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PODCAST

The Design Pop

Imagine a Place Productions

I"m your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop, a podcast for dealer designers! The world of the dealer designer is changing and now more than ever, this community plays an ever-increasing role in the success of projects. These designers possess a wealth of knowledge and passion for furniture and design, but it seems this group is often left unrecognized. As the industry evolves, there is a growing recognition of the value of this role, leading to more opportunities for

arts design

All Episodes

00:32:32

Designing a Life of Service | Julie Sayers of encompas

The Design Pop ·

2026/09/29

Julie Sayers never planned to become a business owner or mayor. She began her career as a dealer designer, became a co-owner of encompas, and now serves as the mayor of Lenexa, Kansas.In this conversation, Julie shares how design skills like listening, problem-solving, building coalitions, and serving people have shaped every part of her career. She talks about encompas’s unique approach to design and customer service, the future of AI in the industry, taking on major leadership roles, and why she

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00:39:04

We Get to Write Our Own Story | Heather Ashley of...

The Design Pop ·

2026/08/27

Heather Ashley started Cove Creek in 2022 with a computer, an LLC, and a willingness to take a risk. What began as a one-person operation has grown into a successful team of six designers serving dealers and manufacturers across the industry.In this episode, Heather shares how she built Cove Creek through relationships, word of mouth, continuous learning, and a commitment to creating the kind of flexible, supportive workplace she wanted for herself and her team. She also reflects on the challenges

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00:12:51

Pop In: Why Great Designers Keep Learning

The Design Pop ·

2026/07/29

Summer has been moving at full speed. In this episode, Alexandra reflects on Chicago Design Week, a record-breaking year for POP into Excellence, and the conversations that stayed with her after the event ended. With more than 2,300 seats filled across 11 sessions, this year’s event was a powerful reminder that growth does not have a finish line—and that many of the challenges designers face are shared across the industry.Curious about POP into Excellence? Take a look at the full 2026 lineup:

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00:10:50

POP into Excellence is back and it's FREE

The Design Pop ·

2026/06/08

POP into Excellence is back June 15-26, 2026 and it's FREE!Dealer designers are being asked to navigate more complexity than ever before. Today’s projects move faster, involve more stakeholders, rely on more technology, and require stronger collaboration across every phase of the process. Designers are expected to think strategically, communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and balance creativity with increasing operational demands—all while continuing to deliver exceptional client experiences and

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00:45:33

From Busywork to Better Work | Kieran Luke of Cerulean

The Design Pop ·

2026/05/28

What happens when a former consultant, startup operator, and self-described “anxious overachiever” discovers the contract furniture industry for the first time? In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Kieran Luke, founder of Cerulean, to discuss how AI is being thoughtfully applied within dealer workflows and why the goal isn’t replacing people, but helping them reclaim their time.Kieran accidentally found himself in contract furniture after growing up in Australia and building startups in New

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00:13:38

POP In: Five Years In and Still Asking Questions

The Design Pop ·

2026/05/11

After celebrating five years of TheDesignPOP.com (with a full cake, not just a cupcake), this month's POP In reflects on milestones, AI, environmental concerns, design workflows, and the surprisingly human conversations happening behind the scenes in our industry.Alexandra gives us a first look at Pop Into Excellence 2026, new training, and some thoughts on innovation with regards to sustainability and humanity in design. Oh...and yes, there’s also a story about compostable diapers. No script. No

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00:12:11

POP In: What 800 Designers Taught Me

The Design Pop ·

2026/04/27

This first “POP In” episode is a quick check-in—no guest, no script, just a few thoughts worth sharing.This episode is less about answers and more about observations. After hosting two recent Design POP webinars with designers—Alexandra reflects on personality tendencies, designer struggles, and workflows. Think of this as a quick pulse check on the industry and an open invitation to keep the conversation going. Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn Access on-demand

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00:38:04

Configura’s New CEO | A Conversation with Steven Jenkins

The Design Pop ·

2026/03/03

Before Steven Jenkins officially steps into the role of CEO at Configura, Alexandra is taking time to introduce him to The Design POP community. She reconnects with Steven who she worked with years ago during her time as a Configura trainer. He was known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to truly hear what users needed.In this conversation, Steven shares how he first joined Configura as one of the company’s early employees, what he learned after leaving to build leadership

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00:45:12

Strategist by Day, Artist by Night | Designer Duality...

The Design Pop ·

2026/02/27

What happens when a commercial interior designer falls in love with Excel spreadsheets and watercolor painting?In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Rebekah Jacobi, Design Director at Pivot Interiors in San Francisco, to explore what it means to be a whole creative human in the commercial interiors industry. From leading high-level workplace design strategy and tracking performance metrics to rediscovering watercolor painting and surface pattern design, Rebekah shares how embracing her duality

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00:44:45

A Career Shaped by Strengths, Not Job Titles | Chad...

