Designing for Life: Architecture, Emotion, and the Long View
Architect Cathy Purple Cherry challenges the idea that buildings are static objects, arguing instead that great architecture evolves with human behavior, emotion, and time.
From biophilic design and post-pandemic living patterns to aging-in-place and purposeful restraint, Purple Cherry shares how architecture can improve quality of life across generations—without chasing trends or perfection.
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In this episode of Convo By Design, I share my first conversation with architect Cathy Purple Cherry for a wide-ranging conversation on architecture as a deeply human, emotionally driven discipline. Purple Cherry discusses how architects must design for decades—not design cycles—and how shifts in technology, work culture, and climate have fundamentally altered the way homes and workplaces should function.
Everything that embodies a design icon… right here. The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home. An incredible partner in design.
The conversation explores the lasting impact of biophilic design, the realities of working from home at different life stages, and why many contemporary office environments fail to support collaboration or productivity. Purple Cherry also reflects on aging, accessibility, and the importance of designing homes that support real relationships, not social-media perfection.
The episode you are going to hear today was over a decade in the making. LuAnn Niagara is the host of A Well Designed Business. The podcast launched in 2016 and set the standard for what a business of design podcast should be. LuAnn’s focus was then and is today focused on helping designers up level their design studios. LuAnn was hosting a session for the KBIS Podcast Studio and we had some time during the show and I can’t remember who brought up the idea, I think it was me who suggested to LuAnn, that this would be a great time for us to record a conversation about our own journey and collaborate on a crossover episode. It could be fun!
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Oh, it was fun. We talked about so much but what is really special about this… If you continue to listen here, you are going to get, I’m sure, a vastly different presentation. The exact same conversation will air on both feeds, but the context and philosophy is different. I have a tremendous amount of respect for LuAnn. She has done something special. If you are a designer, architect, maker, you know what I mean. She created something from nothing and every one of us here knows how hard that is.
In setting up this interview, I want to provide both context and a bit of storytelling. You are going to hear four very brief clips before we get to my conversation with LuAnn. It’s been a while since I shared this on the show, but in addition to my broadcast experience in music and sports, I was the general manager and program director for Playboy Radio. In that role, I hosted a show on the channel called the Playboy Radio Interview. She show was a one on one with guests that I thought would resonate by telling unique and personal stories about their journey. And what I want you to realize as you listen to these is that we all go through many of the same things, experience the same challenges and nobody in life achieves anything without a little luck and support. That support can come from family and friends, it can come from a trusted advisor and it can come in the form of hearing stories about others told by industry voices, like LuAnn or me. The first clip you are going to hear is US Mens National Hockey legend, Mike Eruzioni. You would up where you are due to a series of circumstances that aren’t always within your control. Guess what, nobody is. It’s what you do next and how you need to keep going because you never know where that big opportunity os going to come from.
The next segment you are going to hear is actor, Tom Sizemore. Sizemore has since past but he still has lessons to share. I’m not going to set this clip up too much because I think it speaks for itself. The concept is “challenge” and the friends and supporters who help us along the way.
It doesn’t get more real or powerful than that. Next up is George Lopez. He and I were speaking about community. That of the musicians playing the upcoming Playboy Jazz Festival and how creatives like musicians and comics help each other along the way. I share this with the hope that our industry continues to help each other in an ever chaotic and complicated world.
The final clip is legendary. It’s Henry Winkler on going with his instincts. Imagine when Henry Winkler was on set, day one, starting off as Arther Fonzerelli he was looking at TikTok and became influenced by what the trends were instead of being himself, going with his gut and trusting his authentic intuition? Things might be different.
These concepts; A strong work ethic matters, We all need help and a little luck, Support is as important as giving back and Trusting your gut and being authentic. Next up, you are going to hear my conversation with LuAnn Niagara recorded live from KBIS, right after this.
From the show floor at CEDIA Expo 2025, three distinct voices reveal an industry in the midst of transformation—where technology, design, and business are converging in new and unexpected ways. What emerges is not a story about gadgets, but about integration at every level: systems, teams, and ideas. The future of the home is being shaped as much by collaboration and communication as by innovation itself.
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Jason Knott, Hagan Kappler, and Bob Schuppe each bring a different lens to the evolving world of residential technology, exploring how integrators, designers, and architects must align to meet rising expectations around performance, aesthetics, and long-term value.
