Over the years, I have spoken with many clients who really don’t understand the process behind design. I think there are many beginner and mid-level designers that don’t fully understand process, means and methods. If a client wants their projects completed quickly, they can always find a designer who will do it for them. It’s their replacement who has to pick up the pieces. I can hear many of you nodding in agreement as I say this. It’s the journey, like that of a runner. You don’t decide to run a marathon, buy a pair of shoes and run it. There is a process. A very long and challenging process. The same is true when trying to become the best at what you do in any endeavor. Just like design.
Today, you are going to hear from Holly Hollenbeck. Holly and I discussed the parallels between long-distance running and project management. Holly, an experienced ultra-distance runner, shared her lessons learned from participating in challenging races, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, determination, and experience. She also highlighted how these experiences have influenced her approach to project strategy and risk management.
Holly shares some of the challenges she faced in her design and client management roles due to the Covid-19 pandemic and economic fluctuations. She emphasized the importance of clear communication with clients, setting expectations upfront, and being flexible to pivot when necessary. We also discussed the differences in real estate design and mentality between the United States, Europe, and Asia, with a focus on the concept of the ancestral home and the shift towards renovating existing homes rather than moving due to high housing costs. There is an overwhelming need to adapt to constantly changing market conditions and client needs.
Holly shares her experience of having her kitchen design featured on the cover of California Home and Design in 2007, which she attributed to serendipity and connections with friends. Holly and I discussed the pitfalls of designing homes based on current trends, emphasizing the importance of creating cohesive, functional spaces rather than focusing on individual, trendy elements. They highlighted the risk of a design becoming outdated and the need to balance trendy elements with timeless pieces. Holly shared her approach to navigating clients’ desires for trendy features by ensuring these elements are used in unique and personalized ways. And you are going to hear all about it, right after this.
Thank you Holly, loved our chat. Keep on truckin.
Thank you to my incredible partner/ sponsors; ThermaSol, Design Hardware, pacific Sales, Monogram and TimberTech for your support for the show and the industry as a whole. We are a stronger because of industry partners like you. And of course, thank you for listening to the podcast, subscribing to the show and sharing it with friends and colleagues. Please keep the show and guest suggestions coming, I do appreciate them and do my best to respond to every one.Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com and on Instagram, convoXDesign, with an “X”.Thanks again for listening. Happy New Year, make this the year you’ve been hoping it would be. Until the next episode, Stay focused and above the chaos.
One of my favorite things to do is discover new products, another favorite activity of mine is sharing those new products with you. And, that is what we’r going to do today. “Come with me for a minute, I want to talk to you. I just want to say one word to you. Just one word.… Are you listening?…. There’s a great future in plastics, think about it. Will you think about it? Enough said. That’s a deal”
That, of course, a favorite quote from The Graduate, but rings true now as it did in 1967. What’s old is new again and you are going to hear all about that today through my conversation with Dr. William Chivhovsky, founder of The Good Plastic Company. I believe the design industry is exposed to more new products and ideas than ever before in an ongoing effort to address the issues clients desperately want resolved. This includes climate change, sustainability, lower costs, improved performance and renewables. All of these subjects are going to be addressed over the next hour during my conversation with William Chivhovsky, founder of The Good Plastics Company and their product line, Polygood.
As we enter a new year, it’s an opportunity for exploration and discovery of the new products coming to market this year. I will be speaking at KBIS this year and cannot tell you how excited I am about that. If you will be in Las Vegas for the show this year, please drop me a note. I am looking for designers and architects to walk the show and report back with some of their favorite finds.
Thank you to my incredible partner/ sponsors; ThermaSol, Design Hardware, pacific Sales, Monogram and TimberTech for your support for the show and the industry as a whole. We are a stronger because of industry partners like you. And of course, thank you for listening to the podcast, subscribing to the show and sharing it with friends and colleagues. Please keep the show and guest suggestions coming, I do appreciate them and do my best to respond to every one.Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com and on Instagram, convoXDesign, with an “X”.Thanks again for listening. Happy New Year, make this the year you’ve been hoping it would be. Until the next episode, Stay focused and above the chaos.
Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah. I hope 2024 was the best year ever for you and yours but pales in comparison to 2025. This was an interesting year, one of challenges for the design industry. But more importantly to me, because so many of the people behind design, my friends, family, people I care about, it’s even more important than ever to simply remind you that this was a good year and I know a lot of you are worried, concerned about what 2025 will bring for a number of reasons. Political, social and economic. I am a realistic optimist and I think we are headed into a fantastic year.
Two parts to that. A realist and an optimist. Those two ideas are not always compatible. There are going to be issues to overcome over the next few years, there is no doubt about that. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t only survive, but thrive. Chaos and challenging times are when designers and architects thrive most, why? Because uncomfortable times create a need for better spaces. Think about it. Post Great Depression architecture included Art Moderne, PWA Moderne, WPA Rustic through the U.S. New Deal and this was a time for Modernism to thrive creating a whole new design industry. WWII created the Mid-Century Modern movement and mew approaches to living. The Atomic Age ushered in a new approach to personal safety through residential bomb shelters. new products and materials. A new approach to power consumption with a focus on electrification and modern technologies within the home. It’s almost as if the greater the chaos, the greater the opportunity for those who craft , design and create safe spaces. Think about that.
Changes to the design industry are coming:
AI – We’ve been talking about artificial intelligence on the show since late 2022. It’s no longer coming. It’s here. And to those with whom I have spoken asking if they are going to lose their job to AI, I will tell you what I tell them. Probably not. AI can’t do your job. You’re going to lose you jobs to the designer who knows how to use AI. It’s not about prompts, high capacity CPU’s or the ideation a computer can do that you can’t. It’s the tasks and roles AI can play within your design firm that will make all the difference. If you are still bound by past methods of doing the work, better educated designers will have more time to pursue projects, deliver proposals and create faster project completions. It’s not just talent anymore, but the speed at which you can deliver on each milestone of the project. We all need to be lifelong learners and increase the speed at which we work. That, and using AI to stay on top of the new ideas your clients will be asking for.
Dupes – The moment something unique is created, someone is working on ways to steal the idea. It sucks, but that’s the way it is. There is a break between budgetary constraints and creating a uniquely special space. Remember a few years ago, during the pandemic when storytelling was what clients wanted. Designers were perfectly suited to deliver on that. Now, clients want the economic pain to stop and shrinking budgets have led to a proliferation of dupes. It’s still not okay. Be original and clients will follow. Dupes are not the same as they original. While they may look similar, there is a reason why they are cheaper than the original and it usually has to do with the materials you don’t see but will certainly feel.
Originality and Authenticity – A strong design firm is such because they produce concepts that are unique. Fads and trends come and go, but originality is always in style. Originality comes in many forms and the reason the U.S. design and architecture community is so strong is due to that embrace of uniqueness and desire for authentic designs in residential, commercial, hospitality, education and industrial spaces. The killer of creativity, personal opinion, has been social medias affect on the creative endeavors. We have entered into a copy culture when everyone seems to be racing to come in second. Let someone else take the shots for being first and then come in behind them with a modified version of the same thing. Social media created that and it sucks the originality out of any creative endeavor. Let 2025 be the year of experimental design, original thought and a sense of aspirational ideals. I don’t just direct this at the designers, shelter media needs to do better. This obsession with celebrity and celebrity designer is slowly choking the joy out of our industry. I cannot tell you how many publicists I have spoken to who tell me that they are having trouble getting coverage for their clients who are doing amazing work for non-celebs. I think the trade pubs have it hard, I really do. They lost a ton of subs during the pandemic. Many have fired or laid off the majority of their contributors, many released the higher priced (quality) contributors for less experienced writers and paper/ distribution costs have increased. I get it. But you simply can’t expect to charge more for an inferior product at a time when everyone is paying more for everything. But, you can charge more for a better product! That is what designers do and what the trade pubs should do as well.
Stronger Together – That’s all on this subject. We are stronger together. If we strengthen our industry bonds, we can do better work in a more collaborative environment. Increase your industry relationships. Like these…
Yes, these are partner sponsors of mine and I am incredibly proud to be working with ThermaSol, Design Hardware, TimberTech, Pacific Sales and Monogram. These partnerships are so important for so many reasons. I can tell you that I have done my research on each and I am proud to be working with them. If you want to know why aside from what you hear on the show, email me and I will share my experiences with each.
