help you manage this coronavirus disaster by providing you with actionable ideas and tips to run your home more efficiently. We ALL have more going on at home now. You are not alone, as a matter of fact, I don’t think we’ve all been in more similar circumstances. While the stories of conference call disasters provide a little levity, I realized that our homes and resources are being taxed like never before. Our homes were not designed for this unless you’re a “prepper.” I am talking with some of the best and brightest in design and architecture to get their strategies for making space more efficient.

This episode was recorded on Saturday, March 21st with Marissa Zajack of Marissa Zajack Creative. Marissa is a master designer with vast knowledge and experience in restaurant and bar design. Marissa is providing some phenomenal advice on how to make your kitchen, dining and entertaining spaces operate more like the hospitality industry. A few simple ideas can help streamline meal preparation and make your kitchen and dining areas more comfortable and more inspiring in the process. This is Marissa Zajack.

Thank you, Marissa, for both your time and talent, thank you, Walker Zanger, for your partnership and support of Convo By Design. And thank you for listening, were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. We will get through this, together. And until we do, I will keep bringing you the ideas from incredibly talented creatives to make this a little bit better. If you have a question, ideas for a segment or you are a designer that wants to help, please email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Topic: Making Residential Kitchen and Entertaining Spaces Operate More Efficiently

Organize Your Kitchen
Keep an inventory of your supplies
Reorganize, move all supplies and tools are closer to where they will be used
Create ‘server stations’ with specific items for use away from cooking and preparation areas
Establish an organizational plan including times for foodservice and weekly meal plans
Go through all your resources and remove what you are not using right now
Freshen up your space, inspiration is in short supply, don’t run out
What can you repurpose to make your entertaining spaces more functional
Bring the outside in with garden cut flowers OR branches if you don’t have flowers
EDIT – Sometimes it’s not what you have but what you remove that makes the space function more efficiently
Place heavier items closer to where they will be used (simple idea…I know)
Look at what is lacking in your space right now. Solve what you can and plan to correct in better times

Lone Star House of Design | 1 | Tracy Martin Taylor from Eleven 11 Design

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Lone Star | House of Design, produced and distributed by the team that brings you Convo By Design with another story about design and architecture from the Great State of Texas.

This is the inaugural episode of Lone Star House of Design so I think I should probably back up a bit and explain where this came from for those new to the show. I’m Josh Cooperman, I host and publish Convo By Design, a podcast about all things design and architecture covering Southern California and a bit beyond. I have been hosting and publishing Convo By Design for seven years as of this recording with over 260 episodes of the podcast, 200 videos on the YouTube channel, over 50 live panels, and events produced and I have hosted well over 500 interviews with some of the most amazing and talented creators in the biz today. I am a design enthusiast with a background in broadcasting. I produced a design house here in Los Angeles in 2012, contributed editorial to some of California’s most forward-thinking home decor magazines and I produce panel conversations for design-focused events in California as well. All this being said, I produce Convo By Design and now Lone Star House of Design because I love the design and architecture space.

The creators you will hear from on Lone Star House of Design are taking Texas design to new heights through brave choices, incredible creativity, and brilliant business minds. You are going to hear about how they craft their creations as well as their design firms. this is how design is changing the landscape across the great State of Texas, this is Lone Star House of Design.

The first episode features an amazing designer and a really good friend. Tracy Martin Taylor is the principal designer behind Eleven 11 Design. She is also a former boss of mine when I lived in Dallas. Tracy is a creative mind like none I have met before. Her creativity is immense, her compassion, even greater and her skill as a business owner is why Tracy is so successful in this, her second career.

Tracy and I discuss our past which led to her design firm, the tough choices she made to get where she is and how the state of design is growing across the Metroplex and beyond.

Thank you, Tracy Martin Taylor, of Eleven 11 Design, that was fun and I truly appreciate the time. Please subscribe to the show so you catch every episode of Lone Star House of Design and Convo By Design, ask Alexa or Siri, say, “Hey Siri, Play Convo By Design” and she will. You can follow the show on the socials as well, @ConvoXDesign with an “X” on Instagram and check out the YouTube channel for videos from some of your favorite episodes. Thank you for listening and until next week, Keep creating.

@ConvoXDesign #LoneStarHOD #Eleven11Design

Mentorship Master Class | 262 | Timothy Corrigan, Michael Berman & Genevieve Trousdale

The reason I love doing this podcast as much as I do is because of the amazing people I meet along the way. It’s as simple as that. In this episode of the show you are going to hear from three amazing designers and tremendous people; Michael Berman, Timothy Corrigan, and Genevieve Trousdale. The setting is WestEdge Design Fair and the top is mentorship. I have had the great fortune of interviewing each of them separately but I wanted them on stage so you could hear the story about the connection that binds the three of them together. This is a story about learning, teaching, sharing and collaborating. One of the greatest gifts that come from teaching is what the teacher learns from the student. This is story is very much about that.

That’s a wrap on this episode of Convo By Design. Thank you, Genevieve, Michael, and Timothy. Thank you WestEdge Design Fair for making a public forum possible. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your support and most of all, thank you for listening. Were it not for you, there would be no Convo By Design. Until next week, keep creating.

