Category Archives: Landscape Architecture

The Ride Along: Part Two | 622 | Rolling Through Conversations, Ideas and Inspiration from CEDIA Expo and CIX 2025

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This week on the show, you’re going to ride along with me from the incredibly comfortable and stylish VW ID.Buzz, which served as the mobile podcast studio at CEDIA Expo / CIX this September in Denver, Colorado. This is part two of The Ride Along Series recorded live at CEDIA Expo/ CIX.

CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) is the global trade association for home technology professionals, specializing in smart home, automation, audio-visual, networking, and integrated systems. Its mission is to advance the home technology industry through education, certification, advocacy, and networking. Members include integrators, designers, manufacturers, and consultants who shape the connected environments we live and work in.


CEDIA Expo is the industry’s largest annual event for residential technology professionals. With hundreds of exhibitors, educational sessions, live demos, and global networking opportunities, it’s where new ideas and innovations in smart home and AV integration take center stage.

The Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX), co-located with CEDIA Expo, focuses on commercial integration technologies—from conferencing and IT infrastructure to building automation and emerging AV solutions—bringing together commercial integrators, IT pros, designers, and tech managers.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

This road trip was a blast, and I’m excited to share these conversations with you.

Designing Sound: Caitlin Stewart on Leon Speakers’ Mission to Lead by Design

Caitlin Stewart of Leon Speakers joins Convo By Design to talk about design-first thinking in an audio-driven world. From Ann Arbor to the global design stage, Leon Speakers has carved out a unique identity—not as a technology company, but as a design company that happens to make exceptional audio and concealment solutions. Caitlin shares how Leon engages the architecture and design community, cultivates relevance in a shifting industry, and builds partnerships that challenge conventions of form, function, and beauty.

  • Background & Role: Caitlin’s work as Director of Sales for residential at Leon Speakers, leading account managers and shaping residential market growth.
  • Leon’s Identity: Founded in 1997, Leon is entering its 30th year as a design-first company—blending sound, aesthetics, and concealment with creativity.
  • Design Integration: How Leon’s “Lead by Design, Leave Nothing Unfinished” philosophy drives the balance of form and function.
  • Relevance in the Industry: Shifting influence from general contractors to architects and designers, and Leon’s effort to stay essential in conversations that shape environments.
  • Inspiration & Missed Opportunities: Why designers need exposure to products at shows like CEDIA and ICFF, and the challenges of communicating AV in relevant, non-technical language.
  • Partnership with A&D Community: Meeting designers where they are, co-designing products, and listening to their needs around fixtures, finishes, and materiality.
  • Industry Challenges: Designers often photoshop out tech in portfolio images—highlighting the need for intentional, beautiful integration of AV.
  • Educational Outreach: Designer visits to Leon’s Ann Arbor factory, engaging directly with materiality and finishes to bridge the language gap.
  • Innovation at Leon: Hand-woven acoustic treatments, creative concealment solutions, evolving product frames for video walls, and form-function collaboration.
  • Partnership Opportunities: Caitlin’s advice to designers—start casual, share ideas, reach out. Leon thrives on nimble, creative collaborations that spark innovation.

Lighting the Future: Tyler Hahn on Lutron, Designers, and the Evolving Spec Community

Tyler Hahn of Market Share, Pacific Northwest reps for Lutron, joins Convo By Design to share his perspective on CEDIA Expo, the shifting role of the specification community, and how Lutron continues to set the standard in lighting control and automated shading. As Lutron Concierge, Tyler educates and inspires architects, designers, and builders about intelligent lighting and shading solutions. From his unique role at CEDIA Expo—focusing on education, content, and networking—Tyler reflects on industry trends, the growing presence of women in tech and design, and how Lutron bridges aesthetic demands with uncompromising performance.

  • Background & Role: Tyler Hahn’s position as Lutron Concierge with Market Share, focusing on education, inspiration, and building connections with the architecture and design community.
  • Experience at CEDIA Expo: How Tyler approaches the show differently—capturing social content, attending classes, and networking to understand community conversations.
  • Shifts in the Industry: Why more interior designers and specifiers need to be present at CEDIA, and how manufacturers must adapt booth design and product presentation for aesthetics and inclusivity.
  • Women in the Industry: Record-breaking turnout at the Women in CEDIA Luncheon, signaling cultural and demographic changes in the channel.
  • Catch-22 of Design Engagement: The challenge of attracting designers to CEDIA when booths and products still cater heavily to integrator and male-centric perspectives.
  • Lutron’s Role: How Lutron recognizes the specification community as a critical link to homeowners, shaping why Tyler’s role exists.
  • Communicating with Architects vs. Designers:
    • Architects: Focus on structural considerations, such as pockets for shades and keypad placement in plans.
    • Interior Designers: Start with aesthetics, then introduce education on zone vs. scene control, finishes, and stylistic options.
  • Product Focus: Lutron’s leadership in automated window treatments, ultra-quiet shade technology, keypad design, and extensive finish options.
  • Testing & Reliability: Military-grade product testing at Lutron headquarters in Coopersburg, PA—including sound chambers, stress tests, and automated button pressing machines.
  • Design Aesthetics: Four primary keypad styles with an extensive range of finishes in metal, glass, engineered polymer, and beyond—providing universality across project types.
  • Engaging Landscape Architects: Market Share’s expansion into representing Coastal Source and introducing lighting/shading solutions into landscape design.
  • Universal Takeaway: The importance of bridging language gaps, presenting products aesthetically, and meeting design professionals where they are.

Designing with Light: Gina Colucci on Translating Technology for Designers

Gina Colucci of Market Share joins Convo By Design to discuss her role as a Lutron concierge, bridging the gap between high-performance technology and design-first thinking. From CEDIA Expo 2025, Gina shares insights on the growing role of lighting in the industry, how Lutron simplifies control for homeowners, and why being a “translator” between specifiers and integrators is the key to building trust. She explains how Lutron elevates both form and function while making advanced technology approachable for architects, designers, and builders alike.

