Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day and we are honored to present an interview with renowned architect Curtis Moody, Founder of Moody Nolan . In today's episode, we delve into the profound impact of truth and self-belief on Curtis's life and pioneering achievements. He shares intimate reflections on his upbringing in Columbus, Ohio, highlighted by a pivotal life moment: a school counselor's claim that his skin color barred him from pursuing a career in architecture. This episode is a journey thr...
Jan 15, 2024•38 min•Ep. 150
In this end-of-year solo episode from Doug Shapiro, he shares how picking a random seat at a dinner changed the course of his life. Doug's story of how he found OFS and became a part of the company is inspiring. It shows that taking initiative can lead to big opportunities and even bigger growth. Doug also gives insight into barriers. The things things that call us the most, the things we know we should do, those are the things we tend to avoid the most. Attack them head on and your possibilitie...
Dec 20, 2023•9 min
Earlier this year at NeoCon 2023—OFS, Imagine a Place, and IIDA hosted a lively roundtable discussion focused on sustainability, moderated by sustainability leader George Bandy. The panel featured Stacey Crumbaker , an architect and designer based in Seattle, and Paul Shahriari , founder of green building data platform ecomedes . Their conversation offered wisdom and advice for the next generation of interior designers and architects aiming to make sustainability a priority in their work. How do...
Dec 11, 2023•36 min•Ep. 149
NOTE: Todd has left JLL since recording this episode. In this episode, Doug sits down with Todd Edstrom —formerly of JLL . Todd provides insights into why technology is transforming the commercial real estate (CRE) industry—an industry that has been slow to leverage technology. The industry is "curious but skeptical" excited to try new things, but slow to shake the industry. So, what technology is beneficial to the commercial real estate industry? A major theme is the importance of data. How can...
Dec 05, 2023•41 min•Ep. 148
You've joined us for a very special episode! Our team at Carolina did some research and pulled together leaders from the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD) to discuss how clinicians and designers are partnering to create better healthcare environments. We also discuss the impact of spaces on burnout, emerging research, and new opportunities for clinicians interested in healthcare design. So, how can we integrate clinicians into the design process? It starts at the beginning. One comm...
Nov 27, 2023•46 min•Ep. 147
In this episode, Doug sits down with lifelong sustainability leader George Bandy—Chief Sustainability Officer for Darling Fibers. George has spent decades championing environmental justice and climate action for the likes of the US Green Build Council, Interface, and Amazon. In this in-depth and candid conversation, George reflects on formative moments such as sitting on his grandmother's porch as a child learning about nature's wisdom and spearheading sustainability initiatives at major corpora...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 146
In this episode Doug sits down with Sascha Wagner —President and CEO of Huntsman Architecture —to discuss the importance of in-person interactions, mentorship, and workplace. To put it bluntly, these things can't be replicated virtually. So what are we going to do? What is the case for "return to office"? Sascha makes the point that the physical workplace plays an important cultural role in bringing people together and facilitating in-person interactions. These physical spaces can amplify compan...
Nov 13, 2023•41 min•Ep. 145
In this episode, Doug sits down with 5 guests at the Pittsburgh MiniCon convention put on by Franklin . The topic—change readiness. Every person and every organization is grappling with change readiness in some way. At the organizational level we discuss the importance of listening, bringing elements of nostalgia into new spaces, involving multiple generations in decision-making, and maintaining a flexible attitude. On a personal level we need to accept and learn from failure when trying new thi...
Nov 06, 2023•36 min•Ep. 144
The career path of Ebehi Ijewere has not been easy, however—by trusting her instincts—Ebehi has found herself as an architect at Jacobs and host of the Layers of Design podcast. Ebehi grew up in Lagos, Nigeria where her creative influences were her mother and aunt who was an architect. These influences pushed her to move to the U.S. at the age of 17 for college. Being an international student presented itself as a bit of a barrier after college as Ebehi applied for jobs. This led her to feel alo...
Oct 30, 2023•24 min•Ep. 143
In this episode, Doug talks with architect and author Gary Vance whose career is split between the pre-computer and post-computer era of the industry. Not only has Gary's workflow changed tremendously, but his client interactions have changed as well. The transition to CAD and email in the workplace caused a notable shift—it changed the way clients viewed and commented on design drawings. Before computers, architects relied heavily on sketches to communicate ideas with clients. With the introduc...