The Design Pop ·

2026/01/29

Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy.In this episode, Chad and Alexandra sit down at CETx 2025. Chad shares how he found success without a traditional design degree and why relationships matter more than resumes. He also reflects on how long-term commitment can unlock trust and influence that simply can’t be fast-tracked.From drafting tables and early CAD days to live design, sales leadership—Chad’s story

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00:07:32

The Joy of Saying "Done"

The Design Pop ·

2025/12/18

As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small.Thank you for listening, for sharing your time, and for supporting The Design POP this year.Email Alexandra at alexandra@thedesignpop.comConnect with Alexandra on LinkedInFollow The Design Pop

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00:24:27

The Renegade Mindset with Amy Jo Martin, Live at...

The Design Pop ·

2025/11/21

In this episode, Alexandra returns from Experience 2025 with a renewed voice—literally and figuratively. After a whirlwind of hockey coaching, travel, and the inevitable fall-break cold, she reflects on what kids learning to skate can teach adults about bravery, mindset, and the power of getting back up quickly.Alexandra sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host Amy Jo Martin, who describes herself as a “renegade of life” and a lifelong learner. Together, they explore what

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00:34:56

Live at Configura's Experience with Aaron Okkema and...

The Design Pop ·

2025/10/08

We are coming to you live from Day 1 of Experience—formerly known as CET Experience—where nearly 500 designers, manufacturers, and sponsors are fueling the excitement and innovation shaping the design industry. This year marks a major shift not just in the name, but in what the event represents. Configura’s vision has expanded beyond CET, and Experience now captures the full scope of their technology solutions. In this episode Alexandra sits down with two of Configura's very own Aaron Okkema, Head

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00:46:58

The Confidence Report: How Designers Rate Themselves

The Design Pop ·

2025/10/07

In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos breaks down the results of her latest dealer designer survey, which drew responses from nearly 175 professionals across the industry. The survey explores the confidence levels of designers in core responsibilities such as technical specification, ancillary selection, pricing, meeting participation, live design, and advanced visualization.Not only did Alexandra share the numbers and highlight various results, but she also brings in two expert voices to put the

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00:46:50

What happens when you bet on yourself? | Christine...

The Design Pop ·

2025/09/24

In this inspiring episode, Alexandra sits down with Christine Crawford, Design Manager at Alfred Williams & Company in Nashville and MillerKnoll’s Designer of the Year. Christine shares her journey from an eager design student who did whatever it took to land an internship, to becoming the leader of a design team and the force behind a $15 million project. Her story highlights the power of curiosity, tenacity, and taking bold risks—such as writing a letter to land her dream role.Through Christine’s

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01:10:16

POP into Excellence: Building a Design Career You...

The Design Pop ·

2025/08/27

In this episode, designer, author, and Thunder Egg founder Brittney Herrera shares her personal journey through the design industry—from internships and dealership work to leading her own firm. Along the way, she opens up about navigating firm politics, discovering her strengths, and learning how to turn every experience into a stepping stone for growth. Brittney's book Inside the Design Industry quickly became an Amazon best-seller and a must-read for students. This conversation brings her book and

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00:51:01

How Designers Can Lead From Within with Jennifer...

The Design Pop ·

2025/07/30

In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership.She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebranding to strategic acquisition—has strengthened its culture and diversified its services to meet the

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00:50:03

The Office Furniture Girl: Building Credibility in...

The Design Pop ·

2025/06/02

On this episode of The Design POP Podcast, host Alexandra Tseffos sits down with Erica Jaffe—Creative Director & Ancillary Specialist at Benhar Office Interiors, and affectionately known as the "Office Furniture Girl" on Instagram, to explore how dealer designers can sharpen their approach and enhance their impact on client interactions.From her early days in interior design, retail furniture sales, to business development at a dealership, Erica shares how clear communication, thoughtful

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00:53:15

Building a Career on Curiosity with Stephanie Wolfson...

The Design Pop ·

2025/05/05

Stephanie Wolfson, Design Manager at HAT Collective, didn’t set out to become a designer—she followed her curiosity, and it led her somewhere unexpected. With a background in theater and marketing, she found her way into the world of commercial interiors and discovered a love for the “3D puzzles” of furniture design.In this episode, Stephanie shares how curiosity helped her carve out new roles, take a bold career pause, and navigate the tough conversations that come with growth. It’s a candid,

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00:52:16

Bridging the Gap with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith of HKS

The Design Pop ·

2025/04/14

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith—two former dealer designers who made the jump to the A&D world and now work at HKS. They open up about what that transition was really like, from unexpected stress relief to letting go of manufacturer sales goals and adapting to new tech.We dive into the sometimes tricky dynamic between dealerships and A&D firms, and what it takes to collaborate well. Kate and Pam share what they wish they had known earlier, bust a few myths (like whether

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35 results

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