  • Background & Role: Gina’s position with Market Share as a Lutron concierge and specification specialist, focusing on direct engagement with architects, designers, custom builders, and lighting designers.
  • Experience at CEDIA Expo 2025: Gina’s third year at the show, where she noticed a shift in emphasis from specs and hardware to aesthetic, experience, and lifestyle-driven solutions.
  • Lighting’s Growing Role: The rise of intelligent lighting solutions and how Lutron is pushing beyond niche status toward mainstream adoption.
  • Simplifying Lighting Control for Homeowners: Explaining benefits through experience rather than complexity—eliminating “wall acne,” offering one-touch keypads, zone vs. scene control, remote access, and intuitive app options.
  • Breaking Through Objections: Why homeowners don’t need to program or “learn tech”—Lutron integrates seamlessly through the CI channel, with integrators tailoring solutions to client lifestyles.
  • Specifiers vs. Integrators:
    • Integrators: Hands-on, technical, eager to dig into systems.
    • Specifiers (designers, architects): Billable hours, busy schedules, and competing demands—requiring clarity, brevity, and tailored communication.
  • The Translator Role: Gina’s unique ability to reformulate technical content into designer-friendly language, meeting specifiers where they are without overwhelming them with jargon.
  • Building Trust: Why approachable relationships, mobile demo kits, timely support, and honest answers (including knowing when to call in an expert) are essential to long-term partnerships.
  • Market Share Approach: Supporting specifiers with the right tools, resources, and responsiveness—without overloading them.
  • Personal Perspective: Gina’s background outside of tech makes her relatable to designers, allowing her to speak their language while still leveraging the strength of Lutron’s trusted brand.

Staying Ahead: Julian Cross on Integration, Innovation, and the Power of Simplicity

Julian Cross of Winnipeg-based integration firm shares how his journey from electrician to full integrator has reshaped his business and outlook on technology. From CEDIA Expo 2025, Julian explains how he balances product discovery with client-focused service, why keeping systems simple is key, and what he hopes to see from manufacturers as the industry grows. With insights on AI, product expansion, and evolving client expectations, Julian offers a grounded perspective on integration today.

  • Background & Evolution:
    • Started as an electrician in 2006.
    • Entered integration in 2019 through Lutron, which transformed the business into a full integrator.
  • Approach to CEDIA Expo:
    • Day one: scheduled meetings with sales partners.
    • Day two: free-flow exploration for new products and inspiration.
    • Day three: follow-up and wrap-up.
    • Balances structured planning with open discovery to maximize value.
  • Why Shows Matter: Staying ahead of trends, accessing inside scoop from technical experts, and ensuring clients in Winnipeg receive cutting-edge solutions that differentiate his firm from others.
  • Product Trends & Discoveries:
    • Strong presence of AI across categories.
    • More expansion of existing product lines rather than entirely new ones—a positive sign of refinement and usability.
    • Enhancements make it easier to integrate new features into client systems without starting from scratch.
  • Client Priorities:
    • Clients aren’t asking for specific products; they want simplicity and consistency.
    • Key is learning client habits, past experiences, and frustrations to design systems tailored to their expectations.
  • Language of Integration: Clients rely on integrators to translate industry jargon into usable, intuitive systems. Julian emphasizes ongoing education through forums, industry feedback, and active exploration of alternate products.
  • Keeping It Simple:
    • Pushes back against product overload and SKU bloat.
    • Advocates for manufacturers to refine and strengthen existing lines instead of flooding the market with new SKUs.
    • Believes the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is still critical in integration.
  • Education vs. Experience:
    • Attended classes at his first CEDIA, but realized the show floor offered greater value.
    • Prefers hands-on product interaction and conversations with technical reps.
  • Wish List for CEDIA & Industry:
    • Maintain focus on refining core product lines.
    • More emphasis on addressing integrator pain points before releasing new gear.
    • And, humorously—more coffee stations.

Cinergy Spaces: Redefining Acoustics, Safe Rooms, and Specialty Living

Acoustics and security go far beyond home theaters. Eric Steers of Cinergy Spaces shares how specialty spaces are reshaping modern living. From theaters to libraries, safe rooms to yoga studios, Cinergy Spaces blends acoustical expertise with functional security design. Head of Operations Eric Steers explains how integrators, designers, and security consultants collaborate to create spaces that balance technology, wellness, and peace of mind.

  • Guest: Eric Steers, Head of Operations / National Project Manager, Cinergy Spaces
  • Company profile: LA-based, nationwide specialty integrator focusing on acoustics and secure environments
  • Eric’s background: Irish-born, based in New York, extending Cinergy’s East Coast presence

Specialty Spaces & Acoustics

  • Origins in home theaters, now expanded into recording studios, gyms, libraries, and whole-home acoustical wellness
  • Role of acoustics in multifunctional living spaces
  • Collaboration with AV integrators to optimize sound isolation, projection enclosures, and HVAC integration

Integration with Designers and Trades

  • Working alongside interior designers, GCs, and acousticians
  • Bridging the gap between design goals (high ceilings, hard surfaces) and acoustical performance
  • Using creative materials like acoustical plaster to maintain aesthetics without sacrificing sound quality

The Evolution of Safe Rooms

  • Transition from acoustical doors to secure environments
  • Most safe rooms are hidden in plain sight: closets, bathrooms, master suites
  • Balancing cutting-edge tech (retina scanners, biometric access) with practical simplicity (mechanical locks for emergencies)
  • Challenges of penetrations (plumbing, HVAC) and importance of early-stage planning
  • Security consultant partnerships for client-specific threat analysis

Industry Trends & Inspiration

  • Video walls, immersive audio, and expanding equipment lines pushing acoustical design forward
  • Growing demand for multifunctional spaces with wellness at the core
  • Education gap: acoustics can’t be rendered on plans—clients must experience them
  • Crossovers with lighting design: aligning mood, emotion, and sensory experience
  • Acoustics and lighting as parallel disciplines in shaping emotion and experience
  • Safe rooms as both practical necessity and evolving design challenge
  • The future of specialty spaces as homes expand their functional and secure environments

Smart Power, Smarter Business: Inside LEA Professional’s Amplifier Innovation with Dan Augsburger

A deep dive into how IoT-enabled amplifiers, cloud technology, and Midwest engineering talent are reshaping audio integration. From South Bend, Indiana to projects nationwide, LEA Professional is building amplifiers that prioritize intuitive design, smart power, DSP, and remote cloud control. US Sales Manager Dan Augsburger joins from the 2025 CEDIA Expo in Denver—recorded from the VW ID.Buzz—to share how the company’s technology, flexibility, and philosophy are empowering integrators and raising the tide for the entire industry.

1. Company Introduction

  • Dan Augsburger, US Sales Manager for LEA Professional.
  • Company headquarters in South Bend, Indiana, near Elkhart—an unlikely hub for amplifier and RV technology.
  • Specializes in IoT-enabled smart amplifiers with intuitive IT platforms, smart power features, and built-in DSP.

