Convo By Design®

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a different perspective today. We’re hopping across the pond to hear from one of my new favorite design firms. From London, this is the mother and daughter team, Sarah and Rosie Ward from the Chelsea, London design firm, Ward & Co. You will notice a few things about the following conversation. Strong design is universal. Good design relies talent, skill and a willingness to divorce oneself from their own personal style in favor of understanding what lies at the center of a client’s desires. Sarah and Rosie do that and it’s evident in their work. It’s also fun to have a conversation that spans international boundaries because while as humans we have similarities in needs and desires, the differences geographically are significant. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Sarah and Rosie of Ward & Co. Thank you, Sarah and Rosie.I appreciate the time and insights. Thank you CXD partners, sponsors and friends ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware, the ICAA SoCal Chapter and The Oasis Alliance. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to the show. I hope you enjoy the show because that’s why I do this. I would also like to hear from you. I love the guest submissions and show ideas so keep them coming, email me convobydesign@outlook.com or message me on Instagram @convoxdesign, with an x. Remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. Let that be the thing that drives you to push the boundaries and let’s keep moving our industry forward. Be well, and until next week… Take today first. CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Can you believe it has been 10 years doing this show, because I can’t. Thanks for listening and supporting the podcast. I appreciate you. Today, you are going to hear from Tracee Murphy of Trade Mark Interiors. We’re taking a deep dive into the phycology behind design. Why we do what we do, and how design informs those decisions as well as how those design decisions inform what we do. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. Tracee Murphy has built her firm on the principles of therapy and crafted a process to get to foundational basics in design. Not just an exploration in how her clients want to live but why, which can be the difference between wonderful design and transformational design. It all starts with listening, that’s the easy part. Understanding, processing what follows is where the magic lies. And you’ll hear all about that, right after this. Thank you, Tracee. Loved our chat and appreciate the time. There is such value in the art of listening. And it is an art form. Thank you CXD partners, sponsors and friends ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware, the ICAA SoCal Chapter and The Oasis Alliance. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to the show. I hope you enjoy the show because that’s why I do this. I would also like to hear from you. I love the guest submissions and show ideas so keep them coming, email me convobydesign@outlook.com or message me on Instagram @convoxdesign, with an x. Remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. Let that be the thing that drives you to push the boundaries and let’s keep moving our industry forward. Be well, and until next week… Take today first. CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Celebrating 10 years hosting and producing this show has given me so much that I cannot even tell you how much it means to me. That is why I strive to continue giving back to this incredible industry every chance I get. Because it’s important, and I think that because it took me so long to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up. Not saying I have totally grown up. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. Giving back to the business is important. Do you know that when I started Convo By Design, I was the only person recording panel conversations from our amazing design events. I think I started recording panels in 2014 and for the first 4 years of the show, I would approach guests to be on the show and the first question would be, “what’s a podcast.” Nobody asks me that anymore. I’m also not the only one recording the panels and conversations anymore. And that is a good thing.I would credit the wider distribution of critical design thinking for some of the groundbreaking work we see today in the business. The new products and services available to designers and through to their clients is nothing short of remarkable. The pandemic brought a wholesale change in the way think about design, it fundamentally changed the very nature of thee business. Listening back to some of the conversations I had during lock-down was not only transformational in the way I think about the business but informs my editorial calendar and some of the things in store for you here on CXD in future episodes. The following conversation is a look back to the future with a group I spent some time with during lock-down. I started hosting the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series back in 2017. It has had a few different names but the idea that wellness and design thought leadership are inextricably tied together makes sense to me anyway and that is how I settled on this name for the gatherings both live, in-person and virtual. This cohort features an illustrious group of creatives who joined me during the pandemic via Zoom and we gathered again in January to check in. Thi conversation features; Laurie Haefele, Rozita Nazarian, Alexandra Abramian, Gary Gibson, Takashi Yanai and Josh Boris. We cover a lot of ground about how the industry is changing in real time. I hope you enjoy this conversation with some wonderful friends, right after this. What a fun conversation. I love that we could do this. Thank you Laurie, Rozita, Alex, Takashi, Gary and Josh. Thank you for all you do to move the conversation forward. Thank you CXD partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to the show, subscribe, download and send me emails with guest submissions and project ideas for coverage. Keep them coming. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Today, we are visiting with Denver based designer, Nadia Watts. A creative with a very strong collaborative spirit. What does that mean? Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. Well, it’s an idea that is uniquely different based on the individuals perspective. In Nadia’s case, collaboration is an idea inextricably tied to her work, you are going to hear about that as well as an exploration into her work and how she uses elements of her design to bounce of other parts to add depth and detail to the work. I hope you enjoy this conversation by design with Nadia Watts, we’ll be right back. Thank you, Nadia. I appreciate the time and love what you do. Thank you to my partners and sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware. Your partnership is what makes this possible and your support for the design industry is amazing, I appreciate you. Thank you for taking the time to subscribe, download and listen to the show. If not already, please make sure you subscribe so you get fresh episodes the moment they’re published. Remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. Be well, and until next week, take today first. CXD About Nadia: Nadia has been in the interior design industry for over 15 years. Since 2009 Nadia has delivered exceptional interior design to clients across the country from her studio in Denver, Colorado. Her collaborative approach to design and project management has led to lasting relationships with clientele looking to personalize and refine their spaces. Nadia's portfolio includes custom residential homes, historic renovations, bespoke professional offices, and spaces showcasing internationally recognized art and furniture collections. Nadia’s forte is attention to detail and expressing the personalities of her clients in the feel of their homes. Nadia began her professional design career with Elaine Stephenson Interiors in Roanoke, Virginia, she worked in the American Decorative Arts Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and with Douglas Associates, Interior Designers in Denver. Nadia founded her eponymous firm in 2009. Nadia Watts Interior Design has provided Nadia the creative venue to demonstrate and explore her design skills. Nadia specializes in assembling teams of architects, contractors, artisans, and experts unique to each project. Services include: full service interior design, project management, new construction, furnishing selection, historical restoration, and remote design consultation.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design and today on the show, you are going to hear from someone with whom you are already familiar. You know her product because you hear about it during the show and I thought it was time for you to really hear from her, this is the create visionary behind the lifestyle brand, Moya Living. This is Moya O’Neill. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. Moya is not just a guest, not just a partner sponsor of Convo By Design, she is a friend, a superior creative and she has built this company around a product, as you have heard me say, is built like a tank and looks like a Ferrari. That’s not a sales pitch, its true. Why is that so important? name a company, brand, manufacturer or other purveyor of a product that makes a product so stunningly gorgeous that it’s style is enduring while constructing it of a lasting material like steel using best building practices as to make sure the product lasts and is measured not by years but by generations? You will be hard pressed to find another like Moya Living. Their process is a model for modern manufacturing. But is all starts with the vision. And, you are going to hear all about that, in just a moment. Thank you Moya, I do love our chats. Thank you CXD sponsor partners ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for making this show possible. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to the show. I hope you enjoy the show, that’s why I do this. I would also like to hear from you. I love the guest submissions and show ideas so keep them coming, email me convobydesign@outlook.com or massage me on Instagram @convoxdesign, with an x. Remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. Let that be the thing that drives you to push the boundaries and let’s keep moving our industry forward. Be well, and until next week… Take today first. CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Today on the show I’m going to take you back to an event honoring one of the best in the business today. It was the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art Southern California Chapter’s annual Legacy celebration in honor of the incomparable Richard Landry. What an absolutely spectacular night this was. t was raucous, loud, and incredible fun. I’m going to take you with me as I emceed the event that night at the California Club in Los Angeles. In this episode, you are also going to hear from Artillery Magazine’s Ezrha Jean Black. She is going to give you a walking tour with artist Peter Wallis within his installation at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, CA. This is an episode in celebration of art, architecture and those who create it. Thank you Ezraha, Brian Pinkett, Richard Landry, ICAA Southern California, Bergamot Station, and everyone who played a part in this episode. Now more than ever, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. The design and architecture community single handedly makes the lives of those we serve better and it’s because of you. Thanks again for listening, we’ll be back next week with another story, so until then, be well and take today first.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a conversation about architecture. The kind of architecture that, if you are a true fan, makes your heart race. It did mine Wayne Turett is. the force behind The Turett Collaborative. He and his team are reshaping New York and surrounding through the application of extraordinary architecture principles, new ideas and and a reimagined idea of what architecture is and can be. The work is imaginative, daring and the philosophy is sustainable. Everything from reshaped inner city dwellings to a ground up passive house. Outdoor playgrounds inside, inside living spaces outdoors and so much more. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Wayne and I take a walk through quite a few of these projects and if you are so inclined, you can walk through them with us. As always, check the show notes for a link to The Turett Collective website project pages and we’ll explore together. What you are going to find is that Wayne’s firm takes the work seriously, but in that approach, find ways to reignite the imagination through the use of materials in unexpected ways, application of technique in a manner that is multifunctional and serves as multiplier against other materials and techniques. Space, flow, lighting, emotion and a clear passion for the work are evident in every detail. Can you tell I’m a fan? I am and I think if you are not already familiar with their work, by the end of this episode, you will be as well. The is Wayne Turett of The Turett Collective. Thank you Wayne for the time. Thank you CXD partners and sponsors ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continuous partnership and support. Thank you for taking the time to subscribe, download and listen to the show. I appreciate you. Now more than ever, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it. The design and architecture community single handedly makes the lives of those we serve better and it’s because of you. Thanks again for listening, we’ll be back next week with another story, so until then, be well and take today first.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a panel conversation recorded live from the WestEdge Design Fair, Dallas edition. This conversation was entitled, Designing for Wellness Inside and Out | An Exploration to Stunning Holistic Design that Connects Inside and Out with Those Who Inhabit the Space. I envisioned this conversation as one that would open new avenues of thought for a southern and midwestern audience. Having spent a great deal of time recently in both the midwest and south, I can tell you that the ideas of wellness are different. We’ll get to that a bit more in a minute. First, I wanted you to hear how this concept was presented. Here is how this panel was billed and whom it featured. The concept of ‘healthy design’ is a constantly evolving idea as new technology comes to market and the ideas behind living healthy change. In years past, it was low off-gassing materials and VOC paints, then sleep chambers crafted for a high quality sleeping experience. As the pandemic continues to change the way we live, so has the idea that defines what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Crafting luxury living both inside and out has become a universal goal to capture as much usable space while exploring ways to make that space perform in new ways. Featuring Shelly Rosenberg, Philip Vanderford and Christina Garcia-Lysaught Moderated by Brenda Houston. Simple and elegant, yet as you are going to hear, ideas about wellness change dramatically based on who you ask. This group was cast with purpose. Each participant was hand picked for the individual superpower they possess and if you have listened to the show for a while, you have heard from each of them. Philip Vanderford of Studio Thomas James, Christina Garcia-Lysaught of Layered Dimensions and Shelly Rosenberg all bring a different perspective to this idea of what “wellness” means right now as it informs their work on behalf of their clients. Check the links in the show notes to see their work, you’ll see what I mean. To moderate this conversation is Brenda Houston. Brenda is what I call a hybrid-creative. She works in a number of verticals that range from design to retail to product design which makes her the perfect person to bring out the gems from this highly-skilled group. You are going to hear all about it, right after this. Thank you Christina, Shelly, Philip and Brenda. Fabulous job. I loved this and appreciate your taking the time to do this and sharing your expertise and insight. Thank you to CXD partners and sponsors including ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware and the WestEdge Design Fair. Thank YOU for taking the time out of your day to download, subscribe and listen to the show. I appreciate you and I hope this show helps you do that thing you do better. For more information about the show, about what we do here at Convo By Design, check the show notes for links and ways to connect. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

In life, we come across people who change us. Some in small bits, some larger but they, in some way shape our journey and inform who we become. Two of those individuals in my life left us last week. What I find so interesting about it is that these two individuals and i interacted for about one hour each yet they had an immense impact on my life. That led me to think about you, those who listen to the show, this podcast and it reminded me that is the reason that I do this, in the hopes that what I do could impact others, that it could have a lasting impact on your life and shape your journey. You might be wondering about who these people were. One was actor Tom SIzemore who you might recognize from Heat, Saving Private Ryan and countless others. The second was Wayne Shorter, legendary jazz musician. I interviewed both of these icons and each had a sizable impact on me and inform the way I think about things. Wayne Shorter told me a story about how he envisioned his music as a journey, bigger than an instrument playing notes with a band for fans. An actual journey of life, this became a philosophy for him and his story made me think about the journey we all take, the work we create and how that composition changes us. Tom Sizemore left an indelible mark on me. He told a story about being saved by a friend. That reminded me that none of us get to impact points along that journey without others along the way. So, a journey is nothing without the people along the way. Just wanted to share that and remember 2 people who made a tremendous impact on me in a very short amount of time. I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a colorful conversation for this year’s International Builders Show in Las Vegas. Nothing changes the nature and language of design more than color, right? While I can’t see you, many are nodding, others are shaking their heads because we in the industry can rarely agree on anything like this and that is just a small part of what makes the current state of design so amazing and wonderful. We shouldn’t be agreeing about anything related to design or color. The moment we all begin to love something and think it permanent, we lose finding what’s next