2025 is going to be a chaotic year, that is how it’s shaping up. But that can be great news for our industry, and I believe it will be. My mission is to bring you the latest in remarkable stories about wonderful creatives. To share the latest industry news and happenings either from there or speaking with those experiencing it first hand. You will also be hearing from a new slate of Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductees and the limited WestEdge Wednesday panel series starting in January with all of the panels and programs from the show’s main stage in their entirety.
As we reflect on 2024, take some time to enjoy a breather with family and friends. That is what is truly important. There are some additional happenings for me and Convo By Design next year. We will surpass episode 600 in 2025, I will be speaking at KBIS, and Convo By Design will be opening a boutique, multi-line rep firm giving designers an opportunity to engage directly with select brands and unique products to specify for their truly special projects.
It all comes down to being thankful, optimistic and curious. I’m thankful for you. Listening to the show and sharing it with your friends, family and colleagues. I’m thankful for my partner sponsors ThermaSol, Pacific Sales, TimberTech, Monogram and Design Hardware. Optimistic about the year to come and experiencing it first hand, in real time. Curious and on the endless pursuit for the stories, brands and products behind sublime design. Please keep those show and guest suggestion emails coming, Convo By Design at Outlook dot com and on Instagram @ConvoXDesign with an “X”. Until next year, be well and take today first. -CXD
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with some of the highlights from the Fall open house at Design Hardware. Incredible design talent, interesting conversations and insights into how the business of design is changing.
The design industry today is more robust and complex than ever before. And that is only going to continue to change over time. Accelerating with every new change in technology and business climate. Not to mention actual climate changes. Every quarter, I check in with design talent at the Design Hardware showroom in Los Angeles and we chop up issue like these and others. These are some of the highlights from our Fall 2024 event that took place in November. You are going to hear all about that, right after this.
What a day. Thank you Cecile, Candace, Bianca, Adam and Ben. These were just a few of the conversations we had and you can find more in depth with these individuals as well as additional creatives by listening to Doctoring Up Design, the official podcast of Design Hardware. Check the show notes for links to that and all the designers you’ve heard here today.
Thank you to my partner sponsors including ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, Design Hardware and Monogram for your continued support to the design community. Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show and share it with with family, friends and colleagues. Your time is the most valuable asset and I appreciate the time we spend here together on the show. Please keep those show and guest suggestions coming. convo by design at outlook dot com and on Instagram @ConvoXDesign with and “X”. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD
The smell of Fall is in the air and people across the U.S. are preparing for a holiday season that will include gatherings. Family and friends get together, give thanks and celebrate one another. Much of that celebratory time takes place in the kitchen, the heart of the home where conversation and meal preparation are shared and enjoyed. Are you ready?
It’s not only during the holidays, but everyday activities take place in the kitchen and a group of exceptionally talented designers gathered to share their thoughts on how the technological advancements in home appliances have changed the way people live and the way these advancements are bettering the lives of those who employ them. We started with a very simple idea to discuss:
Technology, Style and Todays Most Well Designed Kitchens: Everything is Changing, How Some of the Most Talented Creatives Are Changing the Rules.
The most talented designers understand that times are changing. They have seen it happen, in real time prior to the start of the pandemic. Societal changes dating back to the financial crisis of 08/09 led to a renewed look at the “value” of home and the Covid pandemic created a renewed look at the “purpose”. No space has changed more than the kitchen, previously dubbed, “the heart of the home” has morphed into the heart, brain and central nervous system. All things experiential touch the kitchen. Technology has led to some of the greatest advancements in expected areas like refrigeration, cooking and cleaning, but that is only the beginning. How have technological advancements led to increased quality of life? What followed is only the beginning in a wonderful journey of exploration.