2. Core Technology + Features

  • Smart Power: Flexibility with power bridging to double output.
  • DSP: Optimizing speaker performance.
  • Cloud Control: Robust two-way communication, remote adjustments, and diagnostics reduce truck rolls and save integrators significant time and cost.

3. Expo 2025 Atmosphere

  • Denver, Colorado at CEDIA Expo.
  • Positive industry sentiment despite macroeconomic pressures (tariffs, interest rates).
  • Projects above $50,000 remain strong, while smaller projects feel more impact.

4. Market Forces + Industry Trends

  • Tariffs and AI dominate conversations but remain unsettled.
  • Integrators adapting by building contingency plans regardless of scenario.
  • Midwestern advantages: lower costs, engineering talent pipelines (Purdue, Notre Dame, Rose-Hulman).

5. Company Philosophy + Differentiation

  • Location advantage: central distribution, lower real estate costs, strong talent pool.
  • Brand-agnostic: amplifiers integrate seamlessly with major control systems and speaker brands.
  • Emphasis on collaboration and raising the tide for the whole industry.
  • Multiple manufacturing partners for supply flexibility and reliability.

6. Big Picture Takeaway

  • LEA Professional builds technology designed to simplify, empower, and save integrators time and money.
  • Focus on foundational strength, product availability, and innovation through collaboration.

So, amazing, right? This was part two of our series called, The Ride Along from CEDIA Expo, CIX 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Thank you to all the amazing people at CEDIA, and Emerald for making this possible. Thank you VW for providing an incredible recording space in the all new VW ID.Buzz. Man, this seats were comfortable. Thank you Caitlin, Tyler, Gina, Julian, Eric, Dan and Jason. So much fun! 

Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware for supporting the publication of over 650 episodes and over 3,000,000 streams and downloads. These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

WestEdge 2025 Designing the Experience | 621 | WestEdge Co-Founder Megan Reilly and Theater Designer Kim Gordon Designs

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It is very hard for me to believe it but the 2025 edition of WestEdge is almost here. This will be the 10th edition of the show and I am so excited to share the slate of talks taking place this year in the WestEdge Theater Presented By Pacific Sales! But, I’m not going to do it here because our time here is limited. But I have an idea.

I am going to link all of the programs and the times in the show notes. So, you can make your plans accordingly. Today on the show, you are going to hear from Megan Reilly, co-founder of WestEdge and my dear friend, Kim Gordon of Kim Gordon Designs. Kim is joined by Julia Demarco, who together designed the WestEdge Theater Presented by Pacific Sales. We talk about the inspiration that went into the theater design, the how and they why. You are going to love this.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

Before we get into it, I have something really special to share with you. Something special with a WestEdge connection. My friend, and longtime friend of the show Anthony Laney of Laney LA sent me a copy of the new monograph, Poetics of Home; Essays and Spaces by Laney LA. And so, I want to share a special installment of BOOKLOOK.

BookLook – Anthony Laney, Laney LA: Poetics of Home

Avialable from Oscar Riera Ojeda Publishers: Order Here. 

“ Laney LA’s work embodies a distinctly Southern California spirit – the blur between indoors and out, the layering of experiences, the quiet merger of minimalism and sensuality. – Sam Lubell . This is from the foreword of Laney LA’s book, Poetics of Home. The book is available through Oscar Riera Ojeda Publishers.

Before I tell you about the book, let me tell you about my friend Anthony Laney. Laney and I first bonded on the show over a project of his in Manhattan Beach, home for me. This project had a disappearing pool, which was very cool, but it was’t the cool factor of a pool that disappeared below a functional outdoor space. It was the “why” behind its installment. The South Bay in Los Angeles is known for very expensive homes on very small lots. The underground pool is very cool but more than that, it represents something very special about Anthony and his namesake firm. This was a solution to a challenge. The client wanted this space and the home designed for the site. But they also wanted a yard for the family to enjoy the very unique exterior environment. Mark Twain said it best, “Buy land, they’re not making It anymore”. It takes a very special mind to craft something that literally makes more functional space on the same site.

If you want to understand the thought process and the ethos of this unique firm, Poetics of Home shows you what’s behind the walls, and under the deck. But Laney LA has another challenge. This was their debut monograph and just like a smash hit record, it will be very difficult to match or exceed. So, let’s focus on this one.

“Craft is where intention becomes tangible” – Anthony Laney

My favorite quote from the book because it is so simple and true. 6 words that succinctly define the motive. If you are anything like me, with regard to design and architecture, the story behind the design is equally important to form and function. Because the industry still speaks about architecture in terms of form and function. Yeah, it’ important. However, when you minimize something to simply how it looks and why it does, you can’t fully explore the intangibles. The way a space makes you feel. If you’ve never been to LA’s South Bay, you don’t know what Manhattan Beach smells like in August. Sunscreen and salt air, the scent of grilled meat and citrus. Or, what it sounds like during the Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament. Or, what it feels like in December during the fireworks show off the pier when 125,000 people descend on this small beach town. A special home in this place needs to be build to accommodate all of the senses. And it takes a very special architecture firm to understand how a client wants to live and then deliver a space for all the feels, sights, sounds, smells and yet, a shelter from the very same when desired.

This is the superpower behind Laney LA and Poetics of Home defines it, showcases it, explains it in text and imagery. If you are a true devotee of architecture, you need this masterpiece in your library if for no other reason, than to remind you of the true importance behind exceptional architecture. That it’s not how big it is, how expensive it was to construct, what celebrity lives there, what trade magazine put it on the cover, but instead, how it was crafted for an individual, a couple, a family… Ideated in a completely holistic manner. The joy in this book is endless, not physically, that ends on page 300 with a group photo. But the ideas endure far beyond that.  Anthony, congratulations and well done.

Thank you, Megan, Kim and Julia for the time, conversation and partnership. Can’t wait to see you at WestEdge. 

Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com. 

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware for supporting the publication of over 650 episodes and over 3,000,000 streams, downloads and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of its kind. These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Commune & Remains Lighting: Craft, Collaboration, and the Philosophy of Design | 615 | A Double Episode for Twice the Inspiration on Convo By Design

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This special two-part episode features Roman Alonso of Commune and David Calligeros of Remains Lighting in two distinct conversations exploring origins, philosophy, and the meaning of design partnerships.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

From salvaging antiques to designing timeless interiors, David and Roman share stories of growth, collaboration, and craft. What began as a single interview turned into a richer double feature—a master class in design values, sustainability, and the essential philosophies behind two influential studios.

