In this enlightening episode, Amanda Schneider, Founder and President of ThinkLab, and Cindy Kaufman, VP of Marketing at Mannington Commercial, delve into the profound influence that designers hold in shaping our future. Through engaging conversations and insightful data, they uncover the unique perspective of Gen Z. Underscoring the pivotal role of their decisions in shaping industries and experiences. Key Takeaways: Explore Gen Z's distinctive outlook on the world and their concerns about the ...
Sep 06, 2023•22 min
Tune in as we bring you firsthand accounts from individuals entrenched in the industry's dynamic landscape, as well as those revolutionizing the field. Our conversations traverse a multitude of topics. From strategies to attract and retain emerging talents, to the art of harnessing personas within the realm of business-to-business, and even the mastery of leveraging data to propel your business forward. Each season tackles significant challenges in the interior design industry. ThinkLab team ded...
Sep 06, 2023•1 min
In this episode of Design Nerds Anonymous, we ask the question "How to Keep Gen Z from Leaving the Design Industry." In the past two years, the interior design industry has faced significant changes, with firms struggling to retain and attract talent. But what are the reasons behind this trend, and how can we address them? Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with two industry leaders, Cheryl Durst, CEO of IIDA, and Khoi Vo, CEO of ASID. Together, we'll explore the calls to action for the ind...
Mar 30, 2023•36 min•Ep. 4
In this episode of Design Nerds Anonymous, we pass the mic to the newest generations in the industry to learn what they need most from product manufacturers and distributors. You’ll hear about how their workflow has changed, their biggest issues with websites, how to inspire them with your product, and more. If you’re a product manufacturer or distributor, this episode is a must-listen. Hear directly from Gen Z designers at Interior Design’s “30 Under 30” events about what they need most from yo...
Mar 23, 2023•14 min•Ep. 3
In this episode of Design Nerds Anonymous: “The Gen Z Confessionals,” you’ll hear the anonymous voices of top design talent under the age of 30, as we dive into the world of design through the eyes of Gen Z. From what attracted them to the industry in the first place to their take on the most puzzling norms in the field, we’re exploring where Gen Z designers see the biggest opportunities for improvement that could benefit all generations in the design ecosystem. Discover valuable insights from T...
Mar 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to Design Nerds Anonymous: “The Gen Z Confessionals,” a miniseries dedicated to exploring the impact of Gen Z’s entrance to the workforce and the ways they are making waves in the design industry. Each episode includes unfiltered, anonymous insights from top Gen Z talent who participated in a “design confessional” hosted by ThinkLab at Interior Design’s 30 Under 30 networking events for 2022. In this episode, we discuss how Gen Z designers are changing the way we communicate and collabor...
Mar 09, 2023•32 min•Ep. 1
Get ready to hear from the freshest voices in the design industry! In a new four-episode miniseries, we’re putting the “anonymous” back in Design Nerds Anonymous, gathering unfiltered insights directly from the next generation of designers. These talented designers share their perspective on the industry, their career paths, and what they're looking for from the design ecosystem. These fascinating interviews took place at Interior Design’s “30 under 30” networking events in 2022, as part of a “d...
Mar 06, 2023•2 min
In this episode, ThinkLab holds a roundtable discussion with Shelley Rosetta, consultant at dealer organization Solomon Coyle, and Meredith Campbell, host of ThinkLab’s The Learning Objective podcast. Both discuss the benefits of treating dealer designers as partners and vital members of your project team. In this episode: [10:33] Shelley explains live design, how it works, and why it’s unique to the dealer designer. [18:00] Meredith and Shelley name what they see as the biggest benefits of work...
Dec 01, 2022•38 min•Season 4Ep. 9
We're so excited to introduce you to a new podcast from the SURROUND podcast network called Barriers to Entry. The show will feature the leaders, the designers, the early adopters, and the influencers who are helping to shape what web3 will mean for the architecture and design industry. Along the way, Barriers to Entry will cut through the hype cycle and attempt to demystify all things Web3, while laying out the real-life implications and applications for our world. Hosted by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP...
Nov 30, 2022•4 min
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews Ryan Jenkins, Wall Street Journal best-selling author and keynote speaker, author of The Generation Z Guide and Connectable and Bobby Bonett, Executive Vice President of Digital and Strategic Growth at SANDOW Design Group, about what makes GEN Z different and how their preferences may have a “ripple up” effect across the design industry. You’ll learn what younger generations expect from brands who are trying to recruit, retain and connect with them, and how t...