Jason Knott | D-Tools
Integration Over Innovation
The industry has shifted from breakthrough moments (CDs, DVDs, early automation) to iterative refinement. https://www.d-tools.com
Early-Stage Collaboration
Integrators must be involved during architectural planning to avoid conflicts with structure, HVAC, and design intent. https://cedia.org
The Designer–Integrator Language Gap
Misalignment between aesthetics and performance leads to inefficiencies and compromised outcomes.
“Wall Acne” and Invisible Technology
The push to hide visible tech (switches, speakers, controls) has created a sub-industry of concealment solutions.
https://www.framemytv.com https://www.futureautomation.net
In this roundtable conversation, a diverse group of interior designers and kitchen specialists discuss how kitchen design has transformed in the post-pandemic era. Rising costs, shifting client expectations, and new technologies are forcing designers to rethink how kitchens function and how they are delivered to clients.
The conversation explores everything from appliance innovation and zoning strategies to the emotional role of kitchens as gathering spaces. Designers also confront difficult realities such as escalating budgets, supply chain issues, and the need to guide clients through increasingly complex decisions. We gathered at the Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home showroom in San Diego. A beautiful and well appointed space with so much to see and the room to enjoy it.
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At its core, the discussion highlights a broader truth about the design profession today: kitchens are no longer simply rooms for cooking. They are ecosystems that reflect lifestyle, culture, wellness, and the evolving way people live in their homes.
Explore the life, philosophy, and creative process of a designer whose global upbringing and eclectic career shaped the essentialist approach of Commune Studio. From Caracas to Los Angeles, from fashion to interior design, he shares how formative experiences, partnerships, and a pursuit of quality have defined both a firm and a design philosophy centered on purpose, craft, and essential beauty. This is the April, 2026 Convo By Design Icon Registry episode featuring our newest inductee, Roman Alonso presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home.
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Alonso grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, experiencing both urban and rural life; early road trips fostered observational skills and appreciation for simplicity. You heard him on the show in 2025 where he told his story. Moved to Miami in 1978, then Boston for college (BU, class of 1987), followed by New York and eventually Los Angeles.
Worked across fashion, publishing, and editorial (including New York Times Magazine and a publishing venture with Lisa Eisner).
Early exposure to high-quality design and aesthetics shaped design sensibilities. He later was part of a team that formed Commune.
Influences on Design
Latin American upbringing emphasized simplicity, rustic charm, and authentic beauty.
Exposure to fashion (Isaac Mizrahi), PR, and the Pressman family shaped understanding of color, detail, and quality.
Personal journey included absorbing lessons from diverse experiences rather than formal design training.
Product and Collection Development
Starts with identifying gaps or problems in the market (e.g., linear sconces, bathroom accessories).
Combines functional necessity with craftsmanship and subtle aesthetics.
Collaborates closely with partners (like David at Remaine) to maintain quality, usability, and accessibility.
Every product is prototyped and tested in real projects before public launch.
Personal Philosophy and Values
Stoicism: focus on controlling what is controllable and striving for virtue.
Commitment to fairness, thoughtful creation, and ethical production.
Imposter syndrome acknowledged as a persistent aspect of creative life.
Approach prioritizes listening to clients, understanding needs, and curating experiences rather than self-expression alone.
Evolution of the Firm
Studio evolved from a small, highly collaborative team to a large firm, then deliberately scaled back to maintain culture and creative flexibility.
Growth now pursued through products, partnerships, and retail rather than studio expansion.
A candid conversation with interior designers Arianne Bellizaire and Sara Malek Barney on navigating burnout, emotional labor, client management, and creative growth in today’s unpredictable design industry.
From boundary-setting to decision fatigue, social media pressures, and sustaining ambition, this episode explores the strategies and mindsets designers use to remain successful, resilient, and inspired amid market volatility and personal demands.
Identity & Evolution in Design
Designers must periodically redefine themselves and their work to remain relevant.
Personal growth and evolving priorities shape professional identity and approach.
Burnout vs Ambition
Burnout is not a badge of honor; it results from overextension and emotional labor.
Ambition aligns energy with superpowers and opportunities, creating sustainable growth.
Setting boundaries is essential to differentiate productive ambition from harmful overwork.
Emotional Labor & Client Management
Design work involves managing client emotions, expectations, and second-guessing.