Part One: David Calligeros, Remains Lighting

  • Origins and Influences: From antiques and architectural salvage to a design career shaped by an arts-influenced mother and an engineer father.
  • The Birth of Remains: Starting in Manhattan in 1995, evolving from antiques into lighting design.
  • Engineering Meets Art: Marrying technical precision with artistic intuition.
  • Custom Work & Collaborations: Partnering with Commune, Robert A.M. Stern, Matthew Fisher, and others.
  • IP, Dupes & Authenticity: Protecting design through integrity, storytelling, and craftsmanship.
  • Sustainability & Craft: LEED Gold Brooklyn factory, solar array, stormwater recycling, and green production practices.
  • Business & Market Challenges: Navigating the 2008 crash, tariffs, and the value of US-based manufacturing.
  • Philosophy: Design as a question-driven, ethical practice rooted in long-term value and collaboration.

Link: Remains Lighting

Part Two: Roman Alonso, Commune

  • Origins and Career Path: From Caracas to Miami, Boston, New York, and LA; a career spanning publishing, fashion, and interiors.
  • Formation of Commune Studio (2003): Built around collaboration, essentialism, and quality.
  • Studio Philosophy: Purposeful, small by design, focused on meaningful work and enduring value.
  • Influences: Latin American upbringing, Isaac Mizrahi, Lisa Eisner, and lessons from fashion and editorial worlds.
  • Product Development: Solving real design problems, prototyping in-house before release.
  • Collaboration: Strategic partnerships (including Remains Lighting) to ensure usability and quality.
  • Personal Philosophy: Stoicism, fairness, ethical production, and acknowledging imposter syndrome.
  • Evolution of the Firm: Scaling deliberately—growing reach through products and partnerships while keeping the studio intimate.
  • Quotes:
    • “Good design shouldn’t be a privilege—it’s a right.”
    • “Design is about editing, listening, and creating solutions that people might not even know they need.”

This episode illustrates how partnerships in design aren’t just about collaboration—they’re about shared values, craft, and philosophy. By hearing these conversations separately, you’ll gain insights into two distinct but complementary approaches to design, sustainability, and creativity.

So much to take in. This was a master class on how to structure, nurture and grow design partnerships. Make sure you check the show notes for links and notes about all of the topics covered. Thank you, David and Roman for doing this and being so willing to share your thoughts, ideas and practice. Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware for supporting the publication of over 650 episodes and over 3,000,000 streams, downloads and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of its kind.  These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Keeping It Authentic | 610 | Viki Chupik – Chupik Design on Austin, Design, Culture, and the Road Less Traveled

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Austin-based interior designer Viki Chupik brings the city’s unique spirit into every project she touches. From its rolling hills and cultural quirks to its understated expressions of wealth, Chupik sees Austin as a place where authenticity and individuality still matter. In this conversation, she explains how to design for a city in flux. Like most of the cities people flooded to during and post-pandemic—balancing creativity, cultural heritage, and the realities of today’s economic pressures.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

Viki Chupik of Chupik Design unpacks Austin’s evolving design landscape, from post-pandemic migration and rising costs to the homogenizing pull of social media trends. She shares how she navigates client expectations, resists algorithm-fed aesthetics, and champions designs that are rooted in nature, personal stories, and lasting quality. Along the way, Chupik explores functional planning, economic design strategies, and her vision for the future of the American home.

  1. The Austin Effect
    • How Austin’s natural beauty and geography shape lifestyle and client priorities.
    • The city’s evolution from “hippie government town” to tech-creative hub.
    • Why “Keep Austin Weird” is about individuality and local culture, not just quirky aesthetics.
    • Understated expressions of wealth versus flash seen in other Texas cities.
  1. Design Influenced by Lifestyle
    • Incorporating travel, life experiences, and personal artifacts into home design.
    • Creating spaces that reflect a client’s narrative rather than a preset style.
    • Prioritizing true customization over formulaic trends.
  1. Austin’s Cultural Capital
    • Influence of UT, major festivals, and historic districts on the city’s identity.
    • Embracing quirks—bats, music, history—in design and urban character.
    • Post-pandemic migration: challenges and benefits of new creative influx.
  1. Viki Chupik’s Design Fingerprint
    • Calm, collected, nature-inspired aesthetic.
    • Timeless design choices: earthy palettes, organic materials, and visual serenity.
    • Rejecting trend-chasing in favor of enduring appeal.
  1. Design vs. Trends
    • Critique of social media–driven “trendification” and AI-generated design content.
    • Seeking out artisans, unique finds, and unexpected pairings.
    • Why individuality in design is harder—and more important—than ever.
  1. The Budget Reality
    • Impact of rising costs from tariffs, materials, and labor.
    • Emphasis on quality investments over disposable design.
    • Importance of involving designers early in architectural planning.
  1. Functional Design in Changing Times
    • Rethinking square footage for smarter, more livable spaces.
    • Evaluating the real utility of specialty rooms and features.
    • Applying the “Are you going to use it?” test to every decision.
  1. Portable Kitchens & the Future of Home
    • Considering modular, moveable kitchens inspired by European models.
    • How rising land values could shift the role of the house toward adaptability.
    • The tension between permanence and flexibility in residential design.

Thank you, Viki. Amazing. Loved our chat and appreciate the time. Thank you for listening. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or colleague who loves design and architecture like you do, subscribe to Convo By Design wherever you get your podcasts. And continue the conversation on Instagram @convo x design with an “x”. Keep those emails coming with guest suggestions, show ideas and locations where you’d like to see the show. Convo by design at outlook.com.

Thank you to my partner sponsors, TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, LOME-AI and Design Hardware. These companies support the shelter industry so give them an opportunity on your next project. Thanks again for listening. Until next time, be well, stay focused and rise about the chaos. -CXD

Frances Anderton | 607 | Our August 2025 Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductee

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When I was growing up, radio was my solace. I loved it so much that I chose it for my career. I can remember being 10 years old with my transistor radio listening to 10Q and KHJ. Later, it was KLOS, KMET, KNAC and KROQ. The call letters were cool, the music and bands remain bookmarks in my life. I can pretty much tell you how old I was, where I was and what was going on by the songs. But my friends were the dj’s. Jeff Goner, Steve Downs, Bob Coburn, Rita Wilde, Dangerous Darren, Richard Blade, Rodney on the Rock. It was the people who told the stories about the music, the bands and what was happening behind the scenes. Many of us love design and architecture in the same way. And on that rare occasion when there is a combination of the two, well that’s special. And this months induction into the Convo By Design Icon Registry is one such individual. This person is truly special and I have had the good fortune to work with her on a number of occasions. 