Oct 23, 2023•29 min•Ep. 142
Joining Doug this week is Vijay Gupta , violinist and speaker. As a live performer it's not about being perfect—that's what practice is for. Live performance art is authentic. It's about being present and connecting with the audience. Vijay doesn't want to preach, he wants to connect and understand his audience's values and stories. Through this music and conversations, Vijay aims to facilitate the creation of something bigger than himself. So, how does he do this? He values curiosity, openness,...
Oct 16, 2023•32 min•Ep. 141
We are a few months in to The Design Pop joining the Imagine a Place network and it's been a major success. This is in part due to Alexandra's willingness to stay nimble and reactive with content. Her goal is to provide perspective even without definitive answers, and focusing on technology convergence and its impact. Alexandra's website— The Design Pop —has grown into an education and training ecosystem with courses, searchable manufacturer videos, and opportunities for community contributions....
Oct 04, 2023•18 min
Jose Jordan leads interiors focused on justice and civic spaces at DLR Group in Florida. Justice and civic space interiors are often overlooked, but Jose believes they can be thoughtfully designed to empower and inspire. One example of this approach is a recent juvenile detention center project in Birmingham, Alabama where the history of steelwork was implemented to motivate residents toward a new potential. Jose also offers up some career advice— care deeply and passionately about your work . T...
Oct 02, 2023•23 min•Ep. 140
During NeoCon 2023, Doug sat down with Stefanie Ince—a career coach who helps people find their passion and purpose in work. The conversation goes all the way back to the basics of sleeping enough, eating healthy, and getting enough exercise. These three basics tend to fall to the wayside when people get wrapped up in their work. But more than the basics, what makes you happy? It's important to be intentional about figuring out what gives you energy and ignites your passion—even if it means goin...
Sep 18, 2023•16 min•Ep. 139
In this episode, Doug interviews Adam Goodman— the third generation CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures . The Black Lives Matter movement deeply affected Adam and spurred him to confront systemic racism within his own company. Goodman gives you his game plan on confronting systemic racism inside his company and it comes with a heavy dose of self vulnerability and a heaping side of courage. He uncovered bias in areas like promotions and "occupational sorting," and how he's working to develop indi...
Sep 12, 2023•33 min•Ep. 138
Creating environments that support your health, your happiness, and your well-being is a passion for Erin Peavey,—Architect and Health & Well-being Design Leader at HKS. She's also well known for her TEDx Talk "Can design heal loneliness?" Her passion was born from personal experience as Erin cared for her mother during her battle with cancer. Daily walks in the community with her newborn daughter showed her the power of feeling connected to a community through shared public spaces. Erin dec...
Aug 28, 2023•34 min•Ep. 137
Recently Doug came across an article in Work Design Magazine by Kendra Linton—Senior Associate at NELSON Worldwide—that grabbed his attention. Kendra's article is about using sensory design to create engaging workspaces for the new hybrid workplace. As the world continues to grapple with making hybrid work more efficient and human-friendly, thinkers like Kendra cut through the noise and help us understand the importance of connection, creating engaging spaces, and evolving the employee experienc...
Aug 21, 2023•20 min•Ep. 136
Yahir Sarmiento is Cushman & Wakefield’s Senior Managing Director for Latin America. When it comes to hiring, Yahir believes the best "fit" is someone who will work with the already existing team soul. A leader must consider the team's soul when making decisions. It's easy to make decisions when feeling strong emotions, but making decisions based on motivation and good intention is best for a team. Doug and Yahir talk about time management for leaders—who often spend a majority of their time...
Aug 14, 2023•22 min•Ep. 135
Today, we have a special treat for you – Lisa Kahn is an expert in building " sanctuary spaces " and her story of how and why she’s decided to dedicate her life’s work to this is incredible. As you'll hear in this episode, now more than ever, we long for spaces that nurture us emotionally and allow us to feel a sense of well-being, tranquility, and joy - because as Lisa says, “When designed with consideration and care, our environments cradle not only our body but also our spirit. And this is wh...
Jul 31, 2023•24 min•Ep. 134
For 9 years, Tracy Hawkins led workplace strategy at Twitter as they scaled from 700 to 13,000 employees. Today, she's Grammarly ’s Global Head of Workplace Experience and Connection. In this episode, she will share Grammarly 's formula for hybrid work and how deeper levels of research and experimentation help them create better outcomes for work and the workforce. Tracy also explains how impactful company culture can be, relating a story of how a hashtag at Twitter emerged from employees suppor...