Thank you to Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home and Monogram for making this gathering possible. Great partners like Pacific Sales and Monogram appreciate their design clients and strive to provide opportunities to gather, learn and share experiences with our likeminded creates. They make the built environment community stronger and that in turn increases the quality of life for those fortunate enough to engage remarkable designers like these. The following conversation covered a lot of territory and real world scenarios about this very subject. Here are just a few of the concepts we discussed:
Recovered time no longer spent on meal prep
Convenience through remote activation
Automated cooking for meal perfection
Reduced upkeep
App management
Decorative advancements
Efficiency
Increased air and water quality
Minimized need for tools
Simplified education for full and maximized use
Minimized food waste
In appliance cameras for off-site reference
Fully customizable space for design approval
And you are going to hear from some amazing creatives starting with Lynnelle Bryant of Masbuild Design Solutions, right after this.
What an incredible day. Thank you Lynnelle, Goli, Gwen, Jeanne, Laura, and Rachel. Thank you Shaun Ayala, Verzine Hovasapyan, and Ricardo Garcia with pacific Sales Kitchen & Home for your participation and support for the design community. Thank you to all my partner sponsors including Pacific Sales, Monogram, ThermaSol, TimberTech and Design Hardware. These are amazing companies and they are here to make your projects the best they can possibly be. Check the show notes for links to each as well as videos from our designconversations featuring each of these wonderful designers. Thank you for taking the time to listen and share Convo By Design with your friends, family, colleagues and clients. I couldn’t do this show without you, wouldn’t want to. Until next week, be well and take today first. – CXD
This episode is a special one dedicated to the 2024 Convo By Design Icon Registry inductees. This inaugural class of inductees features a diverse group of extraordinary creatives. If you have been listening to the special episodes that air the third Thursday of each month, you’ve heard just what makes these people so extraordinary at what they do. This was the first year of the program and it is scheduled to run well into the future.
This idea for a Hall of Fame was conceived quite some time ago, but I struggled with a touch of imposter syndrome. I thought, who am I to bestow an honor like this on these people. The best in the business today and then a few things happened. The first was the 10-year anniversary party which was held in May of 2023. I was surrounded by so many friends, previous guests of the show, industry partners, all who listen to the show on a weekly basis and I heard stories about how these conversations have helped them in their careers, especially through the pandemic and now, when it feels like life has become a series of crisis management events, one after another. To showcase those who have figured it out and sharing how they did it, then celebrating their accomplishments. It just felt like a good time to start this project. This is not a list by which I expect anything in return. There is no ask for promotion or social media shares. This is just my way of celebrating these folks. But, there are criteria. These individuals have all been on the show, they are extraordinary at what they do by any and all standards and finally, the make our industry better, better than they found it. That is a big one, you will find that each of these amazing creatives have produced exceptional work, many do, but not all give back. Everyone here has, in exceptional ways. And you’re going to hear a bit from each. By the way, the entire episodes are available and you can check the links in the show notes to listen to each on. We’re going to get to that, right after this.
2024 Convo By Design Icon Registry Inductees:
January – Bunny Williams.
February – Cara Woodhouse.
March – Jean Brownhill.
April – Alex Papachristidis.
May – Susan Ferrier.
June – Dakota Jackson.
July – Brigette Romanek.
August – Jaime Bush
September – Timothy Corrigan.
October – Kyle Bunting.
November – Brian Pinkett.
December – Brownstone Boys.
What a great look back and these incredible people. I’m grateful and thankful that they all took the time to share their gifts, here, with us. Each inductee will be receiving, in addition to my eternal gratitude, a hand turned piece to commemorate their induction. Crafted by yours truly through JMC Studio. They have all been fabricated from local materials here in Tulsa, including wood from an old white oak that fell during the derecho in 2023. Thank you again to each for your contributions to our industry and the clients you serve. Thank you to my partner sponsors for your continued support, ThermaSol, Pacific Sales, Monogram, TimberTech and Design Hardware. Amazing companies who are dedicated to the success of the specifiers who craft and construct some of the worlds greatest structures. And thank you for listening to the show, downloading episodes and sharing them with your colleagues, friends and clients. Please keep those emails coming with show and guest suggestions. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD
I just thought since this is the Friday after Thanksgiving, almost everyone is home, eating, drinking and enjoying time with family, I would give you an opportunity to slip away for an hour or so for some alone time. You’re welcome. This is another installment of Drinking About Design. This episode features Butler Armsden leadership team or Glenda Flaim and Federico Engel. We are talking about some really obscure topics, drinking while we do it and I hope you enjoy it.