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

LOME-AI.com, simple, inexpensive, text to video harnessing the power of AI to grow your firm, beautifully.

Frances Anderton describes herself, “I tell stories and distill ideas about design, architecture and the cityscape of Los Angeles through print, broadcast media, exhibitions and public events.” All true, and she has the street crew to back that up. What Frances didn’t mention is that she herself is part of the zeitgeist of Los Angeles. Nor would she, that would be weird. But one of the most wonderful things about Frances is her willingness to get into a topic and chop it up, refine it, reorganize it and play with it until she has boiled it’s very essence into something consumable by anyone who with a modicum of interest. That is special. 

To celebrate Frances and her induction into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, I want to reshare her moderating a panel conversation that aired on Convo By Design in 2015. Frances was a fixture for the 2-years that the West Hollywood Design District produced a wonderful event called DIEM, which stands for design intersects everything made. The programs were curated by Mallory Roberts Morgan, another remarkable LA gem of an individual. You don’t know this, but you will in a minute… Mallory and Frances were huge influences on me as I launched the show in 2013 and for the first few years. Quite simply, I wanted to make people think and question the way they did. To tap into curiosity the way they did. To come up with really interesting angles like Mallory and rip the niceties away so we could really chop it up the way Frances did and does. This panel from 2015 featured, Stephan Simpkowitz, Carolina Miranda and Steven Goldberg. As you listen to this conversation, notice a few things. First, the topic they were discussing a decade ago has since fully matured and blossomed as LA became the global art destination it always wanted to be. Notice too how Frances leverages the talents and skills of her guests in such an effortless way. Quite simply, due to the very nature of this topic, it could have gone a very different way. This conversation is as relevant today as it was then. And Frances is a treasure.

The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy Company and best friend to designers and architects everywhere. The business has become more complicated and Pacific Sales reverses that, find out how by checking the links in the show notes.

So there you go, our newly inducted icon and a fantastic conversation from 2015. Thank you Frances, for all you do and all you have given back.  Thank you to my partner sponsors, Design Hardware, TimberTech and Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy company and friend to specifiers near and far. Thanks for listening to Convo By Design. I couldn’t do this without you, wouldn’t want to. I hope this show help you stay motivated, inspired and focused so you can rise above the chaos. –Convo By Design

Rebuilding Better (Smarter) | 601 | Architectural Best Practices for Wildfire-Prone California Live from Design Hardware

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California’s escalating wildfire crisis is forcing a radical rethink in residential architecture. With fires growing in intensity, frequency, and unpredictability, architects, planners, and policymakers are coming together to define a new blueprint for resilient, sustainable living in the wildland-urban interface. In May, I journeyed to Design Hardware for the Spring Design Thought Leadership Summit, something we do four times a  year at Design Hardware to delve into trending ideas and concepts bubbling up through the design and architecture community. After hosting these events for over 6-years at Design Hardware, I always come away with a fresh perspective on emerging ideas and this time was no exception. The idea this time was to isolate the concepts and ideas that are needed now to address climate change, specifically fire related issues and develop them into actionable strategies for building—and rebuilding—homes in fire-prone areas.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

California’s escalating wildfire crisis is forcing a radical rethink in residential architecture. With fires growing in intensity, frequency, and unpredictability, architects, planners, and policymakers are coming together to define a new blueprint for resilient, sustainable living in the wildland-urban interface. In May, I journeyed to Design Hardware for the Spring Design Thought Leadership Summit, something we do four times a  year at Design Hardware to delve into trending ideas and concepts bubbling up through the design and architecture community. After hosting these events for over 6-years at Design Hardware, I always come away with a fresh perspective on emerging ideas and this time was no exception. The idea this time was to isolate the concepts and ideas that are needed now to address climate change, specifically fire related issues and develop them into actionable strategies for building—and rebuilding—homes in fire-prone areas.

The day was broken down into two parts. The first was specifically about fire-related building issues discussed during a panel featuring architect Greg Chasen of Chasen Architects and Ben Stapleton and Becky Feldman Edwards of the USGBC-CA. The second panel covered Market and supply chain issues being affected by both a surge in demand due to rebuilding and exacerbated by the on-again-off-again tariffs. That program will be published here as well so check back for publication.

This panel covers a lot. Here are some of the broader topics covered: 

1. Designing for the Realities of Wildfire

2. Empowering Communities Through Knowledge

The Rebuilding Guide

Developed with global design firm Arup, USGBC CA’s Rebuilding Guide is a cornerstone resource for homeowners, builders, and municipalities. It demystifies complex codes and synthesizes building science into digestible recommendations—ranging from site selection to material resilience, insurance options, and fire-adapted landscaping.

Common Language for Safety

One of the guide’s goals is to bridge communication gaps. “We have to be speaking the same language,” says Becky. Misunderstandings about what terms like “non-combustible” mean can lead to critical design flaws. The guide standardizes terminology to ensure that homeowners, contractors, and code officials are aligned.

3. Materials Matter: Vetting for Performance

The Rebuild Marketplace

To combat this, USGBC CA created the Rebuild Marketplace, a centralized database of rigorously vetted materials. By aggregating third-party certifications, performance data, and supplier information, it streamlines product selection and ensures homeowners aren’t left to navigate a confusing and inconsistent market on their own.

4. Passive Design for Active Protection

Building Without Vents

5. Codes, Compliance & Insurance Gaps

Aligning Codes and Insurance

6. Rethinking Density and Land Use

Smart Growth Strategies

7. Innovations in Housing Delivery

Housing innovation is also key to faster, more affordable recovery. Chasen outlines the benefits and limitations of prefab and modular construction, noting that while these methods reduce waste and speed up timelines, they aren’t always cheaper. He also encourages more creative approaches, such as:

  • ADUs as interim housing. These can serve displaced families during reconstruction and offer long-term rental income later.
  • Basements for cooling and shelter. Subterranean spaces provide thermal stability and potential fire refuge.
  • Fire-adapted finishes. Materials like thermally modified wood and fiber cement can replicate traditional aesthetics with modern protection.

8. Resilient Infrastructure Beyond the Home

Wildfire resilience extends beyond individual parcels. “These technologies exist, but we’re not implementing them,” says Ben, citing innovations like:

  • Buried power lines to reduce ignition risk.
  • Automatic water shutoffs for firefighting.
  • Community-scale solar and battery systems for grid independence during outages.