Nov 17, 2022•33 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode, ThinkLab holds a roundtable discussion with Byron Morton, VP and co-head of leasing for THEMART in Chicago, and Amanda Darley, VP of marketing for Mannington Commercial. Both bring their perspectives on how brands, events, and even buildings can be leveraged to create and customize experiences — and why creating these experiences matters more than ever for our industry as we move into 2023. In this episode: [0:23] Amanda references a new blog post about ThinkLab’s Five Buyer Per...
Nov 10, 2022•30 min•Season 4Ep. 7
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews Zappos chief experience officer Stacey Wagner on what B2B companies can learn from the retailer’s renowned customer service model, which has won them legions of superfans. We also speak to two residential designers — Mark Woodman and Andrea Goldman — about what they look for in a brand partner and the new roles that innovative brands are creating in response to recent disruptions. In this episode: [8:00] “If you’re truly continuing to try to raise the bar for...
Nov 03, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews David Schwarz, founding partner at HUSH, about the design firm’s innovative approach to sustainability, and Rebecca Best, head of sustainability at Material Bank, on how the world’s largest material aggregator is helping designers make more sustainable decisions. Our first guest is David Schwarz, founding partner at HUSH, an experience design firm. Schwarz shares forward-thinking ways HUSH is leveraging design to connect the occupants of a space to how their ...
Oct 27, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews Julia McClatchy, an associate partner at McKinsey & Company, on how and why hybrid selling is becoming the dominant B2B sales role. We also share an excerpt from an episode of ThinkLab’s new podcast, MPowered, which gives practical advice on what design specifiers are looking for on brand websites. Our first guest, Julia McClatchy, explores detailed research findings on how the B2B sale is evolving. She also shares four pieces of advice for brands trying ...
Oct 20, 2022•28 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews Colleen Stanley, author and leading sales expert on emotional intelligence, and Meena Krenek, global practice leader of interiors for HKS, about the insights and advantages you can gain from using your EQ and tapping into your clients’ perspective. Our first guest, Colleen Stanley, author of Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success, discusses why harnessing the power of your emotional quotient (or EQ) is more important now than ever. She also describes how ou...
Oct 13, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews two experts on the importance of buyer personas and how these profiles can help guide brands on how they go to market, as well as ease frustration with the specifying process in a phygital world. Our first guest is Jim Kraus, president of the Buyer Persona Institute, who defines how these personas work by walking through what he calls “the five rings of buyer insights.” Kraus also discusses how the wider world leverages personas for sales and marketing and ex...
Oct 06, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews three design industry pros: Anya Ostry, head of a multi-market tenant representation team at CBRE; Shannon White, district manager for Mannington Commercial, covering the Colorado territory; and Meena Krenek, a global practice leader of interiors for HKS. These three women participated in one of ThinkLab’s earlier hackathons, and here, they share their current concerns and advice on how to adjust to the emerging “new normal” as sellers. In this episode: [5:15...
Oct 06, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 1
What do design clients want most right now? Where should I focus my efforts to amplify my impact? How can I engage the next generation of designers? Join ThinkLab’s Amanda Schneider for a series of impactful conversations with visionary leaders as we answer all of those questions and more to navigate what’s next for today’s ecosystem of B2B interior design clients – welcome to season 4 of the Design Nerds Anonymous podcast! This season, we’re sharing data-driven insights from our groundbreaking ...
Oct 04, 2022•3 min
We are thrilled to welcome MillerKnoll's podcast, Looking Forward: Conversations about the Future of Work to the SURROUND Podcast Network by SANDOW! Host Ryan Anderson takes time to share some highlights from Season 1 and set the stage for Season 2 by answering the two most frequently asked questions he gets asked once people find out what he does for a living: What is the current state of return-to-office? And what does it mean for the future of the workplace? Check out more episodes at surroun...
Jun 30, 2022•20 min
In this episode, ThinkLab interviews Byron Morton, vice president of sales and leasing for NeoCon and theMART, and Avinash Rajagopal, editor-in-chief of Metropolis. Morton discusses the changes that are coming to NeoCon 2022 and beyond, as well as sharing details about MART 2.0, a renewal and renovation project of theMART that will expand on its amenities and sense of community. Rajagopal touches on three hot-button topics currently influencing the interior design industry and which will drive c...
May 05, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode, ThinkLab explores disruption in commercial real estate and the sector’s entrée into design services. We focus on JLL’s new solution to simplify the design process and accelerate the time from design to build. First, we speak with Thales Teixeira, former Harvard professor and co-author of Unlocking the Customer Value Chain: How Decoupling Drives Customer Disruption. Drawing on his work in consulting and his book, Thales shares his advice on how to avoid disruption, including stay...
Apr 14, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this episode, ThinkLab explores the changing landscape of events in the design industry, whether they’re digital, physical, or hybrid. Our guests each provide a unique perspective — from how manufacturers, distributors, and event producers should create events to how architects and designers should leverage them. First, Chuck Saylor, principal at Designvox, speaks about tailoring events to the current moment so that designers will be inspired to attend in person. Marco Giberti, entrepreneur a...
Mar 31, 2022•36 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Amid so much upheaval in the design industry, product specification is undergoing a sea change. In this episode, ThinkLab examines pain points in the process and dives into how two leading-edge companies are developing phygital solutions to chart a new course (no pun intended.) Our first guest, Amanda Darley, vice president of marketing at Mannington Commercial, discusses how the company has responded to industry-wide challenges, such as an uptick in re-specifications, by developing its own onli...
Mar 24, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 4
The pandemic has forced many functions of the design library online. Does this mean that library will pivot to primarily virtual in the future, or will there be a move to return to more physical spaces? In this episode, ThinkLab explores both sides in a discussion with two expert guests. Erica Buss, research and information services manager at Ankrom Moisan Architects, emphasizes the remaining importance of physical spaces along with expert guidance and curation. And Kristin Cerutti, a design le...
Mar 17, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 3
We’re at a critical point in the evolution of showrooms in the design industry. New digital dimensions are expanding what a showroom can do and how it can engage with architects, designers, and end users in a radically altered experience. In this episode, ThinkLab explores the possibilities of all this upheaval and asks the experts – what steps should we take now? First, Kelly Bacon, global practice lead of Workplace Advisory at AECOM, discusses the physical/digital convergence of the showroom a...
Mar 10, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The design industry is going hybrid. Our latest research shows that the production selection process is increasingly blending both physical and digital. In this episode, ThinkLab explores this intersection (what we call “phygital”) and the reinvention of the offline/online experience. First, ThinkLab’s lead researcher, Erica Waayenberg, reveals the five key elements of product selection identified in our latest hackathon. Our next two guests are Matt Rebbe, design director for AECOM in Chicago, ...
Mar 03, 2022•36 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Join ThinkLab’s Amanda Schneider for meaningful conversations with industry experts as we explore a new era in the evolution of design. This season we’re tackling the future of product specification and what it means for several key elements of the design industry: showrooms, resource libraries, events, and more. If you want inspiration and insights for the intersection of business + design, this podcast is for you. Listen and subscribe for impactful findings drawn from six months of ThinkLab re...
Feb 24, 2022•2 min
As the pace of change accelerates, it becomes increasingly important that the design ecosystem connect the many different dots that enable our clients to make decisions faster. We believe human connections in the physical space matter more than ever as we enter this hybrid world. Join us in this special bonus episode as we ask the question “how will the commercial design industry leverage physical space for growth?” Host Amanda Schneider explores growth opportunities, partnerships and collaborat...
Oct 14, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Our final, but most important episode this season, brings you expert advice on to where to start when it comes to making meaningful change in our organizations, our industry and our world. We’re exploring how small, intentional efforts can have the biggest future impact on topics around Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with Sam Aquillano, founder of Design Museum Everywhere, as well as the industry’s biggest sustainability initiatives with Avi Rajagopal, Editor-in-Chief of Metropolis – ...
Aug 05, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 8
As the consumer experience gets increasingly frictionless, B2B buyers expect the same. Join us as we explore the power of internal alignment, empathy and perspective to elevate the experience your clients have with your brand AND the ecosystem that surrounds design. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to reinvent the sales and design process in the Amazon era The video game industry tactic that you can apply to a client-focused mindset. Three tangible ways to develop empathy across the entire cus...
Jul 29, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 7