Design Rockstars, Rebels & Raconteurs | 261 | A Blueprint for Success

I started Convo By Design seven years ago because I saw an opportunity to tell the stories of creators, designers, architects, artists, set decorators and others who change the way we live, build and design. I started recording panels and keynotes from West Week, Fall Market, Legends and of course, WestEdge Design Fair. After I started working with WestEdge co-founder’s Troy Hanson and Megan Reilly, the opportunity presented itself to start producing the stage. For two years now, the Convo By Design Programming Lounge has been a place to share new ideas, engage and explore the stories from inside SoCal’s vibrant world of design and architecture.

Rapidly, a new class of creators has emerged. These artisans are taking the industry to the next level through the work as well as through the stories they’re telling and the business they’re building. They are multi-dimensional. I crafted a panel called Rockstars, Rebels, and Raconteurs to showcase some of these unique personalities. This group included designers Lori Dennis and  Ryan Saghian as well as architect, Jean Brownhill. Consider this a blueprint for success and a roadmap for any new creative endeavor.

This chat was fun and covers a lot of ground so let’s get to it. Here are some of the topics covered:

Who are you? What an interesting question. Do you know? They do.

The next topic is one very near and dear to my heart, it too was covered at WestEdge and you will be hearing about it later this year on the podcast. The topic is mentorship.

The next topic is connections. So important and you’re going to hear why.

You have heard a lot about talk collaborations and you are about to hear more..this is good, really good.

Okay, we have covered a lot of ground here. Identity, mentorship, connections, collaborations… You’re about to hear about fear.  Not a topic often addressed but so important. Everyone feels it, but everyone responds differently. Here is how this group of rebels handles their fear.

From fear to drive and you’ll hear how they are connected.

From fear to drive, what could the next subject possibly be but working on the edge

If you are going to change the business, disrupt or whatever you want to call it, you have to find your niche, locate the need, find the audience looking for what you have to offer.

From finding the need to maintaining momentum. This is a hard one. Making it to the top is one thing, staying there is another…

Finally, it comes down to blazing trails and doing things differently…

So there you have it for Rockstars, Rebels, and Raconteurs with Lori Dennis, Jean Brownhill, and Ryan Saghian. This is a blueprint for any creator looking to take their game to the next level. Special thanks to Ryan, Jean, and Lori. Thank you, Megan and Troy, thank you Erika Heet for moderating this conversation, thank you, John McClain, Kevin Isbell, Julia Wong and Nicolette Akiko for designing our stage at WestEdge. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your support and thank you for listening, without you, there is no Convo By Design. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the show everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. Until next week, keep creating.

#ConvoByDesign #Rockstars #RyanSahgian #JeanBrownhill #LoriDennis #WestEdgeDesignFair

Cutting Carbs | 260 | Cutting Carbon Emissions, Sustainable Building and Design

I found myself at the Design Hardware on 3rd Street in Los Angeles for a conversation on building sustainability, design, and wellness. I don’t think it will surprise anyone to know that there are a growing and distinct link to be made between sustainable design and designing for wellness. The trouble with the conversations around sustainability is that it’s dry, some say dull and it can be. What is truly exciting about the subject though is what happens in the application of sustainable practices. There is, truly a revolution taking place in the design and architecture space. The focus has completely flipped on its head, in a good way. Where many would once talk about how a structure is to be used and lived in, now we talk about how to design and build to serve the people who use that structure. Design is experiential. The experience is what makes it work.

Tract Metro moderates this chat with Maria McCain from the Natural Resources Design Council, Ben Stapleton of the US Green Building Council and Real Estate pro, Erick Zumwalt. This conversation connects the dots between sourcing, sustainable design, property value and how these elements all work together.

Enjoy this conversation recorded live from Design Hardware moderated by designer and TV host, Tracy Metro.

Maria McCain | Natural Resource Defense Council

Maria McCain’s work encompasses the organization’s entire real estate portfolio. McCain analyzes NRDC’s extensive data on waste, water, energy, and travel to develop and implement strategies that minimize the organization’s carbon footprint. These strategies are also applied to internal green construction projects. Overall, McCain values a methodical and integrated approach to solving challenges. She received a master’s degree in environmental monitoring, modeling, and management from King’s College London and a bachelor’s degree in environmental and natural resource economics from West Virginia University. McCain is based in NRDC’s Santa Monica office.

https://www.nrdc.org/experts/maria-mccain

Ben Stapleton | US Green Building Council

A native Angeleno, Stapleton is a recognized sustainability leader, who brings to this position extensive experience and connections across real estate, technology, and innovation. He led major operational growth, program development, and partnerships to triple revenue for the non-profit. Simultaneously, launched and managed the La Kretz Innovation Campus in Downtown Los Angeles, most recently serving as SVP, Operations & Finance for the LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI). The Campus has become an epicenter for sustainability in the region featuring events with
prominent local, national and international leaders, while being home to a community of cutting-edge businesses and nonprofits.

Home

Eric Zumwalt

https://www.egcrealestategroup.com

That’s a wrap on this episode of Convo By Design recorded live from Design Hardware featuring Eric Zumwalt, Ben Stapleton, Maria McCain and of course Tracy Metro. Thank you Design Hardware for hosting and putting on such a great event. Thank you, Walker Zanger, for your generous support and of course, thank you for listening. If you haven’t already, subscribe to the show everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. Until next week, Keep creating.