Investment in resilient infrastructure must parallel private construction to ensure collective security.

9. Regulating Rebuilds to Avoid Gentrification

Post-fire redevelopment often attracts large developers aiming to maximize profits. Chasen criticizes this dynamic: “You’re getting cheap, maximum-footprint homes with no real investment in community.” Without local involvement and regulation, fire-impacted areas risk displacement and gentrification.

Community-Led Planning

USGBC CA advocates for inclusive rebuild processes that prioritize original residents, especially those underinsured or living in high-risk zones. Incentives for owner-builders, design review standards, and community land trusts are potential tools to maintain affordability and equity.

10. From Reaction to Resilience: A Cultural Shift

I often say, “It’s always too soon… until it’s too late.” Rebuilding with intention requires proactive engagement, long-term thinking, and coordinated leadership. Communities can emerge stronger if they view wildfire not just as a hazard, but as a catalyst for transformation.

We cover a lot here and you are going to hear it all for Design Hardware, right after this.

Thank you Becky, Ben and Greg for taking the time to have this important conversation and providing so much actionable information! Check the show notes for details and links. Thank you for making the time during your busy day to listen to the show, subscribe and share with colleagues. Thank you to my partners sponsors; Pacific Sales, Best Buy, The AZEK Company, TimberTech and Design Hardware. All of these companies make a concerted effort to support the design industry through support of publishers like Convo By Design and sharing content and materials created to make our industry better and more resilient. Please give them an opportunity on your next project.

I created Convo By Design to serve a robust and incredibly creative design and architecture industry through programming like this. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know. Send me an email with show and guest suggestions, convobydesign@outlook.com and join in the conversation on Instagram @ConvoXDesign, with an “X”. Thanks for listening to Convo By Design. Until next time—be well, I hope this show help you stay motivated, inspired and focused so you can rise above the chaos. -CXD

RAMSA Architects | 596 | Our June 2025 Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductees

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Welcome to the Convo By Design Icon Registry episode for June, 2025, and today’s episode is something special. I’m joined by four extraordinary architects—Gary Brewer, Randy Carell, Grant Marani, and Roger Schiefter—partners at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, a firm globally recognized for its enduring elegance and rigor in design. Collectively, they represent decades of leadership and legacy, and I’ve dubbed them, affectionately, the Fab Four of architecture.

We’re exploring their latest book, Houses, a breathtaking volume showcasing RAMSA’s residential work from across the globe. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about architecture that works, endures, and adapts. As someone who values tactile design and the subtle elegance of spaces that feel lived in, I was especially drawn to the honesty and detail these architects bring to their craft.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

We’ll talk about how RAMSA evolved from a small, hands-on firm into a global powerhouse using a unique studio structure, how the architects grew up within a culture of high expectations, and how they now design homes as full ecosystems—self-contained, resilient, and deeply personal. And, how the pandemic changed the way we think about domestic space, and why, despite digital tools, the printed page still holds unmatched power in architectural storytelling.

So, whether you’re an architect, designer, student, or someone who just loves great design, this conversation is full of insight, humor, and heart. And you will hear it all form this months inductees, right after this from our Convo By Design Icon Registry presenting partner, pacific Sales Kitchen & Home.

That was Gary Brewer, Randy Carell, Grant Marani, and Roger Schiefter—four voices with a shared vision, yet distinct design perspectives, brought together in Houses, a book that feels more personal, more immersive, and more intimate than past RAMSA monographs.

What struck me most is their deep respect—for clients, for context, and for the act of living itself. Whether it’s a house in East Hampton rebuilt with reverence for sycamore trees, a modern reinterpretation of a black-and-white colonial home in Singapore, or Roger’s own renovation of a Southern California midcentury gem, these projects aren’t just beautiful—they’re functional, thoughtful, and designed for longevity.

In a world increasingly obsessed with speed and spectacle, these homes offer something slower and deeper. As one client said after moving into her RAMSA-designed house: “All I had to buy was a tablecloth.” That’s not just a compliment—it’s a blueprint for what design should be: complete, coherent, and truly lived-in.

Print may be fighting for its place in a digital age, but books like Houses remind us why it still matters. It’s not about nostalgia—it’s about permanence. About slowing down to experience a space the way the architects intended.

Thanks for listening to Convo By Design. Thank you to my partner sponsors, Pacific Sales, TimberTech and Design Hardware. And thank you for taking the time to listen. I couldn’t do this without you, wouldn’t want to. I hope this show help you stay motivated, inspired and focused so you can rise above the chaos. -CXD

Reflection, Intention, and Resilience: The Deeper Meaning of the Built World | 593 | Mitchell Rochleau of Rost Architects | Convo By Design

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In a thoughtful and far-ranging conversation, architect Mitch Rocheleau sits down with me to discuss the deeper layers of architecture, the critical importance of reflection in design, and the challenges—and opportunities—presented by rebuilding in the face of disaster. Throughout our exchange, Rocheleau consistently returns to one core belief: architecture is not merely about aesthetics or function, but about the human experience.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

“I think architecture, if you study and reflect on it, write about it, think about it deeply, can be in some ways a storybook,” Rocheleau said early in the conversation. “You can read it and gain profound insights into the people that were building it.” Which is such a dynamic idea and one we just don’t often consider.

Thank you Mitch, Amazing. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. Thank you for listening, subscribing to the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. 

Please keep those emails coming convo by design at outlook dot com and follow the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign with an “X”.

Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos.

The Power of Writing in Design

Rocheleau has become known not just for his architectural practice, but for his written reflections on the field. These writings—available via Rust Architects—provide critical insight often missing from mainstream discussions of architecture.

What drives this urge to document and reflect? Rocheleau sees it as an essential part of the creative process.

“As I’ve gone through that process [of creating], I’ve begun to feel the intuition or this need to reflect,” he explained. “To say, okay, what am I actually doing? Where is this coming from? What is the work I’m putting into the world?” Such purposeful cogitation creates the framework for managing creative ideas for a greater purpose.

This emphasis on writing as a reflective tool, rather than simply a vehicle for promotion or analysis, places Rocheleau in a tradition of architectural thinkers who seek deeper meaning in their work. He draws inspiration from historical figures such as John Ruskin, seeing the built environment as both a product and reflection of civilization.