Jul 17, 2023•38 min•Ep. 133
Paul Shahriari is a visionary and a do-er – It’s a powerful combination. Today, he shares the mission and vision behind the company he cofounded Ecomedes . You’ll hear his inspiring story behind what set him down this path of sustainability - if you’ve ever had a college professor you loved, you’ll appreciate Paul’s story. Paul and the Ecomedes tribe are determined to make more informed choices easier for designers and consumers and they are already succeeding. This is a fun conversation, it was...
Jul 03, 2023•35 min•Ep. 132
David Ulrich is a university professor, author, speaker, coach, and consultant. With over 30 books that have shaped the HR profession, he is widely regarded as the father of modern HR thinking. David has been ranked as the #1 Management Educator & Guru by BusinessWeek, he's been selected by Fast Company as one of the 10 most innovative and creative leaders and was named the most influential thinker in HR of the decade by HR magazine. Yeah... So the bar for this conversation is high.... and i...
Jun 26, 2023•40 min•Ep. 131
In this episode, we chat with Byron Morton, Vice President & Co-Head of Leasing at the Mart. Byron shares what to look forward to at NeoCon 2023 and gives us a sneak peek at the future plans for the show. If you are heading to NeoCon we want to pass along a special invitation: Monday, June 12 at 4pm at the OFS Showroom : We’ll be hosting an Imagine a Place alumni cocktail party which you are all invited! That’s right, please come and enjoy a few drinks and hors devours on and mingle with som...
Jun 09, 2023•15 min
Amanda Schneider is a researcher, writer, and founder of ThinkLab , a phenomenal source of creative insight for the industry of interior design. Recently, Doug and Amanda met in Chicago to see what new thinking she has for us. As expected… it was a thought-provoking discussion that finishes off with 3 bold predictions for the future of our industry. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn Connect wit...
Jun 05, 2023•29 min•Ep. 130
Dianne Murata , Furniture Chief and Founder of Kimiko Designs has a big announcement - She just launched the Kimiko Green Playbook for Sustainable Decommissioning . It's a guidebook to help you make better choices when it comes to the afterlife of your furniture. It was developed through hard work and through listening to a community of facility managers. Tune in to learn more about the playbook and how you or someone you know might be fit to join the Kimiko Green community. Download the playboo...
May 31, 2023•11 min
Roy Abernathy is the EVP of Workplace Strategy and Human Experience at Newmark . He is known for his big-picture mindset and creative thinking. Today, we do some dreaming out loud around and explore concepts for the future of business and real estate. One of them: The 4-day workweek. Towards the end of the episode, we learned that Roy went to veterinary school in college. You’ll be surprised when he shares with us exactly what a veterinarian can teach a designer. Click here to get your FREE copy...
May 25, 2023•29 min•Ep. 129
We brought furniture designer Brian Graham back on the show for a laughter-filled and insightful bonus episode! Together we review a handful of powerful quotes from previous episodes. "It's not your job's job to make you happy." —Cheryl Durst "If you are waiting for regulations to change the way we design it will be far too late." —Jane Hallinan "If everyone is doing neutral, then of course, we'll continue to do neutral, but who's going to be the brave one that steps out?" —Laura Guido Clark "If...
May 17, 2023•20 min•Ep. 128
On today's episode, join Doug as he sits down with Jorge Colón, Associate Principal and Interior Design Studio Head at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) . They dive into some important topics, such as the power of attentive listening, the art of understanding client's needs and recognizing the unsung heroes in the design community. Jorge also shares insightful advice on navigating a successful career in the field of architecture and design. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Pl...
May 15, 2023•36 min•Ep. 127
Back by popular demand, Regan Donoghue , Senior Principal of Strategy for Unispace joins our very own VP of Workplace, Molly Prior for a deep discussion on designing the space and the work culture for the new hybrid workforce. Together, they give you a checklist of how to think bigger about what today’s workplace needs are from the employee experience to how the physical space can respond. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect ...
May 08, 2023•37 min•Ep. 126
In this episode, we have Ben Christensen , the founder of Cambium Carbon which exists to reimagine the supply chain for wood and wood products. Cambium Carbon saves fallen trees from landfills and decomposition, transforming them into valuable products with place-based impact. The size and scope of the problem they are seeking to solve is extraordinary and it's likely a problem you never knew existed. Cambium Carbon is here to solve it with their circular economy model that creates new green job...
May 01, 2023•25 min•Ep. 125