Fernando Engel is sharing stories about his homeland, Argentina, as well as the Capanopolis, and Francisco Salamone and Glenda will be sharing her thoughts on Venetian Chimneys. Never heard of Venetian chimneys? Well it’s a story on invention. As the proverb goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” And that perfectly describes Venetian chimneys. Think about fire suppression in overcrowded cities, adding ornate design. Cool right, now date them back to the 13th century. Ideas in technological spark arresting and fire suppression. We’re going to get right to this. Special thanks to Glenda and Federico from Butler Armsden for joining me and for my incredible partner sponsors; Pacific Sales, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Monogram and Design Hardware for making it possible and allowing me to share these stories with you. With that, I give you another installation of Drinking About Design.
That was so much fun. Thank you Federico and Glenda, so appreciate the storytelling and the time. Thank you to my partner sponsors ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sale, Monogram and Design Hardware for your continued support and thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to join me for these conversations. This was a fun one, right? There are more episodes of Drinking About Design in 2025 so subscribe to the podcast and get every episode, brand new, right to your feed. Until next week. Happy Thanksgiving, Be well, and take today first. -CXD
This podcast, started in 2013, now 11 years running. I wanted to break from the usual conversations to share some thoughts on gratitude and optimism. To share some updates and thank those who have participated in this exceptional run.
The production of this episode coincides with Thanksgiving, intentionally. This is the time of year when most design professionals and clients alike tend to shut things down for the year. Kids come home from school for the Winter break, family comes to visit, we buy gifts for loved ones, attend holiday parties and I like to think that I am not alone in looking at the past year reflectively while looking to the new year with renewed optimism. 2024 was a fantastic year with regard to the show. Convo By Design has hit a higher gear this year. Going back to by background in motorsports, that means we have opened up new opportunities and are running faster and harder than ever before. The post-pandemic world is different that it was prior. Some issues have emerged this year that I find disturbing. Natural disasters, climate change, weather patterns have all accelerated. It isn’t really about if people believe or remain climate change deniers. Ignore these changes at your peril. I experienced something in 2023 that forever changed the way I feel about climate changes. Father’s Day, 2023, there was a straight line wind event in Tulsa. 100 mile per hour winds for 30-minutes. You can imagine the destruction. My family was fine, but others were not as fortunate. As I write this, a series of hurricanes passed through the southeast and the devastation was tremendous. We are also saw a dock workers strike, a fierce election season which will once again separate families and end friendships. And as I say this, I cannot help but feel optimistic for the year to come. Why? I’ll tell you, rights after this.
Why the optimism? First, I have been incredibly fortunate. I have my family, my health, you… yes you, I am so thankful that you listen, even happier when you send an email to let me know you like the show, disagree with something I said or have a guest suggestion. I also have a roster of incredible partner sponsors. Patrick, Nick, Mitch, Rachael and Jari from ThermaSol. Dan, Jay, Sam from TimberTech. Shaun and Verzine from Pacific Sales as well as the amazing team at Monogram. Michele, Avi, Stassi and Jaime from Design Hardware. Then there are the incredible creatives who share their stories and their work with us, you and me every week on the show.