Designers act as liaisons between clients, contractors, and teams, absorbing invisible pressures.
Managing scope creep and change orders is a practical strategy to protect both energy and profitability.
Social Media & Comparison Culture
Social media can amplify unrealistic expectations and unhealthy competition.
Designers often feel compelled to accommodate clients’ desires, sometimes overextending themselves to maintain a positive perception.
Decision Fatigue & Process Control
Guiding clients with structured processes reduces decision fatigue and builds trust.
Transparent communication about costs, changes, and expectations protects both designer and client satisfaction.
Sustaining Creativity
Exposure to new experiences, products, peers, and travel is vital for creative rejuvenation.
Nature, walks, and offline activities clear mental clutter and inspire problem-solving.
Intentional “point-to-point” efforts—committing to new experiences—promote growth despite discomfort.
Financial & Business Literacy
Designers must balance artistry with business realities.
Collecting payments, understanding scope, and setting clear expectations are critical professional skills.
Empowering team members while maintaining accountability ensures operational efficiency.
In today’s unpredictable design industry, thriving requires more than talent—it demands resilience, strategy, and self-awareness. On this episode, interior designers Arianne Bellizaire and Sara Malek Barney dive into the complex landscape of professional design, sharing candid insights on burnout, emotional labor, client management, and sustaining creativity in chaotic times.
Designers often redefine their professional identity to adapt to evolving personal and industry priorities. As Bellizaire notes, “We are always changing, and how we describe ourselves now reflects our growth, our aspirations, and the life we’re building.” Similarly, Sara emphasizes the importance of aligning professional actions with personal values to maintain relevance, profitability, and balance.
Burnout, long treated as a badge of honor in design, is reframed here as a clear warning signal. Emotional labor—managing client expectations, facilitating collaboration, and resolving conflicts—often goes uncredited yet drives the success of every project. Both guests stress the importance of boundaries, scope management, and distinguishing between what one can do versus what one should do, emphasizing that ambition thrives when energy is strategically invested in core strengths.
Social media and comparison culture add another layer of complexity. Designers frequently face unrealistic expectations from clients influenced by curated online content, which can pressure them into overextending themselves. Establishing clear processes, communicating cost implications, and structuring client decisions effectively are key strategies for reducing stress while maintaining creative integrity. Decision fatigue, a common challenge in high-stakes residential projects, can be mitigated by guiding clients through structured choices while fostering trust.
Sustaining creativity amid chaos is a recurring theme. Arianne and Sara highlight exposure to new experiences, peers, travel, and even nature walks as essential methods to refresh the mind and spark innovative thinking. “A simple daily walk,” Arianne reflects, “can clear clutter, inspire problem-solving, and restore energy in ways that sitting at a desk never will.” Committing to uncomfortable but growth-oriented experiences, a “point-to-point principle,” is a subtle but critical habit for creative professionals.
Finally, the conversation underscores the business side of design. Designers must balance artistry with operational responsibility, from collecting payments to managing scope creep and training staff. Financial literacy and professional boundaries ensure that creative freedom does not come at the cost of personal wellbeing or firm profitability.
This episode offers an unfiltered look at what it takes to thrive in a chaotic, competitive industry. With honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Ariana and Sara provide strategies for navigating emotional, creative, and financial pressures while staying grounded, inspired, and relevant. For any designer striving to balance ambition with wellbeing, this conversation is both a blueprint and a call to action.
About Convo By Design: Convo By Design is the longest running podcast of its kind. The show is hosted, produced and published by Josh Cooperman. The podcast has been running since January, 2013. The show has published over seven hundred episodes, featured more than fifteen hundred designers and architects and has garnered over three million streams, downloads making it one of the most listened to design and architecture podcasts as well as being the first design podcast of its kind. For guest suggestions and show inquiries, please message us on Instagram @convoxdesign.
The emotional impact of our surroundings, the challenges of a multi-year global project, and why the perfect kitchen starts with the “mother archetype.”
Elana Tenenbaum Cline, architecturally trained-interior designer with a fascinating background rooted in both structured discipline and creative layering came into the virtual studio to share her journey from attending Syracuse University’s intensive architecture program to working on massive global projects like the Abu Dhabi Airport.
The conversation explores the “practical creative” mindset, the importance of constraints in design, and the profound shift from large-scale architecture to the intimate human scale of interior design. Elana explains her philosophy that our surroundings completely impact how we perform and think, detailing how she uses personal narratives to craft spaces that truly resonate with her clients.