Bridging School and Reality

A particularly compelling moment in the interview, for me, came when Mitch and I discuss a comment from architect Brian Pinkett: that architecture school doesn’t teach students how to design, but rather how to think critically. Rocheleau agreed, but pointed out a troubling disconnect between that training and the professional world.

“It seems to me that there may be in the path of architecture… a primary path, and then along the way, a series of possibly distractions,” he said. These distractions include software, rendering techniques, and other technical tools that—while valuable—can steer young architects away from their original, human-centered purpose.

Rocheleau’s concern is that without conscious reflection, the architectural process becomes reactive, not intentional. He views writing, philosophy, and psychology as tools to reconnect with that original path.

“At its essence, it all can come back to the idea of the human and what’s going on in the human’s mind as we’re walking through space.”

A Lens on the Farnsworth House

Mitch and I discuss one of his recent writings on the Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe. While often seen as a minimalist icon of modernism, Rocheleau sees it through a more emotional and humanistic lens.

“There was this really maybe sensitive approach from Mies van der Rohe about the human experience,” Rocheleau explained. “Which is a strange thing, because I think he often doesn’t really get credit for that type of thinking.”

He views the Farnsworth House not just as an object of design, but as a symbol of a new, more transparent way of living—one that connects people more directly with their surroundings. The building, in his view, represents not only architectural purity but emotional vulnerability.

“It’s massively freeing to think that it’s possible to live that way,” he said of the open, glass-walled structure.

Lessons from the Past: Venice as a Living Artifact

Turning to another of Rocheleau’s essays, I highlighted a piece on the architectural history of Venice—an improbable city that, as the architect pointed out, “shouldn’t exist.” The challenges Venice faced gave rise to unique solutions, like the Venetian chimney, which doubled as both an artistic feature and a fire safety measure.

“It’s this confluence of beautiful art and necessity,” Rocheleau explained. “Somebody’s in a challenging place, and they’re problem solving.”

For Rocheleau, Venice exemplifies how constraints and adversity often lead to innovation. He contrasted this with the top-down, utopian visions often proposed by urban planners—visions that may be beautiful but are often divorced from lived reality.

“Without those challenges, that city would not be what it is today,” he noted. “There’s a bit of hollowness in a plan that hasn’t faced resistance.”

Rebuilding After Disaster: Southern California’s Moment

Los Angeles and Southern California in the wake of wildfires that have devastated communities. With the surge in rebuilding efforts provide both risk and an opportunity.

Rocheleau sees parallels with Venice’s resilience—suggesting that, just as hardship led to innovation in the past, today’s crises could inspire smarter, more human-centered urban planning.

Rocheleau agrees that now is a time to reflect deeply on what kind of environments truly serve humanity—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

“I think we should reflect as a collective society… to help us get a better compass for how to proceed with architectural work in the future.”

The Takeaway: Thought Before Form

Throughout the discussion, Mitch Rocheleau makes a compelling case that architecture is as much about thought as it is about form. His writings, rich with philosophy, psychology, and historical insight, aim to bring intentionality back into a profession often overwhelmed by trends and tools.

In a world dealing with climate disasters, urban sprawl, and shifting cultural values, his voice is a reminder that architecture has always been—and should remain—a human art.

Rebuilding Los Angeles: Balancing Urgency, Legacy, and Vision for the Future

In the wake of disaster, the urgency to rebuild is often overwhelming. Families are displaced, communities fractured, and infrastructure shattered. It’s entirely human to want to move quickly—to restore normalcy, provide shelter, and begin again. But what if moving fast risks missing the chance to do something truly transformational?

This tension is especially evident in places like Los Angeles—a sprawling, layered urban environment that defies easy categorization. To understand LA is to understand that it’s not one unified city but a complex mosaic of neighborhoods, each with its own identity, architecture, and community fabric. In a region so rich in diversity and history, rebuilding isn’t just about putting walls back up—it’s about deciding how we live, why we build, and what legacy we leave behind.

The Dangers of Rebuilding in Haste

The instinct to rebuild quickly is understandable, especially after catastrophe. But speed can come at the cost of quality, thoughtfulness, and long-term resilience. As one architect reflected, there’s a real risk in responding with haste: the impulse to recreate the same structures, to replicate familiar patterns without taking the time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved.

Rather than defaulting to “build back the same,” there’s a compelling argument for pausing—just long enough—to ask deeper questions. What are the values of the community? How should infrastructure serve people today, and tomorrow? And how can the rebuilt environment contribute not just to housing needs, but to culture, identity, and connection?

Preservation vs. Progress: A Los Angeles Dilemma

Los Angeles faces a unique architectural paradox. On one hand, it houses some of the most iconic mid-century and modernist structures in the country. On the other, it is a living, breathing organism that constantly evolves—one that doesn’t (and arguably shouldn’t) preserve everything for the sake of nostalgia.

Take the example of Eichler homes. Built as part of the post-World War II housing boom, these homes reflect a critical shift in how Americans thought about suburban living. With open courtyards, indoor-outdoor flow, and modern materials, Eichlers weren’t just houses—they were a statement about a new way of life. They marked a philosophical and aesthetic evolution, one that mirrored broader changes in society.

But here’s the irony: while Eichlers are celebrated today as architectural gems, they were once just part of a larger tract housing movement—one often dismissed for its uniformity and lack of design rigor. This contradiction highlights the challenge of preservation: how do we decide what is “worth” saving? What makes one tract home a heritage site, while another is fair game for demolition?

A Moment of Opportunity

Today, Southern California has a rare opportunity—perhaps the greatest since the postwar boom—to reshape the urban landscape for generations to come. Disaster, as tragic as it is, presents a unique chance to not just restore, but to reinvent.

It’s a chance to take what we’ve learned—about materials, sustainability, equity, and design—and apply it at scale. To create housing that isn’t just affordable, but beautiful and dignified. To craft public spaces that foster connection. To reimagine density not as a threat, but as a solution to sprawl, climate strain, and social isolation.

This isn’t about tearing down the past. It’s about learning from it—and building a better future because of it.

The Role of Architectural Language

Architecture is a language, and like any language, it evolves. Styles shift, materials change, needs adapt. Yet at its core, good architecture speaks to the human experience. It tells a story—about how we see ourselves, our values, our aspirations.

In the absence of nuanced architectural criticism, however, these stories are often lost. Today’s social media environment favors snapshots over substance, impressions over inquiry. A photo of a sleek facade might go viral, but who explains the deeper design choices? Who critiques whether a building works—not just visually, but emotionally, functionally, and socially?