2024 has brought some new endeavors, exciting changes and portends great things to come. But tread cautiously. I’ll get to that in a moment. First, the new developments. I learned early on in my radio career that the only thing you can really count on is change. The Telecom Act of 1996 changed so much, for me…and you. Most of the people I speak with these days don’t listen to the radio, and that is unfortunate for radio, but not for all of the incredible audio programming that we have available. If there was no Telecommunications Act of 1996, radio stations would probably still be in the hands of individual owners instead of the 10 groups that almost every American radio station. When I was a teenager, growing up in the Valley. I listened to KLOS, KMET, KNAC and KROQ. Play a song for me and I can tell you about how old I was and what I was doing when it was popular. KMET and KLOS created a love for Guns & Roses, Motley Crue, Giant, Scorpions and Van Halen, KNAC sharpened the rock edge with Metallica, Ozzy, Anthrax and Megadeth. Then KROQ, my beloved KROQ. The Smiths, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, The Nails who by the way introduced me to the name , Kamala, “who couldn’t sing but kept the beat and kept it strong.” 88 Lines About 44 Women, check it out. The point is, independent radio groups kept things fresh and interesting. They introduced me to new artists to fall in love with. Radio today is a shadow of its former self. The artists you hear today aren’t broken by radio but through individuals on social media. I compare this to the design industry because there is a very similar pattern being established. There was a time for those of us who loved design and architecture, a time when if you wanted to see what designers were making a splash, you turned to the trade publications. The magazines who provided beautiful glossy images, contributors who were actually journalists, writers who could craft a story and explain the language of architecture and design. Those days too have sailed by because most of us don’t subscribe to magazines anymore. That makes me sad because I still love magazines. They just don’t love me back. And I know there are some of you listening who still subscribe to and read magazines, but you are in the minority and at some point, this too will cease. Case in point. If you like music, and who doesn’t, when was the last time you bought an album? Not a song, an entire record? Fine, CD, digital download or actual vinyl, the whole record? Swifties, no need to email me, you’re different, I get it. This comparison makes for an interesting comparison between musicians and designers & architects. both produce new work that is reflective of broader societal issues. If radio was still the boss, you would not get exposure to new artists except those the industry wanted you to hear. Same goes for designers. To be frank with you, if radio were still the boss, podcasts would all be controlled by the existing radio groups. And, if the shelter trade publications were still as popular as they once were, Convo By Design would probably never have happened. So, in a strange way, I’m grateful for that too.
I mention this because as you are listening to this episode of the show, we recently completed the 2024 installment of the WestEdge Design Fair, a show I have been associated with since 2015. I have produced the programming o the main stage since 2017 and this year brought new voices along with well recognized creatives in design and architecture. Along with the new and established voices, we are talking about relevant issues that are affecting everyone in the shelter space, residential, commercial, design, architecture, manufacturing specifying, everyone and all of it. Concepts like; What’s Next which addresses what many can expect in 2025 with respect to politics, workforce, shipping, receiving, tariffs and other cost issues. Offline Vs. Reconnected, a conversation about the value, healthand emotional benefits of cutting cords in the design itself, why and how for best effect. Authenticity Vs. Dupes, cancel culture taught us that there are ramifications for bad actions and bad actors yet theft, specifically idea theft, creative theft goes unpunished, or has thus-far. But that’s changing, those with sticky fingers beware. Vengance is coming. Have heard about the kerfuffle between the Donals Judd Foundationand Kim Kardashian and Clements Design. This is a huge deal concerning trade dress, intellectual property and trademark infringement. A big deal and not the only issue out there. How about Gifford V. Sheil. Another high profile copyright and trade dress infringement as it relates to content and social media. This one is really interesting. It revolves around …
We are covering a number of new ideas that warrant exploration. If you were not able to join us this year, fear not, every panel has been recorded as it has since 2018 and you will be able to listen in beginning in January with a limited series called WestEdge Wednesday where you will hear one of the 2024 conversations. I want to share something else pretty special with you. Something that will make your heart sing if you love extraordinary design talent, right after this.
2024 brought the inaugural year of the Convo By Design Icon Registry, a hall of fame showcasing some of the most extraordinary guests since the show started in 2013. The icons of 2024 include; Bunny Williams, Cara Woodhouse, Jean Brownhill, Alex Papachristidis, Susan Ferrier, Dakota Jackson, Brigett Romanek, Tim Corrigan, Kyle Bunting, Brian Pinkett, Jamie Bush, and I’m spilling the tea a bit, but December’s addition will be the Brownstone Boys. You will hear that episode in a few weeks. Third Thursday of every month will be the induction of a new icon. This is a hall of fame, not a massive click-bait list of dozens of creatives, these individuals have been selected for a few reasons that include their appearance on the show, their body of work, a willingness to give back to the industry and the manner in which they created their design business. All of these individuals have left an indelible mark on the world, leaving it better than they found it. Make sure you are listening to the 2025 class inductions, there are some very special people. Each icon, in addition to their induction episode, will be receiving a custom made and hand turned piece from JMC Studio. You can see what those look like on Instagram @convoXdesign, with an “x”. Final thoughts, right after this.
2025 is going to be an exceptional year, I can feel it. Been vibing with the universe and I can feel everything beginning to align. It feels different because, as I stated at the beginning of this episode, there are external forces at work that have made and continue to make life more complicated that it once was. I think that designers are futurists who make life better through their architecture and design. That talent is what will be addressing the climate change issues, costs of goods, specification and lifestyle. We adapt, we evolve, we change in response to the external forces that affect the manner in which we live, love and exist. I’m excited about the year to come and that joy comes form an appreciation for what is and acceptance of what was. That’s gratitude. I’m grateful and thankful for everyone who has come on the show this year, I’m thankful for my partner sponsors, TimberTech, ThermaSol, Design Hardware, Pacific Sales and Monogram. Please keep those guest suggestions and show ideas coming, convo by design at Outlook dot com and on instagram, @convoXDesign with an “X”.
Until next week, be well, take today first and Happy Thanksgiving. – Convo By Design
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Do you like where you live? If you lived somewhere, anywhere else, how might that change you? How might that affect your work, your creativity?
Emily Baker is a multi-disciplinary creative endeavors in photography, illustration and a wallpaper line. Emily moved with her family to Portugal. Hold on. Let this sink in for a moment. Moved with her family to Portugal. I focus on this because I think this is at the crux of life and creativity. It’s difficult to make a move across town, let alone to another state. But another country? I would argue that the fear of unknown issues, financial issues let alone the basic concerns around language and social issues would be paralyzing. But it’s also incredibly exciting. The constant rush of adrenaline from the most mundane of tasks can both wreak havoc on the central nervous system and release a flurry of new thoughts and ideas. I have always loved moving. But what is the direct correlation to creative breakthroughs moving to a new environment have on the work? On life? Your’e about to find out in this episode of Convo By Design featuring Emily Baker of Emily Baker Studio. We’ll be right back.
Thank you Emily. Loved this chat and appreciate the time. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; ThermaSol, Design Hardware, Pacific Sales, Monogram and TimberTech. These are all fantastic partners with exceptional products and service to match. I have vetted these companies and I believe in them, and I think you should too. Check the show notes for direct links. Thank you for checking them out and specifying them on your next project. I also want to thank you for listening to the show and sharing Convo By Design with your friends, coworkers and colleagues who you think might enjoy it as well.
Please also keep the guest and show suggestions coming; convo by design at outlook dot com and on Instagram @convoxdesign, with an “x”. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD
This is the Convo By Design Icon Registry for October 2024 and it is an absolute joy for me to talk about this creative with reverence, respect and friendship. The October 2024 Convo By Design Icon Registry inductee is the incomparable, Kyle Bunting.
Kyle and I have known each other for a while and he has appeared on the podcast four times I think. And in all different ways, And he almost always brought friends. Not that he needed them, but Kyle is what you can call a consummate professional and chronic collaborator. He can’t help himself, and why should he?
Collaboration between manufacturer, designer, architect, GC, client, trades, showroom are all critically important for the success of the project. Collaboration takes many forms and unfortunately, sometimes, no form at all. In all my experience, not just in the built and designed space, but in every aspect of business, collaboration is mission critical. Without collaboration, there is no communication, nor partnership, nor exceeding goals, can’t be done for one very simple reason; Design projects, residential or commercial builds are all done using multiple partners and if those partners aren’t working collaboratively, mistakes are made, miscommunications happen and it generally leads to additional issues. Kyle Bunting os one of the most highly-skilled collaborators I know. He also has created an exceptional brand and a wonderful product.
It is my privilege to induct Kyle into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, JMC Studio has crafted an original piece to commemorate this and it will be sent to Kyle shortly, check out Instagram if you wantto see it. As we do here, this is Kyle Bunting from a previous appearance on Convo By Design.
KB
Thank you, Kyle for taking the time and the willingness to share your story.Thank you for your constant willingness to bring others into the big tent and for creating such an exceptional product. Congratulations on your addition to the Convo By Design Icon Registry. Thank you for listening and subscribing to the show. Thank you to my partner sponsors Design Hardware, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Monogram and Pacific Sales. these are amazing partners all, they support the trade and I love sharing these amazing resources with you. Thanks again for listening, until next week, be well and take today first. – CXD