The Architectural Foundation: Elana discusses growing up with a structured father and a creative mother, and how her five-year architecture degree informs her complex interior renovations today.
The Emotional Connection: Why Elana pivoted to interior design to achieve a more intimate understanding of how people actually live—from how they serve coffee to their favorite childhood colors.
We talk about running and The “Suck” of the Marathon: A unique analogy comparing the phases of a design project to running a marathon, specifically the “mile 20” moment where clients might lose the vision just before the finish line.
Redefining Luxury: Why “luxury” in interior design might be as simple as a perfectly organized silverware drawer rather than just expensive materials.
The Performance of Space: Insights into commercial projects like the West River Surgery Center, where the design’s primary goal is to evoke a sense of ease and calm for patients.
Elements & Links
E: Explore Elana’s portfolio and the “all senses” approach to residential and commercial design.
Syracuse Architecture: Information on the intensive five-year program that shaped Elana’s professional background.
The Soul of a House: A recommended read on the emotional impact of interior spaces.
“I call myself a practical creative. I love being creative, but I love having constraints.”
“What is so beautiful about architecture and interior design is… how do you actually live in the space? How do you think?”
“I believe that our surroundings completely impact how we feel, how we perform, and how we think.”
“Architecture, depending on the scale… can go on for a long time. There is a pace with interiors that keeps me going.”
“Luxury in architecture is a material choice… luxury in interior design might be a silverware organizer in a drawer.”
“In an interior project, mile 20 is when you’ve done all the work… you’re almost there, and the client doesn’t see the vision yet because they can’t sit on it or touch it.”
“I try to use plain speak with clients… even the wealthiest clients all have budgets and want to manage them extremely carefully.”
“You finish a renovation… and they put a pink Dove soap pump from Walgreens on the counter. It’s like a knife to the heart.”
“People want to be outside as much as possible; they want to connect to nature as much as possible while still having access to power and shade.”
Innovation Under Pressure: Prefab, Modular, and the Future of Resilient Design Under Pressure. Architecture is evolving faster than ever, driven by natural disasters, technology, and client expectations—but how do designers balance innovation with risk, regulation, and lifestyle priorities? Josh Cooperman hosts an unfiltered conversation with Drew Davis, Brian Pinkett, Aaron Neubert, and Joseph Dangaran about prefabrication, modular construction, client programming, and the challenges of rebuilding communities in fire- and flood-prone regions. From the Palisades to Paris, they explore how architecture must adapt—or risk falling behind.
1. Introduction and Context
Host introduction: Josh Cooperman, Convo By Design.
Acknowledgements: Kim Gordon Designs (venue), Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home (sponsor and industry supporter).
Why the discussion matters: natural disasters as a case study in architecture’s evolving role.
Personal anecdote: Josh’s wildfire experience in 1983 highlighting the urgency of resilient design.
How Behavior-Driven Design Is Defining the Future of the Home
KBIS Series 2026, findings and experiences from the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, recorded live from the KBIS Podcast Studio presented by AJ Madison. This was the second year of this program and we built on last year’s show with even more experts in the industry sharing experience, findings and industry-leading insights.
What happens when home innovation prioritizes real-world habits over flashy, unnecessary features? This conversation explores how a deep understanding of how people use their appliances every day leads to intentional solutions that fit every lifestyle.
Join Justin Reinke, Head of Product Marketing at Midea, and Ryan Shaffer, Sr. Technical Product Planning Engineer at Midea, to discuss how hundreds of hours of in-home observation drive breakthroughs in everything from acoustic comfort to specialized hygiene. By analyzing universal pain points—like the rise of sustainable drinkware and open-concept living—we examine the R&D required to make daily chores easier through practical, performance-driven design that works harder for the household.
For decades, appliance innovation followed a predictable formula: more features, more technology, more complexity. Digital displays replaced analog controls. Connectivity introduced remote operation. Artificial intelligence promised optimization. But somewhere along the way, innovation lost sight of its most important objective—serving the human being.
Today, that philosophy is changing.
At KBIS 2026, one of the most important conversations wasn’t about technology itself, but about behavior. Appliance manufacturers are increasingly recognizing that true innovation does not begin in engineering labs. It begins in homes—watching how people live.
This shift represents a fundamental evolution in product development. Instead of asking what technology can do, manufacturers are asking what people actually need.
Consider the refrigerator. It is opened dozens of times each day, often absentmindedly, during moments of distraction, urgency, or fatigue. Every movement—the height of a shelf, the accessibility of a drawer, the ease of filling a glass—shapes the user’s experience. These micro-interactions define whether an appliance feels intuitive or frustrating.
Similarly, dishwashers must now accommodate modern behavioral realities. Reusable bottles, travel tumblers, and complex accessories require flexibility that traditional rack designs never anticipated. Washing machines must operate quietly enough to coexist within open-plan homes, where appliance noise becomes part of the lived environment.
These are not technological problems. They are human problems.
The most forward-thinking manufacturers have embraced observation as their primary design tool. By studying real households, engineers and designers can identify friction points invisible in traditional research. The goal is not to add features, but to remove obstacles.
This approach also challenges the industry’s historical obsession with specifications. Feature lists do not guarantee usability. Connectivity does not guarantee convenience. Technology that requires explanation has already failed its most important test.
The future appliance must be intuitive.
It must integrate seamlessly into daily routines, supporting behavior rather than disrupting it. It must operate quietly, reliably, and predictably. It must reduce mental load, not increase it.
Perhaps most importantly, it must respect the reality that appliances are not aspirational objects. They are functional infrastructure. They exist to support life, not define it.
This shift toward behavior-driven design reflects a broader maturation of the appliance industry. Innovation is no longer measured by novelty, but by invisibility. The best appliances do their job so well that users never think about them at all.
In the end, the future of appliances will not be defined by how advanced they are.
It will be defined by how effortlessly they serve the people who depend on them every day.
Behavior as the Foundation of Innovation
Product development begins with observing real-world habits.
When interiors meet intention: a dynamic panel on how color theory, holistic living, sustainable materials, and design thinking come together to redefine residential spaces for 2025 and beyond.
Sherwin Williams set out to cover Earth with beautiful colors over 150 years ago. 1866, Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams founded the company in Cleveland, Ohio, on a mission really. And the result is a company dedicated to delivery of thebest in paints, coatings and related products to discerning clients all over the world. That dedication was evident from the start with the hiring of Percy Neyman, the very first chemist employed by an American paint manufacturer. Sherwin Williams continues to set the bar high and provide the design community with the essential tools to create superior projects. Sherwin Williams is commitment to supporting the design community, which is why they sponsor programs, like this one. They are also dedicated to a betterment philosophical approach which is why they selected ‘wellness” as the topic for this talk.Thank you Sherwin Williams for your tireless support.
In this timely conversation, experts from across interior design and sustainable living explore what it means to design for wellness in 2025. Moderated by Sue Wadden and Ashlynn Bourque of Sherwin-Williams, the panel features voices from:
Jeanne Chung (Cozy, Stylish, Chic) — known for crafting spaces that blend comfort, style, and emotional balance.
Julee Ireland (Julee Ireland Design Studio) — bringing a refined, intentional aesthetic rooted in longevity and livable elegance.
Greg Roth (CarbonShack) — spotlighting eco-conscious material sourcing, sustainable practices, and climate-aligned living environments.
Together they examine how interior design can be a catalyst for holistic living — from color palettes that promote calm and emotional balance, to spatial planning that supports aging in place, to circadian lighting and neurodiversity-friendly layouts. The discussion underscores a rising trend: residential interiors inspired by hospitality, wellness, and sustainability principles.
Listeners will come away with fresh ideas on turning their homes into future-proof sanctuaries — design-forward, earth-conscious, and emotionally attuned.
Health span-focused design: Designing spaces that help residents live longer, healthier lives at home.
Aging in place: Home layouts that accommodate long-term functionality and wellness.
Home gyms, saunas, cold plunges: Integrating spa-level wellness amenities in private residences.
Dual kitchens: Inspired by Italian family homes for multigenerational living.
Collaboration with architects: Designers as integral contributors to maximize natural light and spatial flow.
VR visualization: Helping clients experience proportion, scale, and sightlines before construction.
Problem-solving as designers: Addressing unforeseen construction issues creatively while maintaining aesthetics.
Circadian lighting: Lighting systems (e.g., Lutron Ketra) that mimic natural light patterns to support sleep and productivity.