and I hope that never happens. I also think that very cycle is what transitions design thought leadership and trending ideas to the trendy, which I believe is when creative ideas die. The following is a conversation I had with Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin Williams. We were talking about color and the opportunities designers and specifiers have with Sherwin Williams family of products. We’ll get to that, right after this. Thank you, Sue. Loved our chat and I’m looking forward to doing this again soon. Thank you Convo By Design sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your partnership. I appreciate you and I love the way you support the design industry. For those listening who want to learn more, please check the show notes for links. Thank you for listening to the show. I know now more than ever, there are a lot of shows out there and you chose CXD. I appreciate you and I hope you found this episode to be a great use of your time because that is my goal. Let’s do this again shall we? Say, next week? Until then, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Suzanne Rheinstein, a giant in the industry has left us but not without changing both the nature of interior design but the way in which interior design is experienced by those for whom she crafted. Suzanne was one of those rare talents who had a signature through-line in her work that has been described as “elegant civility” which was a pulled-focus on fewer, but better. A level of quality that was exceptional but not overpowering which allowed those for whom she worked to experience the different levels of her work, not necessarily all at once but over time. It is the same way other pleasure past-times like wine, art and music are experienced and enjoyed. Rheinstein was a major talent with all of the awards and accolades that you would expect. Her work, like Suzanne, was elegant and timeless. I wanted to share some of her wit, charm and stories, in her own voice and words from an interview n 2019 at the LaCienega Design Quarter’s Legends event where she was presented with her Living Legend Award. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will always long to return. Learning never exhausts the mind. - Leonardo da Vinci.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with an absolutely jam packed episode featuring some sound from KBIS and IBS 2023. For the record, this show was amazing, and you’re about to hear why... Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The pandemic is over. With that broad statement comes some finer nuanced observations. Yes, people are still getting COVID, yes, you still see some masked holdouts but I would equate those to a lingering cough after being sick. I base this on the traffic I saw at Las Vegas Market, KBIS and IBS. It was jammed, the parties were full of unmasked, imbibing revelers all in Las Vegas to see what happening, and much was happening. You have already heard some of what was happening at Las Vegas Market. If you missed it, check the show notes or podcast feed for links to episodes about the panels and the people. This is a montage from KBIS and IBS featuring brands and design talent from around the country who decended upon sin city to celebrate design and find inspiration from products and innovation. It is important to call an end to the pandemic but to remember all that we have learned. I will say this again, once something unprecedented happens, it is no longer unprecedented and the odds are that something like it can and will happen again. If and when it does, will we be prepared? That is a conversation for another day. Today, you are going to hear from some amazing individuals including; Hacker Kitchens, Breegan Jane, John Cialone, Top Knobs, Sara Malek Barney and more. So, let’s get after it. Wow. Jam packed, right? Thank you Sara, Matt, Roz, Andeas, Breegan, Christine & John. Thank you Convo By Design sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your partnership. I appreciate you and I love the way you support the design industry. For those listening who want to learn more, please check the show notes for links. Thank you for listening to the show. I know now more than ever, there are a lot of shows out there and you chose CXD. I appreciate you and I hope you found this episode to be a great use of your time because that is my goal. Let’s do this again shall we? Say, next week? Until then, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design and today on the show, we have Cate Brown, and her firm’s creative director, NY fashion designer Dean Sidaway. Cate and her namesake brand produce some beautiful garments for the home. Yes, this is a conversation about design, but it’s also a chart about fashion, clothing for the home, if you will and sustainability. Up-cycling, and reimagining gently worn Chanel, Valentino and Louis Vuitton into pillows and fashion for the home. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! It’s an interesting concept if you really think about it. Tile, pulls and hardware have long been called jewelry for the home. We talk about our homes as living, breathing entities so why shouldn’t they be dressed? Why shouldn’t textiles serve as fashion for the home? Partly rhetorical, partly not and that is the part Cate, Dean and I discuss. This is the 10th year of Convo By Design. For the past 10 years, I have been working with the biggest and brightest names in design and architecture. I have also spent a significant amount of time consulting brands and producing branded content for them. Beginning this year, we are offering this service to design and architecture firms of all sizes from the single creative to multi-national design firms and brands alike. If you are in need of a production company to produce social media content, develop your company podcast, write your blog posts, produce trade-focused CEUs, create in-showroom programming or you need help leveling-up your firm, email me, Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com or message me on Instagram @ConvoXDesign with an “x”. Thank you Cate and Dean for taking the time to share your story. Thank you CXD partners and sponsors; ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support. And thank you for taking the time every week to share some time together and hear the stories behind sublime design. Check the show notes for links to Cate Brown, our social media links and please keep emailing me with your suggestions and guest submissions. Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com. Until next week, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it, be well and take today first.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo by Design with a conversation about building an absolutely exceptional design brand. Christopher Peacock is a truly exceptional creative with a rich history in creating some of the most extraordinary wood cabinetry in the industry today. There is a difference between crafting a product and building a brand. Peacock molded his eponymous brand in the US from humble beginnings and a keen understanding for what he wanted. And he’s going to share that story and insight here. Christopher launched his firm in 1992. Christopher Peacock Cabinetry was built on the premise that wooden cabinetry should be beautiful and enduring. But when Peacock put his name on it, there was a greater sense of purpose. That is what I find so interesting here. This is the piece that is missing from much of what we. See and hear these days in the trades and in the media surrounding design and architecture. For many years now, the idea of luxury design has been inextricable tied to big, expensive and for lack of a better word, “extra”. I don’t think good design has to be big, expensive or “extra”. I think good, no, great design is about the nature of the work and manner in which the work is tied to the individual for whom it’s created. Look at art. A painting can sell for millions of dollars but at the end of the day, what is it…really. A few dollars worth of canvas and paint. But the work speaks. Fashion, same thing. A few dollars of fabric crafted into something extraordinary. It’s the art that goes into the craftsmanship. That is what makes design so special. And that is why Christopher’s sorry is so special. And why I am so pleased to share it with you. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Thank you Christopher for taking the time to share your story. Thank you CXD partners and sponsors; ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support. And thank you for taking the time every week to share some time together and hear the stories behind sublime design. Until next week, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it, be well and take today first.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Today, I’m just having a chat with a friend. One that I want to share with you because my friend Charles is one of the best brand-ambassadors I know. He is a marketer and promoter in the very best sense of the words. This is Charles Miller. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! You already know my background if you have been listening to the show for any length of time. I want to share a story that I don’t think I have shared on CXD before. Growing up in LA, I was a huge fan of radio since I can remember. That is how I would up in broadcast for the first 20+ years of my career. When I was in college, I was interning at KLOS-FM, a legendary radio station. My internship was with the mark & Brian Show, one of the biggest radio shows in LA history. One day, my job was to escort and assist a very young and newly-minted boxing champ, Mike Tyson. He came in with Don King to plant a tree on Arbor Day. I handed he and King a shovel, they looked at each other and laughed. I would up planting that tree. I got to follow King and Tyson around that day and watched, in awe as Don King did his Don King thing. One of the best promoters I have ever witnessed. Singular in focus at the moment. He had nothing else in life but Mike Tyson at that moment. He espoused the virtues, sidestepped the unimportant and made sure to drive every campaign with purpose and passion. This is how I think about my friend Charles Miller. He is as creative as any designer or artist but his creativity takes the form of ideas that drive brand awareness and engagement for his branded clients. It’s an art form. One for which I have a strong admiration. And Charles is one of the best. If you know him, you know I’m right. If you don’t, allow me to introduce you. Thank you Charles. You are one of the best at what you do. Thank you to CXD partners and sponsors including ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware and the WestEdge Design Fair. Thank YOU for taking the time out of your day to download, subscribe and listen to the show. I appreciate you and I hope this show helps you do that thing you do better. For more information about the show, about what we do here at Convo By Design, check the show notes for links and ways to connect. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is another edition of Business By Design, a special feature of the show. As previously mentioned, I am producing these ad hoc and I have something special for you today. But first…So you know, the following opinions are mine and do not represent or warranty any economic or future performance. We are not responsible for any gross factual errors voiced by guests, real or fake. There are no guarantees here, just ideas that have been constructed based on research so I suggest that you do your own research as well before acting on any of the ideas shared here. This is what those in the business call a disclaimer and it is meant to make sure you know that I am not giving you any financial advice, I am presenting ideas in the hopes that it gives you a way to perhaps think a bit differently about this business of ours. Most of you have heard and might be curious about whats happening next in the business from a technological standpoint. There has been a lot of chatter recently about NFT’s, the metaverse and AI. At KBIS and Vegas Market recently, some creatives have expressed doubts, others concern and it makes sense. Years ago, I started tracking the amount of time designers and architectural firms spent of social media, marketing and other activities not directly related to the core business of the design practice and it has been astounding to see the time spent on these activities skyrocket. For me, as the host and publisher of Convo By design, it has been interesting to watch some designers really embrace media, writing blogs and some even recording their own podcasts. I love that because they got to see first hand just how difficult and time consuming it can be to do it right. That being said, we are entering a new era, one of artificial intelligence and that will have some very interesting effects on the business of design. and we are going to explore that very idea. Before I get to deep into this, I want to introduce me guest today. Meet AIDAAN (Artificial Intelligence Design And Architectural Narrarator). As you might have guessed, AIDAAN is not human, he is as AI as it gets. I made a choice here, I gave AIDAAN an artificial sounding voice. There are some options out there that sound as real as any human. You have most likely already heard from or actually spoken with AI support and you might not even be aware. So, today on the show, we are going to hear from AIDAAN and they are going to tell you about various aspects and topics of the industry. I’m messing around with different voices and over time, I will begin to add more refined voices and we are going to learn together what that will sound like. Something else you should know. The content you will be hearing about was not written by me, or any other human being for that matter. I have been using a few different AI sources like ChatGPT which is responsible for the actual content that AIDAAN is voicing. As a journalist, editorial integrity is of paramount importance to me so I am going to tell you when AI is responsible for producing the content you hear on the show. So the first thing I wanted to know was the current state of the design and architecture industry. AIDAAN, take it away. STATE OF DESIGN The interior design industry is a vital part of the United States economy, providing jobs for thousands of designers, salespeople, and manufacturers across the country. From high-end residential projects to commercial spaces, the interior design industry has a wide range of applications and can be found in virtually every sector of the economy. In this article, we will explore the interior design industry as a business in the United States, examining the industry's history, key players, and future prospects. History The history of interior design in the United States can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the emergence of the middle class led to a growing demand for comfortable, stylish homes.

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a journey south, Mexico City to be exact, to speak with Sten Studio founder Jose Miguel Schnaider. We are talking about stone, sculpture, lighting, art and so much more. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! From a family quarry to original works of art suing beautiful gifts painstakingly unwrapped from their multi-million year formation process, that is both a big responsibility and an unparalleled opportunity to create something truly unique. Using the minerals and materials unearthed using select manufacturing techniques, Juan Miguel crafts some incredible works. But not alone. This is also a conversation about collaboration and teamwork. It dawned on my while writing the preamble for this episode that a consistent and constant theme that is present in every one of the 400+ previous conversations and from each of the 800+ creatives I have spoken with over the past 10 years, there is this state of wonder I feel. I was having a conversation recently with the CEO of a rather large company. We were just chatting about life in general and I realized something. My friend’s creative pilot light had gone out. As we delved deeper, it became evident that there was no joy in what he did, only obligations. The need to keep things going forward. Sales, R & D, stock price, no bad press, no scandals… Burnout will surely follow at some point, and he knows this. The goal, for him, is to hang on as long as possible. Get as close as he can to the day when he can eventually cut the cord and let go. Think about that for a moment. Just keeping all the balls in the air versus living each breath in a state of awe and wonder. Nobody I know has reached that level of awareness, some are far closer than I but the goal is to eventually get there. Why so philosophical today? Not sure, but I think it has to do with this conversation and the idea of walking through a yard of newly unearthed minerals, geodes, and all different shapes of materials knowing that I would have the opportunity to craft them into something completely unique. Art. Isn’t that what life is all about? Taking the unknown, opportunity, discovery and crafting it into something you can be proud of? Thank you Juan Miguel. I enjoyed our chat and love what you do. Thank you CXD partners and sponsors; ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support. And thank you for taking the time every week to share some time together and hear the stories behind sublime design. Check the show notes for links to Sten Studio, our social media links and please keep emailing me with your suggestions and guest submissions. Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com. Until next week, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. It’s kind of funny to me that over the years, all of the events and interviews, showcase homes, tours, gatherings… much of what I have found myself talking about with you, my friends in the business, that is the experience in design. That experience is more about the interpersonal relationships than the work itself. I love the work, it’s the glue that binds this amazing industry together. But, without the people, there is no design to begin with so it only makes sense that the people and our experiences come first. With that, I wanted to bring you a feel for what it was like at the Las Vegas Winter Market. I had never been to Las Vegas Market before so I don’t have a frame of reference, nothing to compare it to but I will tell you that I was completely blown way by this show. A massive market center with so much to see that it completely shocked the senses. I have been to KBIS before, but not since it was in Las Vegas back in 2019. I was not prepared for this. For designers who have been, you know, there is way more to see than time permits. More to do than you have the time or energy to expend. I was shocked by the attendance this year. I’m not exactly sure why though. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The new reality is, Meteorologists can not accurately predict the weather. Even with their Mega-Monster Super Doppler 10,000. They have no idea whats coming, or not. The airlines can no longer be trusted to get you to the trade shows on time. I cannot tell you how many of my friends did not make it to the show on time. The one thing you can count on is that they will continue to jam-pack every flight they can, they will over-charge whenever possible and there will always be that one dude who isn’t wearing socks on the plane, he is also usually the guy whose watching or making a call on his phone without Air-pods. Economic predictions are unreliable at best and there is no reliable way for knowing if a real recession is looming unless you actually do the research, which you do not have the time to do. But that brings me to another idea for you. For the past 5 years, I have been gathering research from a small but very active group of designers and architects. Their combined findings have been extremely reliable predictors for what’s coming. Check the show for detailed findings and upcoming releases. If you went to the shows this year or not, I wanted to see if I could bring you there with me and share a snapshot of the experience. In an effort to give you a real feel for this, I am going to organize this a bit differently. You have already heard my panel conversation. I published that last week. This episode is all about the people and a few that I think you should know. First up, you are going to hear from Mike Riley, president of Feizy Rugs. Mike is an industry vet with decades of experience, and with the exuberance of someone new to the business. His passion shows and you’ll hear how Mike is navigating a company celebrating 50 years into this new era of the design business. We’ll be right back with that in just a moment. You heard from Mike Riley, president of Feizy Rugs. Next, you are going to hear from my friend Michael Bauer, director of trade relations at Feizy. He is one of the most genuine and authentic people you will ever meet. I mean that with complete sincerity. His openness and willingness to help is one of the characteristics that make him an absolute gem. If you don’t know him, you’re about to. I would also encourage you to check the show notes for links to the Feizy Rugs website and introduce yourself to him because if you are a designer, you’re about to meet your next really amazing friend,...

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a new series called The Business X Design. I’m starting this monthly addition to the show for one reason, an important reason. The shelter space, industrial design, hospitality, architecture, home goods …this business of ours is one of the most important industries in the lives of those who inhabit the dwellings you design, those who work in the offices and stores architects create. Over the years and certainly post-pandemic, the business behind design has changed dramatically, but the coverage really hasn’t changed all that much. I love the design publications, I do and I always have, I predict that I always will because they showcase some of the best work being done today. I’m also frustrated by them because they don’t show enough of it, they continue for the most part to feature exclusively the celebrity, super luxury and trendy sides of the business. I get that because that is how it has always been. But I think there is a desire for more. So, in keeping with that idea, every month as long as I feel like it serves a purpose, I am going to showcase a new episode in addition to the stories behind design, that episode will showcase how the business is changing in real time. I’m going to bring you my interpretation of the data that is shaping our economy and external factors molding and shaping the state of the business today. Each of these episodes will be shorter, more concise and cover one single idea that I think you should know. With that, here’s the first episode of Convo By Design’s, The Business X Design. So you know, the following opinions are mine and do not represent or warranty any economic or future performance. There are no guarantees here, just ideas that have been constructed based on research so I suggest that you do your own research as well before acting on any of the ideas shared here. This is what those in the business call a disclaimer and it is meant to make sure you know that I am not giving you any financial advice, I am presenting ideas in the hopes that it gives you a way to perhaps think a bit differently about this business of ours. When I record interviews, speak with clients and check in with people around the country, I have been asked one question with greater frequency lately, “Do you think we are going to see a recession?” I believe the answer to that question is “yes” but it also comes with a few caveats because that is not an easy question to answer. Why? What is a recession? A recession is considered by many to be 2 consecutive quarters of negative GDP. I read a Forbes Advisor article recently that sourced the origin of this idea back to economist, Julius Siskin in 1974. Since so many subscribe to this idea, it has become a part of everyday conversation as it relates to the health of the US economy just like the goal of 2% inflation by the Federal Reserve. If this is true, then according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA.GOV), with negative GDP growth in Q1 and Q2 of 2022, we have already seen a recession this year. It gets complicated because Q3 saw a GDP pop of 2.9% and this is purely a guess but I think Q4 will see positive growth as well. I’ll tell you why in a moment. I also have a few thoughts on what we’ll see after that in the first 2 quarters of 2023 and why. Before I get further into the nuts and bolts of this, Convo By Design is more than just a podcast. I have spent the past 10 years building a production company and consulting firm that develops brand ambassador programming, CEU’s, live event programming as well as branded content for companies in the design and architecture industry including; designers, architects, furnishing companies, showrooms and others in the trade. We have content producer talent in every region of the country and can help you grow your design business through brand development campaigns, social media and CEU content development and production as well as content consulting and l...

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a podcast episode about podcasting and how this form of communication is finally getting the attention of those in the shelter industry. Moderated by a longtime friend, Breegan Jane and empaneled by new friends who you will meet in just a moment. I learned a long time ago that you can’t force people to embrace any ideas until they are ready to do it themselves. Podcasting is something I am extremely passionate about because I have been doing it for such a long time. At the start of this show, 10 years ago, I really wanted to gain the attention of the established media because I felt like I was providing a product not available. telling the stories behind the design instead of just showing the work itself because that has always been of greater interest to me. It took far longer than I thought it would and the reason why? Because showing pretty pictures is much easier to do. Talking about the celebrity designer, starchitect or celebrity client is the design porn that gets clicks and shares instantly. it takes far more time to listen to a 30 or 60 minute conversation where the ideas build. I’m going to keep the preamble short because following is a longer conversation about the growth and development of podcasting in our industry. I was fortunate to be invited by Kim Porter, Senior Programming Manager with IMC, and Las Vegas Market, who also gives the introduction at the very beginning. In this episode, you will also hear from; Justin Honaman of Contender Cast, Daniel Russo of The Design Exchange and Michelle Sherrier of The Retail Whore. And this panel was deftly moderated by a friend of the show and previous guest, Breegan Jane. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! What you are going to find is an entirely different conversation than you might expect. It covers everything from how and why to the stories that drew each of us to the platform and what the future of arts and design focused podcasting sounds like. We’ll get to that right after this. Thank you Breegan, Michelle, Daniel, John. I really am so furtunate for an opportunity to share a stage with you. Thank you Kim for making this possible and Thank you to CXD partners and sponsors including ThermaSol, Moya Living, Design Hardware.. Thank YOU for taking the time out of your day to download, subscribe and listen to the show. I appreciate you and I hope this show helps you do that thing you do better. For more information about the show, about what we do here at Convo By Design, check the show notes for links and ways to connect. Until next week, be well and take today first. -CXD

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with another installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol. For those new to the show, the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series is a deep dive into the work of shelter creatives who are at the forefront of holistic design. When I say holistic design, I mean it in the truest sense. Design that keeps the individual form whom its designed at the forefront of the work. Designers who craft space for the quality of life that space provides. And Michael Gilbride is one such designer. Michael describes his namesake firm as one that creates, “for lives well lived.” He also describes well connected spaces and purpose to elevate daily life. That is the prototypical example of a designer that works to create, elevate, connect and better the lives for those he designs for. And that’s the point. Michael and I cover a lot of ground here. We talk about his South American upbringing that informs his design philosophy and his background in fashion prior to his work in design. We also chat about an extraordinary design house project that Michael worked on in the Hudson Valley of New York. The Kingston Design Showhouse. Michael and his team created an absolutely spectacular bathroom that is part spa, part art gallery and all zen. What I love most, and you will hear about this, This bathroom is simply one of the best, most-completely designed spaces I have ever seen. I have studied this space in depth, looking for some small detail that was overlooked and I cannot find one. It is one of the best-designed spaces I have ever seen and because design is personal, you might agree, or not and that is okay either way. But what is undeniable is that design is constrained by walls, space, location and imagination. This bathroom is not huge but every inch of space was considered in the final result. What you will hear is the philosophy behind it the why, and how it all came together. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living - Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry. I love working with Moya Living and believe you will too for any design project you can conceive from residential to Commercial, hospitality or industrial. Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! Check them out and you will find what you're looking for. Thank you Michael for taking the time to share your story. Thank you CXD partners and sponsors; ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your continued support. And thank you for taking the time every week to share some time together and hear the stories behind sublime design. Check the show notes for links to Michael’s work, our social media links and please keep emailing me with your suggestions and guest submissions. Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com. Until next week, remember why you do what you do and for whom you do it, be well and take today first.