This is why thoughtful architectural voices are needed now more than ever. Not just to defend preservation or promote innovation, but to interpret, contextualize, and push the conversation forward.

Learning from the Masters—And Moving Beyond Them

Even the most revered architects had blind spots. Visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, one is struck by its grandeur and ambition—but also by its shortcomings. The dramatic design includes soaring glass expanses and rich materials, but also narrow hallways and impractical living spaces. One secretary’s desk was placed beneath a half-wall that blocked her view, despite floor-to-ceiling windows nearby. It’s a reminder that architectural vision can sometimes ignore human needs.

These imperfections don’t diminish Wright’s legacy—but they do highlight the importance of designing not just for expression, but for experience. Today’s architects must balance vision with empathy, aesthetics with usability.

Toward a New Los Angeles

What does the next Los Angeles look like? That depends on the questions we’re willing to ask—and how brave we are in answering them.

Can we build faster and better? Can we honor the past while embracing the future? Can we move beyond labels—“modernist,” “traditionalist,” “preservationist”—and simply strive to create environments that work for people?

The answer lies not in one master plan, but in many conversations—among architects, planners, community members, and leaders. It lies in resisting the pressure to rush, and instead seizing this moment to do something deeper.

Los Angeles is not static. It never has been. But it can be intentional. And in that intention lies the hope of a more resilient, equitable, and inspiring city for the next generation.

– CXD

Being Aware of Legal Pitfalls is the First Step Toward Protecting Your Design Firm: It’s Good Business | 590 | Andrew McBride and Carter Pope of Adams & Reese

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I imagine you and I are similar in many ways. When creating my editorial calendar, I try to craft a broader narrative of the design and architecture industry. I view this show as a time capsule being both created and consumed in real time. But if you go back and listen to episodes from 2013 when this podcast was started until now, you will discover an illustrative exposition that both narrates in real time and looking forward to demonstrate where the industry is going by examining where we are. It’s a futuristic approach to the built environment. To be transparent with you, that is the part I enjoy most. Every now and then, like the impact of a meteor, something happens to make us all think about the industry as we know it. As we approach the work. These days, it feels like we are experiencing an unending barrage of meteor strikes which is turning our industry upside down. And, believe it or not, I’m not even talking about tariffs, government chaos, wildfires or the supply chain!

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

We will be reviewing all of these, but not today. In 2018, you might have heard a conversation I published from the LA Design Festival on the topic of intellectual property rights, IP law and how it was affecting the industry. In the following episode, I will be introducing you to Andrew McBride, Partner @ Adams & Reese and Carter Pope, Associate @ Adams & Reese. I found Andrew and Carter while on a journey of exploration, there is a case moving it’s way through the legal system called Aaron and Samantha Judge v. Drew Designs, LLC. This is a case about a design relationship gone wrong rife with communication issues, contract issues and a litany of other things that make for a messy professional relationship that winds up in the courts. McBride and Pope authored an article called, “Hidden Ball Trick” – Yankees’ Aaron Judge Case Involving Deception Carries Lessons for Contractors.  I’ve added a link in the show notes and I highly recommend this for contractors, architects and designers. The following conversation covers a number of issues that led to both parties winding up in court and as you are going to hear, much if not all of this could have been avoided. In addition to this case, we also explore, the Judd Foundation v. Clements Design, Inc. in a case that will surely affect the future of dupes as well as another case winding it’s way through the courts like a medieval knight moving through the digestive tract of a money guzzling dragon, Gifford v. Sheil. Perhaps the metaphor is too graphic, I’ll rethink that one. But it fits. The law is a complicated knot of ideas and it seems to me the best way to avoid legal entanglements is to do good business in the first place and when disagreements come up, and they will, you work hard to find common ground and squash it. And this is why. You will hear the whole conversation with Andrew McBride and Carter Pope of Adams & Reese, right after this.

Thank you, Andrew and Carter. Enlightening. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. Thank you for listening, subscribing to the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. 

Please keep those emails coming convo by design at outlook dot com and follow the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign with an “X”.

Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD

A Study of Architecture. The Roles of Form and Function in Large and Complex Structures | 589 | CO Architects

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We have come to a tipping point in the business of design. The point of no return. There has been a debate about form following function since architect Louis Sullivan coined the term. A protege named Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Form follows function, that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.” This will most likely not go over well with the most ardent FLW supporters and fans, but I believe Wright misunderstood this as well. Sullivan suggested that form following function meant the design should speak to the intended purpose of a structure and not simply be reflective of historical design, ornamentation or precedents. I won’t speak for anyone but myself when I say that I have toured a number of Wright’s works and I don’t agree with his take on form following function. This will and should be debated, but not today. Today, we are going to focus on how form must follow function, or the project won’t perform.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Today, you are going to hear from Parini Mehta, AIA LEED AP, Tanner Clapham, AIA and Michael Stebbins, AIA from CO Architects. CO Architects, a firm dedicated to perpetual innovation and continual improvement through collaboration. This is a firm dedicated to creating lasting impact through design and the following conversation is evidence of that. This conversation is about the collaborative nature of an architecture firm that allows their architects to work on different types of projects and share their typology specialty while learning new ones in real time. We are discussing; education architecture, healthcare, medical facilities, laboratory architecture, research and exploring the idea of future-proofing structures from affects of both seen and unseen factors. I’m so appreciative for this opportunity to explore these ides with the incredible creatives. Since 2017, Convo By Design has been featuring peer-to-peer conversations from showrooms across the country. This one was recorded live from Design Hardware in Los Angeles. 

There has always been a deep divide between residential and commercial architecture. While I won’t rant about it today. Since the days of Julia Allison focused on the rise to celebrity through internet fame, we as a society have been discussing design and architecture through social value, not performative value. When you see your favorite design publication of website feature the latest celebrity home, you fill find that not much attention, if any has been focused on the performative value of the space. Much of what we see is about materiality, aesthetic, brands and it’s usually focused on a celebrity. And that’s fine. Design porn is not new, but it also doesn’t do much for moving the conversation forward. What conversation? How do top tier architects and the firms that employ them focus on commercial design, and create form that follows function in an environment where the function not only matters, but is critical to the success of the project? That is the conversation we should be having. And we are. You are going to hear it, right after this.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Thank you Parini, Michael and Tanner for taking the time to visit. Thank you to all of the professionals at CO Architects for your skill and willingness to share. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. Thank you for listening, subscribing to the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. 

Please keep those emails coming convo by design at outlook dot com and follow the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign with an “X”.

Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD