Imagine a Place (OFS)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Imagine a Place
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2025 | Floaties, Growth, and the Power of Team | 00:42:19 | |
In this episode, we dive deep into the raw, real, and rewarding journey of interior designer Cynthia Sarria, as she shares what it’s like to lead, learn, and build a thriving design culture from the ground up. From her unexpected move from Jersey to Miami to helping launch HOK’s office during a pandemic, Cynthia opens up about what it truly takes to grow a resilient team—and why floaties, heart, and humor are often more valuable than a perfect plan. We talk about the messy middle of career transitions, the unspoken power of mentorship, and the emotional layers behind creating not just beautiful spaces, but empowered design teams. You’ll hear about the lessons she learned the hard way, how vulnerability builds trust, and why building culture starts with showing up for people—even when no one’s watching. Whether you're an emerging designer, a seasoned leader, or someone navigating the in-between, this episode is packed with wisdom, warmth, and a few good laughs. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about doing the hard things, designing with purpose, and finding joy in the process. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 09 May 2022 | Is your information diet holding you back? | 00:41:54 | |
Today our guest is Mario Vasilescu, he's the CEO and Co-Founder of Readocracy and this episode just might revolutionize how you feed your brain. Over the past 5 years, greater awareness and data have helped us understand the layers of our health and wellbeing in ways that we’ve never considered before. However, there’s one very important layer, that is too often left out of the conversation - information. This episode centers around the importance of your information diet and new technology that is basically, the Fitbit of reading. Join the Readocracy waitlist here and reference "the Imagine a Place Podcast" to get early access. Read more about information health and Readocracy on their blog: Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Connect with host, Doug Shapiro, below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 27 Oct 2020 | James Kerrigan (Jacobs): Culture, place, and tools: The future of place making. | 00:28:25 | |
James Kerrigan is a musician, designer, and a true global citizen. His career in design has carried him from Australia, London, Los Angeles, DC, and now Dallas. In addition to his masterful skill in guitars, and talented eye for design, James is a deep thinker.
Like many of my conversations with James, he finds a way to stretch my mind. In this chat, we explore the future around the purpose of place and he encourages us to think bigger about the profession of interior design - to think outside the building and how the role of place and placemaking can go far beyond the typical four walls around us.
Connect with James on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kerrigan-5547b337/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjameskerrigan/
https://www.jacobs.com/
Visit Imagine a Place online: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/ Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 30 Jan 2021 | Jane Hallinan is NOT a decorator. | 00:33:56 | |
Jane Hallinan, of Perkins Eastman in Pittsburgh, has become one of the most networked designers in the Workplace Design industry. She is also the founder of “Not A Decorator,” an apparel and accessory brand dedicated to reflecting the pride and passion she has for her career as an interior designer.
In this episode, she shares the keys to personal growth and the importance networking plays in a career in design, as well as the challenges our industry faces to take “Material Health” to the next level.
Not A Decorator: https://www.notadecorator.com/
Use promo code PLACE25 to receive 25% off your entire order!
Learn more about Material Health:
https://healthymaterialslab.org/
Learn more about Jane Hallinan:
https://www.janehallinan.com/
For more design stories visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-placeConnect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 02 Aug 2021 | Design through the eyes of Jon Otis | 00:26:14 | |
Have you thanked a teacher lately?
Somewhere out there is a teacher that has helped you become who you are today. Well, for so many in the world of architecture and design, that teacher is Jon Otis. Jon is widely known in this industry for so many reasons. He’s on the international board of directors for IIDA, he’s a professor at Pratt, runs his own practice, Object Agency and he’s champion of diversity and inclusion inside the profession of design.
In this episode, Jon shares the lessons on design that he never lets a student leave without.
Learn more about Jon Otis:
http://www.object-agency.com/about-object-agency/
Connect with Jon Otis on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonotis/
Get your free copy of the Imagine a Place journal and join the community:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with host, Doug Shapiro, on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 31 Mar 2023 | Go for what you believe in with Jen Levisen, Mortarr / Ecomedes | 00:15:34 | |
A few months back, Imagine a Place Productions welcomed a new podcast to the network—Impact Icons—hosted by Jen Levisen and brought to you by Ecomedes. Impact Icons is more than just a podcast, it's a way to honor those who make a difference for this planet through the built environment. In this episode, the very friendly and energetic host—Jen Levisen—will give us a window into Impact Icons. It’s impossible not to like her. She’ll share what she’s learned since becoming a host and a secret pathway to building your confidence. If you know someone who might be an "Impact Icon" you'll want to remember this when submissions open for 2023. Learn more about Impact Icons, the award Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 07 Sep 2020 | What have we learned after 10 episodes? | 00:08:28 | |
We can't believe we already have 10 published episodes of the Imagine a Place podcast! This milestone got us to pause and reflect on the amazing conversations we've had with our guests. So much great insight has been shared in just 10 episodes that we decided to find and compile a few of our favorite lessons so far.
There is still much more to come from the podcast and certainly much more to learn. Thank you for joining us on this journey and we're looking forward to sharing more of these amazing discussions.
For more on Imagine a Place, please visit https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 21 Feb 2022 | Don’t be afraid to play. | 00:21:08 | |
We asked our previous guest, Kia Weatherspoon (episode 35 - May 3, 2021), for an intro to someone she’d want to hear from – The first name on her list: Jessica Caldwell. Jessica Caldwell is the founder of Folke Creative in Brooklyn NY, a boutique branding and design studio inspired by the stories of people, places, and things. She also runs the design blog: Design is Lit. Today, Jessica will let us in on her "messy" process of design and also provides some wise advice on how to conjure creativity. She starts her interview reflecting on a moment that eventually leads to a simple and beautiful statement from her: “Life is filled with little luxuries, little glimmers of hope and love… if you’ll only just look for them." Connect with Jessica on Instagram: @jesswonderland Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 09 Jun 2023 | Looking ahead to NeoCon 2023 with Byron Morton | 00:15:02 | |
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 some of the past Imagine a Place guests as well as hosts from Imagine a Place network. We have over 50 previous podcast guests and podcast hosts who will be there to chat, laugh, mingle, and inspire. See you there! 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 12 Sep 2023 | Social Innovation Through Capitalism | Adam Goodman, Goodman Interior Structures | 00:33:22 | |
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 individualized growth paths to retain diverse high-potential employees. Goodman proposes and interesting idea—properly-executed capitalism can help solve societal issues. One example of this is Goodman is engaging his company's surplus resources for community benefit. When Goodman originally brought these ideas to the table, some employees doubted the concept, but this only fueled his commitment to authentically lead with purpose. Goodman emphasizes the power of vulnerable, heart-centered leadership to build trust and reduce stress. Check out the article Doug mentioned. Learn more about Adam Goodman. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 25 Mar 2024 | Community by Design | Tasha Singh, Student, Drexel University | 00:23:49 | |
In this episode we talk with Tasha Singh a design student from Drexel University. Tasha's design philosophy centers around fostering social connection and a sense of community through the built environment. Her experiences moving from the close-knit neighborhoods of India tot he more individualistic society of Philadelphia have profoundly shaped her approach. Tasha aims to blur the lines between public and private spaces, creating a "porosity" that encourages casual interactions and chance encounters. Underpinning her work is a deep belief that design should serve those who are often overlooked or forgotten. Tasha advocates for designing with empathy and considering how even the most marginalized might engage with and benefit from the spaces we create. Tasha even touches on a crucial point: the need for designers to slow down, be present, and truly experience how environments impact people's sense of belonging and wellbeing. Tasha's mission is to contribute designs that knit together communities while elevating the voices of the unseen. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 07 Mar 2024 | 8 Remarkable Women, 8 Empowering Stories | A Women's History Month Spotlight | 00:41:32 | |
In this special episode for Women's History Month, we've gathered 8 incredible stories of perseverance and personal growth from some of our favorite guests. These stories are not just about the perseverance and achievements of these women but are meant to motivate and encourage everyone listening. You'll also meet Lydia Moya, an executive producer for Imagine a Place, as we take a look back at this episode and reflect on these stories and what this month is all about. Here's a list of our guests in order and links to their original podcast: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 03 Jan 2022 | Looking back and learning forward. | 00:06:16 | |
In this episode, Doug Shapiro shares his personal journey as a podcast host and what he has learned after nearly two years of conversation. Get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 05 Sep 2022 | Design Thinking for Games | Brenda Romero, CEO and Game Designer | 00:36:44 | |
Brenda Romero is an award-winning game director, entrepreneur, and Fulbright award recipient who entered the video game industry in 1981 and is presently CEO and co-founder of Romero Games. As a game developer, she has worked on 50 games and contributed to many seminal titles, including Wizardry, Ghost Recon, and Dungeons & Dragons. Brenda has been designing and inventing games her whole life and she’s become one of the world's best at it. So, what's the connection between designing a game and designing for physical space? In today's episode, Brenda helps us discover it just might be the challenge of designing for the interactive, complex, and emotional experience of being human. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Leave Doug a question or comment on SpeakPipe Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 19 Jul 2021 | Love Good Color | 00:23:47 | |
Today's episode is all about Color. Color for social good, color to engage our senses, color in ways you probably haven’t thought of before. Laura Guido-Clark is the Founder and President of the color consultancy Love Good Color and the non-for-profit, Project Color Corps.
Color changed the way Laura sees the world, and she’s using it to change the world for good.
Learn more about Love Good Color:
https://lovegoodcolor.com/
Project Color Corps:
http://www.projectcolorcorps.org/
For more Imagine a Place stories, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 17 May 2023 | A Look Back with Brian Graham BONUS | 00:20:12 | |
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 you're struggling with self worth, there have been more of us out there than you realize that have been very successful and had that exact same amount of self doubt." —Edward Wagoner "A single, full understanding of someone's complete experience and existence can generate so much inclusivity." —Angie Lee 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 19 Dec 2022 | WorkSpaces LIVE: Part 3 - Doug's notebook explorations. | 00:17:29 | |
In the final episode of our LIVE from WorkSpaces series, Doug sits down with Influence Group co-founder, Michael Owens, and senior producer, Jason Schwab. Together, they discuss how and why WorkSpaces comes together and what the future holds for their incredible lineup of events. Doug then digs back into his notebook and reflects back on his time at WorkSpaces, exploring the themes, conclusions, and insights that surfaced throughout each of his discussions. Listen in as Doug gives us five "explorations" to consider from this incredible event and his insightful guests. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Learn more about WorkSpaces Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | The Hidden Life of Carbon, Earth Day Special | Kenn Busch, Climate Positive Now | 00:31:41 | |
In honor of Earth Day, Doug sits down with journalist and founder of Climate Positive Now—Kenn Busch, to discuss the intricacies of carbon management and its environmental implications. Throughout the episode, Kenn demystifies the complex dynamics of carbon's interaction with our environment and highlights some innovative approaches to utilize carbon management for environmental gain. Looking for continuing education credits related to sustainability? Check out Ken's CEU below! Climate Positive Materials for Sustainable Interiors, A CEU course brought to you by OFS
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 25 Jul 2022 | Sketching around with Brian Graham | 00:37:51 | |
Designer. Advocate. Advisor. Humorist - Brian Graham's talent extends far beyond furniture design. For nearly 25 years, Brian has been turning out award-winning and internationally recognized work, but it's his ability to connect and communicate with people that just might be his greatest skill and a not-so-secret to success. In the wee hours before NeoCon, we sat down together in the OFS showroom to discuss what drives his creativity, how design is a "team sport," and the critical skills needed to be successful that might not be taught in design school. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 13 Sep 2021 | Funny by design. | 00:34:32 | |
Martin Flaherty is the witty and outspoken co-host of the podcast Tailgating with Geniuses. Tailgating with Geniuses blends the entertaining personalities of the hosts with some of today's most creative thinkers and leaders. Martin also has some interesting ties to the world of design and construction that are rooted in sustainability. In 2005, he co-founded Eco-Scorecard. At that time, Eco-Scorecard was the industry's first-ever tool to help calculate how different products could contribute to environmental certifications. In this conversation, Martin shares some of his favorite stories, bloopers, and insights that he’s gathered after 20 years in the commercial building industry. Connect with Martin Flaherty on LinkedIn: Listen to Tailgating with Geniuses: Learn more about Martin Flaherty and Pencilbox: Sign-up to receive a FREE copy of the newest Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 05 Jun 2023 | 3 Bold Predictions for the Future of Our Industry | Amanda Schneider, ThinkLab | 00:28:50 | |
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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 20 Apr 2023 | Nature's Lessons for Better Design | Natalie Telewiak, Michael Green Architecture | 00:36:13 | |
This episode brings you an architect from Michael Green Architecture in Vancouver – Natalie Telewiak. Natalie has done work for some of the most impressive companies on the planet, but it's her strong connection to nature that makes her approach more powerful and this conversation richer. In this episode, Doug and Natalie explore the idea of how cities can be designed to evoke the same feelings mother nature and her beautiful landscape brings out of us so naturally. Doug and Natalie get into some additional conversation and talk about her "Wide Net / Small Net" theory when it comes to how we can leverage group size during creative thinking. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 01 Nov 2021 | The secret ingredient | 00:23:16 | |
Disclaimer: After listening to this episode, you might decide to leave the practicing world behind and begin your second career as a professor. Our guest today is Nathan Howe, Department Head of Kansas State’s Interior Architecture and Industrial Design program - and Nathan has some stories to tell. There is an energy and openness to the academic world that just feels good to reconnect with at times. As we discuss today, it's this creative and open vibe that is the secret ingredient for any successful work culture. At the end of the episode, we also go deep into Nathan’s personal identity as half Colombian and half American / U.S. citizen. Nathan Howe asks the brave question: “If my name were Nathan Gomez, would my life have turned out differently?” Connect with Nathan Howe on Linkedin: Sign-up to receive a FREE copy of the newest Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 14 Mar 2022 | How to build boldly. | 00:23:43 | |
Today, we host Bolanle Williams-Olley, aka Bola. She’s the CFO for the New York design and architecture firm Mancini Duffy, and she’s going to help you Build Boldly. Build Boldly is the title of Bola’s recently published book. It’s a hybrid autobiography and self-help book that immerses you in her own journey and how those lessons can apply towards building your own career. B.O.L.D. is the acronym that ties it all together and today, we explore the “B” part of that acronym – “Be Yourself”. Sounds easy on the surface right? Well… just like everything in life, there’s a lot more to it. Learn more about Bolanie and her book, "Build Boldly" here: https://www.bolanlewo.com/book Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 22 Jan 2024 | From Limitations to Innovations, Fostering Creativity and Culture | David Polzin, Cannon Design | 00:54:43 | |
In this episode Doug sits down with David Polzin, Executive Director of Design at Cannon Design in St Louis. David is known for creating and fostering a creative culture within a large organization—something that proves to be more and more difficult. There is an inherent tension between structure and creativity in large organizations which means it can be difficult to spark innovation. But David believes that embracing risk and failure is actually very important for fostering a creative environment. New ideas are born from continuously iterating on ideas, letting go of attachments, and synthesizing constraints. The workplace is changing and the creative process is changing with it. One of David's biggest concerns is that people are becoming disengaged from their physical environments due to immersion in technology and that architecture should enhance lived experience and nature. We are slowly losing our connection to spaces and nature. It's on leaders to adapt their leadership styles to new generations and help rescue the creative process. Overall this is an incredible interview where David shares his thoughtful philosophies on creativity, design, leadership, and the human experience. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 18 Jul 2022 | Love is in the details | Jenny McMath, Los Alamos National Laboratory | 00:39:00 | |
This is a really special conversation. Jenny McMath is going to give us an all-access pass to Los Alamos National Labs, aka "LANL" — LANL is where the most important, secretive, and secure research is happening in the United States and Jenny leads all furniture for the 8,000,000 square feet that makes up LANL. But — None of that is what makes this conversation so awesome. It’s Jenny’s enthusiasm for getting the workplace right and her rock-solid belief that there is incredible potential to unlock through building better workplaces. Today – Jenny lets us into how she’s orchestrating a post-pandemic workplace that meets the needs of her workforce and the mission of LANL. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 13 Dec 2021 | Real estate and technology for the human experience. | 00:45:49 | |
Today’s episode features two big thinkers when it comes to place and technology. Edward Wagoner is the CIO for the progressive-minded $17 billion, global real estate firm, JLL. Will Cowell de Gruchy is the founder and CEO of Infogrid - a fast-growing startup aimed at making buildings smarter and the world healthier. These two are thinking about the intersection of real estate and technology at the highest level, and with 90% of our time spent indoors, the stakes are high. In today’s conversation, we’ll talk about technology’s role in the human experience of place, IOT (Internet of Things), and at the end, Edward and Will will make some bold predictions for what’s ahead of us. But, perhaps the most valuable moment in today’s chat is hearing Edward open up about his personal journey through self-change and organizational change. Get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 01 Sep 2020 | Katherine Ankerson (University of Nebraska-Lincoln): Design education in the new world. - Ep. 11 | 00:22:21 | |
Katherine Ankerson is an award-winning author and the Dean for the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska. In our interview, she paints a picture of how design education looks in the new world ahead of us and what we can expect from our next generation of emerging professionals. We also explore the often-debated question: Can creativity be taught?
Visit the Imagine a Place journal for more stories: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/articles Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 13 Nov 2023 | The Case for Place | Sascha Wagner, Huntsman | 00:41:13 | |
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 company culture and encourage important interactions such as mentorship. Some of Sascha's early influences and mentors modeled professional behavior for him and emphasized the value of in-person interactions for learning and development. The uncertainties that exist today can be viewed as opportunities to learn from and build more flexibility into workplace design. Simply put, places have the power to elevate the human experience. Learn more about Sascha Wagner. Learn more about Huntsman Architecture. Check out this podcast from The Resilience Lab which talks about emotional intelligence in the workplace. Follow Doug on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 11 Mar 2025 | A New Chapter: Imagining What’s Next with Maria VanDeman | 00:03:57 | |
Imagine a Place is stepping into a new chapter, and we're thrilled to introduce our new host, Maria VanDeman. In this heartfelt and unscripted debut, Maria opens up about the excitement — and a bit of the nervousness — that comes with taking the reins of a podcast that's inspired so many. She reflects on the 170+ incredible guests who’ve shaped Imagine a Place and shares her vision for what’s ahead: meaningful conversations with people who are creating impact — in their work, their communities, and the spaces they touch. Maria also gives us a glimpse into who she is — a wife, mother, licensed interior designer, and someone deeply passionate about human connection. With new graphics, fresh sounds, and bold ideas on the horizon, this episode marks the beginning of an exciting journey. Join us as we continue to imagine places — together. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 11 Jul 2022 | It Takes a Village | David Lancaster, Furniture Designer, Roger Webb Associates | 00:22:59 | |
It takes a village. Design is certainly no exception. David Lancaster is a member of the London based furniture design studio Roger Webb Associates. For over 2 decades, David and his teammates have been designing award-winning and innovative furniture products for workplaces all over the globe. Most recently, they’ve designed OFS’s Heya, Obeya, Khaleid and many more. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Webb Associates team as member of the OFS marketing staff and I’ve particularly enjoyed the relaxed and casual conversations that I’ve had with David Lancaster over the years, whether that be at a dark and moody german style bar or coffee at the office… So I wanted to bring you into one of those conversation. David and I met in person to record this one… Today he will share his point of view on creativity and design and you’ll quickly pick up that David is passionate about one particular area of design while others at his studio are focussed on other aspects. Hence the title… It takes a village. Kick back, relax… I think you’ll enjoy David’s style. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 21 Jun 2021 | A pep talk for a life in design | 00:39:04 | |
Stacy Garcia founded and runs multiple businesses in design that range from textiles, to furniture and accessories. She was voted one of the 10 leading voices in the hospitality industry and honored by ASID for Design Excellence. The industry leans on Stacy for her knowledge in forecasting color and design trends.
Today, she shares her life hacks and the best advice to help you get the most out of your time on this planet. In this conversation, there’s heart, there’s hustle, there’s intellect, and it all comes together into the perfect pep talk you’ve been waiting for.
Learn more about Stacy Garcia:
https://shopstacygarcia.com/
Connect with Stacy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stacygarciainc/
Connect with Doug on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 15 Mar 2023 | Trust (but verify) the universe with Brian Graham | 00:34:52 | |
In today's episode, we welcome back Brian Graham, a fan favorite who always brings his unique blend of humor, thoughtfulness, and insight to our discussions. After our previous episode with Brian, we received an overwhelming response from listeners who wanted to hear more from him. So, we invited him back to chat about his recent trip to the IIDA Industry Roundtable in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Brian and Doug share their biggest takeaways from the event (including their take on the 2022 Oxford Dictionary word of the year....Goblin Mode). Join Doug and Brian as they explore the significance of placing trust in the universe, embracing risks as a designer, and the crucial role of robust leadership and mentorship in the design 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 25 Apr 2023 | Into The Metaverse | Christopher Neff, Anomaly | 00:37:18 | |
This episode features Metaverse expert, Christopher Neff, the Global Head of Emerging Experience & Technology for Anomaly—Adweeks 2022 Creative Agency of the year. Not very long ago, we chose when to connect. Now, we have to choose when to disconnect. Doug and Chris explore how the Metaverse is the next logical step in our technological evolution, and how it could revolutionize the way we interact with each other and the world around us. This episode provides a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of one of the most exciting technological advancements of our time. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 23 May 2022 | The future of design and work. | 00:39:05 | |
Mark Bryan is the Director of Innovation and Research at M+A Architects - He’s also a certified futurist. As a Futurist, Mark leads M+A’s Futurism services, using innovation and research to create personalized data-driven solutions and future-driven forecasts to solve now for what is to come next. Mark uses his work to predict, and protect, what inevitable change means for the future. In today's episode, we go deep into the metaverse, artificial intelligence, and what the future might hold for work and life. To hear more from Mark Bryan, check out the podcast he co-hosts, M+Ake It Innovative. Want to ask Doug a question for our next podcast? Leave him a question or comment here. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Connect with host, Doug Shapiro, below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 27 Feb 2023 | #bemorelinclusive, Charlotte Kingsbury, Urban | 00:32:33 | |
Today, we hop over the Atlantic to the small coastal town of Portsmouth England to speak with Charlotte Kingsbury. Charlotte is the head of US Operations for the London-based firm Urban and she leads Urban's #bemoreinclusive movement aiming to the change demographics of architects, designers and firm leaders. If you feel that you’ve been overlooked or underrepresented through your career, or, If you are hoping to build a more a inclusive-minded hiring practice, you'll love Charlotte's advice. At the end she shares a bit of her life story and there’s a good reminder in there about whether you’ve got "it", where "it" comes from, and whether "it" will get you through… and "it" will all be explained towards the end of the conversation.
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 Also, did you know we wrote a children's book. Click here to purchase your copy of "Design Your World." Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 03 Jul 2023 | Designing for Change: Paul Shahriari's Vision for Ecomedes and the Future of Sustainability | 00:35:03 | |
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 really cool to learn about his business and I enjoyed Paul’s energy. 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 22 Nov 2021 | A Thanksgiving note of appreciation to our listeners. | 00:04:24 | |
This Thanksgiving we are thankful for YOU, so thank you for listening, sharing, and reaching out to us! It always feels great to say thank you, but this week we are feeling especially grateful for our amazing listeners and producers of the Imagine a Place podcast. It has been a privilege to connect with you each week! We are always so appreciative when we hear from our listeners on ideas for guests, thoughts from a recent episode, or just to say hello. So, please feel free to reach out anytime! From all of us at Imagine a Place, we wish you a safe, restful, and happy Thanksgiving. Connect with Doug: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 20 Sep 2021 | The subtle art of placemaking. | 00:29:59 | |
Danya Hakky, Ph.D. is an Interior Designer and Design Researcher for Perkins Eastman, a global architecture and design firm. She is also a co-author of the recently published research paper, "The Subtle Art of Place Making," which sought to answer the question: Why do we still need to create meaningful places when virtual settings and interactions are on the rise? The findings of this research do two things really well. First, it breaks down the fundamental role that place plays in our world today. It also includes a collection of place attributes that have been cleverly broken into note cards -- These attribute cards serve as sort of a conversation toolkit that you can use to support your design discussions among colleagues or clients. This conversation toolkit and research paper are free for you to engage with! Here’s the link: https://www.perkinseastman.com/white-papers/the-subtle-art-of-placemaking/ In our conversation with Danya, we hear her take on the purpose of place and the role of research in design. There are some brilliant aha moments scattered across this conversation that we know you’ll enjoy. Connect with Danya Hakky on LinkedIn: Sign-up to receive a FREE copy of the newest Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 25 May 2023 | The Future Work Week | Roy Abernathy, Newmark | 00:29:10 | |
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 of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 10 Jan 2022 | The workforce has spoken. | 00:35:44 | |
Lori Louis is the Sr. Director, Experiential Space Design & Concepting at JLL. And Lori has built and runs a highly effective and efficient design team that is entirely remote. So… in this conversation, Lori is going to help us crack the code. How can we bring our remote or hybrid design game to a new level? She also challenges the processes of today’s commercial design, procurement, and construction. We talk about iterative design, we talk about research, we talk about well-being in the workplace. So much good stuff in this conversation. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 26 Jul 2021 | Your success formula | 00:38:14 | |
Rex Miller is one of those people that seems to decode the world around us; almost as if all the complexity melts away when you speak with him. He is the principal and thought leader for MindShift, a future-focused consultancy, and organizational performance firm. He is the author of The Commercial Real Estate Revolution, The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church, and Change Your Space, Change Your Culture, and more.
In this episode, we talk about change, leadership, and getting to a place of clarity and personal growth in your life.
At the end of the episode, we give out a promo code for a free digital copy of Rex’s latest work “Strategy in Rebuilding, Principles to Building Post Traumatic Growth." It’s a $35 value and we are making that available for FREE with the promo code for the first 200 downloads.
Link to Strategy in Rebuilding, Principles to Building Post Traumatic Growth:
https://rexmiller.com/shop/ols/products/strategy-in-rebuilding-principles-to-build-post-traumatic-growth
Learn more about Rex Miller:
https://rexmiller.com/
Connect with Rex Miller on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexmiller/
Get your free copy of the Imagine a Place journal and join the community:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with host, Doug Shapiro, on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 09 Nov 2022 | How far can courage and appreciation take you? | My Nguyen, Holland America Group | 00:36:53 | |
My Nguyen is the Director of Interior Design at Holland America Group -nationally acclaimed for her design projects in the marine interior design, high-end residential, and hospitality markets, My Nguyen is known industry-wide for her diverse talent. And while her design talents are impressive on their own, it's her remarkable journey that will truly inspire you. Today, My will share her story which is filled with sacrifice, challenges, love, appreciation, and most of all, courage. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 19 Jun 2024 | Designing for Identity | Jack Travis, Architect, Author, Designer, & Professor | 01:09:11 | |
In honor of Juneteenth, we welcome Jack Travis, an esteemed interior designer, architect, author, and educator whose profound insights have significantly shaped the design and education landscape. Jack is an incredible storyteller and today, he shares his journey from childhood into the business of architecture. You’ll hear about his experiences of overcoming racial barriers and learn his unique framework and approach to design that incorporates cultural identity. Jack's way of thinking will inspire you with a deeper understanding of how architecture and design can reflect and honor cultural heritage and still push the boundaries of innovation. To learn more about Jack Travis, please visit: https://www.jacktravisarchitect.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 12 Apr 2021 | Lessons from the Library: The story of Bill Van Erp - Gensler | 00:34:24 | |
Bill Van Erp's work spans over 30 years as Gensler's resource librarian, a role he would master. In this role, Bill managed the design catalogs, materials library, and vendor relationships for Gensler's design department. Over the course of Bill's career, he was able to observe the paths of hundreds of designers that would come and go from Gensler's San Fransisco office and he developed a sense for talent - and on today's episode he shares his "secret sauce," the recipe that he believes leads to the designers that are most likely to grow inside their firm. We also discuss some of the most pivotal changes that influenced our industry's culture and why he loved his job so darn much.
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Learn more about Gensler:
https://www.gensler.com/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 11 May 2020 | Cheryl Durst (IIDA): What's next for the spaces we design? - Ep.03 | 00:29:35 | |
When it comes to the role that place plays in our lives, there are very few on the planet that have spent more time and effort explaining it than Cheryl Durst. Cheryl is CEO of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and is widely regarded as one of the design world’s wittiest and wisest personalities. We caught up with Cheryl on a call from her home where she opens up about her childhood, what brings comfort in her life, and what might be next for the spaces that we design.
Check out the Imagine a Place journal for more stories: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/articles
Learn more about the IIDA and Cheryl Durst: https://www.iida.org/content.cfm/cheryl-durstConnect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 25 Jan 2024 | Personal Growth in the Era of AI | 00:14:59 | |
Here are some key takeaways from Doug's experience at the New Year New You event in Miami. Authentic intelligence comes from experience and activating our brains, hearts, and souls. There is a difference between artificial intelligence (AI) and authentic intelligence. Artificial intelligence is knowledge gained through algorithmic study and memorization—learning in 2D—while authentic intelligence comes from experience that activates more areas of the brain and leaves emotional imprints. It engages our brains, hearts, and souls. And as AI advances, we need to balance and develop our authentic intelligence through conversations, travel, and immersive experiences. Curiosity is the most important skill in the AI era. Curiosity is singled out as the most important skill in the AI era. With unlimited information at our fingertips, our impact comes from the questions we ask, not just passively accepting the answers we receive. Staying curious allows us to steer our use of AI tools, rather than losing agency and keeps us from falling into sameness. Imperfections make us human. As AI generates hyper-perfect images and content, imperfections make us human. We need to embrace the imperfections and uniqueness that differentiates human creativity from AI. In design, we should move away from perfection and embrace more human, authentic work. Our humanity shines through those imperfections. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 06 Jun 2022 | Living your true self. | 00:35:10 | |
The story you’re going to hear today is a powerful one. I met Alejandro Estrada (Designer at Empire Office) at what I would rank as one of the top local design events that I’ve witnessed – The New Year New You event in Miami, Florida, where I hosted a panel. When we met at this event, what stood out about Alejandro was his aura… He had a magnetic, creative, and positive energy that you could just feel. Over coffee, I learned more about Alejandro’s story and the more he spoke, the more I was determined to share this story with you. In today's episode, you'll hear the challenges Alejandro overcame, which include escaping violence in his native Colombia, as well as his journey to coming out at 16-years-old and how these events shaped who he is today. Alejandro's journey through life is a story of courage and a story of what it is to be human. Reach out! Want to ask Doug a question for our next podcast? Leave him a question or comment here. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 13 Mar 2021 | Is your workplace an enabler? | 00:37:04 | |
Kelly Bacon joins us today to help us understand the role of place in a world where work can happen anywhere. She is the Global Lead for AECOM’s Workplace Advisory Practice and co-author of “Future Office- Next Generation Workplace Design." In this interview, we’ll discuss some of the key present-day shifts in the workplace design and strategy and how you can prepare for a work-life that we’ve yet to imagine.
View more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with Kelly Bacon on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-bacon-a4220713/
Future Office- Next Generation Workplace Design:
https://www.amazon.com/Future-Office-Next-generation-workplace-design/dp/1859468454
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 27 Apr 2024 | Navigating the Info-Diet: Healthier Minds in a Digital Age | Mario Vasilescu, Readocracy | 00:39:05 | |
Is your information diet holding you back? In this episode, guest Mario Vasilescu, founder of Readocracy, explores how to manage our informational intake in a knowledge-driven workforce. Mario likens "informational health" to physical health, emphasizing the need for selective information consumption in an attention-seeking economy. He discusses the societal impacts of AI, urging a critical examination of its effects on job security and privacy. The conversation also highlights the importance of "proof of human knowledge," advocating for verifying human input in the age of AI. Through his platform, Readocracy, Mario helps users validate their learning to enhance professional credibility. Sign up to Readocracy (mention that you heard about it through Imagine a Place to skip the waitlist!) Learn more about The Design POP into Excellence event, use promo code Imagine24 to pay just $1 for your seat! Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 05 Jul 2021 | Grow your conversations, grow your career. | 00:33:25 | |
What if you could get 1% better every day? Imagine how your life and career would be transformed.
Joe Ferraro is the host of the popular, The One Percent Better Podcast, where he and his guests share their unique insights to help us become better versions of ourselves improving our mindset, language, and behavior by 1% each day.
In this episode, Joe helps us understand the art of conversation is a critical skill - and that the most meaningful insights we will gather in the design process won’t come from numbers and statistics, they’ll come from conversations.
Plain and simple - if you grow your skills in conversation, you just might grow your career.
Check out The One Percent Better Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-percent-better-podcast/id1254121785
Connect with Joe Ferraro on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ferraroonair/
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with Doug on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 14 May 2024 | Welcome to "Game Time" presented by Imagine a Place and OFS | 00:04:59 | |
What do you get when you survey 70 designers and challenge 10 of the leading minds in design? You get "Game Time," an entertaining and insightful exploration of design concepts and trends. Join host Doug Shapiro in the latest creation from Imagine a Place Productions – a unique game show that merges engaging discussions with exciting gameplay! In this innovative format, two teams, composed of some of the industry's leading minds, go head-to-head in a lively debate and competition. Watch as our participants use their knowledge and wit to compete, all while diving deep into the issues that shape our spaces and lives. Don't miss this blend of competition, discussion, and discovery. Tune in to see who comes out on top in the ultimate design showdown! Watch now! Featuring: Ronnie Belizaire, HKS Erika Moody, Helix Architecture + Design Mark Bryan, Future Today Institute Cheryl Durst, International Interior Design Association Bill Bouchey, Gensler Stacey Crumbaker, Mahlum Architects Inc. Mike Johnson II, Hickok Cole Joe Pettipas, ARCADIS Ana Pinto-Alexander, HKS Abby Scott, HDR Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 31 May 2023 | A Guidebook to Sustainable Decommissioning | Dianne Murata, Kimiko Designs | 00:11:22 | |
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 playbook here: Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 24 May 2024 | In the ROOM at ICFF: Part 1 | with Amy Devers, Luca Nichetto, and Giulio Cappellini | 00:43:42 | |
Join host Doug Shapiro "In the ROOM" LIVE from ICFF 2024. In this two-part series, Doug explores the unique energy and innovation at ICFF - featuring insightful conversations with industry leaders such Amy Devers, Luca Nichetto, and Giulio Cappellini, listeners will hear inspiring stories, fresh perspectives, and valuable advice. Highlights include Amy Devers, discussing the importance of student work and the evolving role of materials, Luca Nichetto's take on balancing tradition with innovation, and Giulio Cappellini's humorous anecdote about Queen Elizabeth II. Let's escape the noise and join us "In the ROOM." Learn more about ROOM. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 08 May 2023 | Putting People First | Regan Donoghue, Unispace | 00:36:38 | |
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 with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 14 Sep 2020 | Ximena Diaz (A ESTUDIO): Facing gender bias, finding mom-strength, and coaching next-gen design. - Ep. 12 | 00:20:24 | |
Today we speak with Ximena Diaz, professor, architect, interior designer, and founder of A Estudio. In this episode, we discuss some of the industry’s most important topics, as Ximena guides us through her successes and the challenges she faced as an architect and full-time Mom. It’s an inspiring conversation and one we think you’ll love to hear.
Connect with Ximena on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ximena-diaz-design/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ximenadiaz.design/
A Estudio: https://www.a-estudio.mx/
Visit Imagine a Place online: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/articles Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 31 Jul 2023 | Designing a Sanctuary Space | Lisa Kahn, Finding Sanctuary | 00:24:07 | |
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 why, when we find sanctuary, we thrive.” The world needs more of what Lisa will teach you and inspire you within this episode. Learn more about Lisa Kahn - founder and visionary behind Finding Sanctuary by Lisa Kahn Designs. 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 15 Nov 2021 | There’s an elephant in your office. | 00:32:47 | |
There’s an elephant in your office, and we’ve brought in author, podcast host, and HR leader Andrea Herron to help us understand it. That elephant is the struggle we have with mental health. Andrea Herron is WebMD’s Health Services’ Human Resource leader. She is the co-author of the book, "There’s an Elephant in your Office." She’s also the award-winning host of the podcast The HR Scoop. Pretty much of all what we do in planning and design is for people, and Andrea gets people. Her perspective in today’s conversation will open the doors to some new thinking on mental health and help you understand how HR executives are leading their companies through today’s fast-paced world. Connect with Andrea Herron on LinkedIn: Get your copy of "There's an Elephant in your Office" Listen to The HR Scoop To read her articles: https://www.webmdhealthservices.com/author/andreaherron/ Sign-up to receive a FREE copy of the newest Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 09 Aug 2021 | What tomorrow’s design leaders want. | 00:41:24 | |
Today, we’ll hear from a recent graduate who just began her career at Gensler. If you think there is nothing to learn from a student, you are about to be turned upside down. Sofia Acosta is as wise, collected, and clear-headed as anyone we’ve interviewed on the podcast so far. Sofia graduated in May 2021 from Kansas State’s 5-year master's program in Interior Architecture and Industrial Design. Even more impressive is her humble nature and urgent passion for sustainability. Sofia is the perfect example of the bright, passionate youth that will be the change in the planet that we know we need… We just need to give them the stage and allow them to lead. Get your free copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Sophia on LinkedIn: Connect with host, Doug Shapiro, on Linkedin: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 14 Feb 2022 | Creating lasting spaces for joy. | 00:27:25 | |
There is just so much we want to say about our guest Mark Ostrom today - It’s just hard to fit that much goodness into one introduction though. Mark is the founder and executive director of Joy Collaborative, a nonprofit that you will love learning about. Joy Collaborative is a partnership of impassioned doers and givers –designers, architects, and builders; donors, volunteers, and sponsors – who come together to transform kids’ personal spaces, creating environments that for some kids become magnets of activity; for other kids a place of respite. For all the kids and families Joy Collaborative serves, they aspire to create spaces that deliver joy. Because as Mark explains, "everyone deserves a space where they can be themselves." Learn more about the Joy Collaborative: https://joycollaborative.org/ Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 30 Aug 2021 | Was Steve Jobs Wrong? | 00:55:34 | |
Steve Jobs was a firm believer in the power of place and the impact that an in-person collaborative environment can have on innovation and a creative corporate culture. The in-person method of work is being called into question by so many that have found their rhythm as a remote worker. Today, Kay Sargent, Director of HOK’s global WorkPlace practice, helps us explore the new promise that our workplaces must fulfill and how human-centered thinking can help guide us through the tough and often controversial decisions that swirl around the workplace today. Learn more about Kay Sargent and HOK: Connect with Kay Sargent on LinkedIn: Sign-up to receive a FREE copy of the newest Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 21 Nov 2022 | Have you hugged a dealer designer lately? | Alexandra Tseffos, Design Pop | 00:29:52 | |
Today, you’ll hear from Alexandra Tseffos, an entrepreneur and coach who has built two separate businesses helping dealers and manufacturers blend the delicate worlds of design, technology, and sales. Those businesses, Silent T Consulting and Design Pop are quickly being recognized as the gold standard for both CET training and community building in contract furniture design. In this episode, we go deep into the industry role that is near and dear to her heart – the dealer designer, a role often critically misunderstood and possibly...underappreciated. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 17 May 2021 | Rethinking the hotel experience | 00:25:37 | |
The pandemic has forced hotels to rethink the guest experience, but this is something that Staci Patton has been doing for years. Staci is an award-winning designer, Principal, Hospitality Design Director for global architecture and design firm DLR Group.
In this episode, she shares with us a major shift in how hotels and resorts can make the most of their real estate footprint, the importance of the arrival experience, and the three types of guest profiles that we need to be thinking about as we design that next hospitality environment.
Learn more about Staci Patton and DLR Group:
https://www.dlrgroup.com/people/staci-patton/
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 06 May 2024 | Two Women on a Mission | Claire Pijoulat and Odile Hainaut, ICFF and WantedDesign | 00:12:29 | |
In this episode, host Doug Shapiro sits down with Claire Pijoulat and Odile Hainaut, the dynamic duo behind ICFF and the founders of WantedDesign. From their chance meeting in 2010 to becoming Brand Directors, they share their journey of transforming the International Contemporary Furniture Fair into a vibrant hub for design and community. Discover how they've redefined ICFF by integrating culture with commerce, fostering meaningful connections, and turning the fair into a year-round platform for innovation. Are you in NYC and want to check out ICFF? Imagine a Place invites you to be our guest! Click here for a complimentary pass. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 05 Apr 2023 | The Intersection of AI, Design, and Humanity with Sociologist and Podcast Host, Gary David of Experience By Design | 00:48:31 | |
Today is a conversational treat. We are joined by Gary David, a sociologist, professor, professional speaker, and co-host of the popular podcast Experience By Design. Gary is one entertaining human and delivers a conversation that is rich in intellectual stimuli. We explore the keys to a deeper understanding of the people, cultures, and context for which we design. We also go deep into future thinking and how AI will impact our society. At one point, Gary actually says that we should be less concerned with what AI means to us and more concerned with what it says about us. The last 15 minutes get pretty sci-fi, and we touch on why we need to write with more soul, heart, and purpose… and why it might important to our very existence. It’s a long conversation and I hope you can make time for all of it – It just kept getting better. 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 26 Apr 2021 | Rescue your creative mind...before it’s too late: Martin Lindstrom | 00:51:48 | |
Whether you can feel it happening or not, we are losing our grip on our creative mind and the stakes are high.
Today’s conversation features the author and creativity expert, Martin Lindstrom. Martin has written seven New York Times bestsellers and is a frequent contributor to HBR, NBC, Fast Company and named by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. His writings, along with his creative consulting practice, have landed him as one of the top creative business minds in the world today.
In our conversation, Martin discusses his new book: The Ministry of Common Sense. He also shares with us how he rescued his own creative mind and how you can do the same.
Learn more about Martin Lindstrom:
https://www.martinlindstrom.com/
Book: The Ministry of Common Sense: How to Eliminate Bureaucratic Red Tape, Bad Excuses, and Corporate BS
https://amzn.to/3ezwSvI
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-placeConnect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
| |||
| 23 Jun 2020 | Regan Donoghue (SimConsults): Design thinking for the new world. - Ep. 06 | 00:41:40 | |
| 17 Jan 2023 | LIVE from San Diego: What's your take on mentorship? | 00:18:03 | |
Today we’ve got something new for you. We shipped a couple of microphones and a recorder to San Diego to our OFS rep and industry enthusiast, Hillarie Martorell. As she posted up for San Diego’s big design event, the Imagine a Place Productions team tasked her with the mission to capture some specific insight in a live interview format. We wanted to discover how mentorship is changing in the profession of design and what advice we could gather from others. 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 14 Apr 2020 | Angie Lee (FXCollaborative): Are we rewriting our life, work, and design value system? - Ep. 01 | 00:24:14 | |
Well, this isn't how we imagined launching a podcast, but so much has changed in our world in just a few short weeks that we had to try to start making sense of it all. In this episode, Doug chats with Angie Lee, Partner and Design Director of Interiors for New York’s FXCollaborative. Doug and Angie discuss how this pandemic might force us to rethink our current value system around our life, work, and approach to interior design. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 21 Jul 2020 | Jeffrey Abel (Abel Design Group): Failure is your drive switch. - Ep. 08 | 00:17:27 | |
| 31 Jan 2022 | What is the secret sauce? | 00:37:04 | |
Christian Giordano is the president and co-owner of the New York design firm Mancini Duffy, and the host of the popular podcast - The Anti-Architect. We hosted Christian Giordano right here on Imagine a Place in June of 2021. We brought Christian back on the show because after our first interview with him, we felt like he had a “secret sauce” at his firm… and we wanted to figure out what it was. It will be up to you to decide what that “secret sauce” really is - but if we had to break it down, it’s these three things: Thankfulness, a vision, and a critical eye for your own profession. Listen to The Anti-Architect Podcast Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 20 Jun 2022 | The skills that make us | Cheryl Durst, IIDA | 00:25:39 | |
We are thrilled to introduce the latest addition to the Imagine a Place Productions family of podcasts…. It’s called The Skill Set and as you might have heard by now, it’s hosted by the one and only Cheryl Durst. An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl Durst has spurred progress, driven change, and encouraged the expansion of the Interior Design industry. Cheryl has spent a lifetime fascinated by the backstories that reveal where those foundational skills come from. With The Skill Set, she taps into those stories to uncover the not-so-apparent abilities that power success. Now – The Skill Set may be brand new, but the idea is something that has lived in Cheryl’s head for quite some time. Here’s our conversation where we seek to uncover her true "why" behind launching this new podcast. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 02 Oct 2023 | Designing for Hope and Social Impact | Jose Jordan, DLR Group | 00:22:57 | |
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. This attracts others who also care, creating an environment where everyone works as a team for shared goals. Jose recently rediscovered his Puerto Rican heritage on a trip to Old San Juan. The history, architecture, culture, food, and family connections left a deep impression. Now, during Hispanic Heritage Month, Jose enjoys spending time with family, eating traditional Puerto Rican food, and introducing others to the culture. He values bringing people together through food, music, and laughter and aims to create spaces that have the same welcoming community feel. Learn more about Jose Jordan. Learn more about Jose's company DLR Group. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 29 Jun 2022 | How will technology change design? | Mike Haley, Autodesk | 00:49:04 | |
Autodesk is best known as the source for AutoCAD and Revit. They are a technology company that enables the designers and makers of the world. In today's episode, we welcome Mike Haley, Autodesk’s VP of Research. Mike leads a world-class team of researchers, engineers, and other specialists, at Autodesk, who are exploring the future of how people will design and make things. In this conversation, Mike describes the future of our relationship with technology in the field of design. He also draws a surprising connection between AI and creativity. Peering into the future is often like looking down a dark hallway… and in this conversation, Mike will be turning on the lights. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 18 Mar 2024 | The Language of Care: Designing for Senior Living with Kevin Swanson, Hawthorn Construction Group | 00:22:10 | |
Welcome to a special episode recorded LIVE at the "Crafted for Living" event in collaboration with Carolina and Mannington Commercial. Join us as we sit down with Kevin Swanson, a seasoned expert in Senior Living design at Hawthorn Construction Group. Kevin shares his heartfelt passion for creating spaces that truly cater to the needs of seniors, discussing the delicate balance between aesthetics and safety. From the importance of choosing the right words to implementing small yet impactful changes, Kevin's dedication shines through. Join us for an engaging conversation about the art of designing with purpose and making a meaningful impact in senior living environments We’re also joined by Lauren Morgan, Brand Manager at Carolina, adding her insights to the conversation and a little about her journey into healthcare design. Want to learn more? Visit Carolina's insights page to get a recap of the Crafted for Living event here Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 02 Apr 2024 | Designing for the Intersection of Eras | Joey Shimoda, Shimoda Design Group | 00:43:27 | |
In this episode, Doug is joined by Joey Shimoda of Shimoda Design Group. This reflective conversation spans from Joey's unique upbringing in Alabama and the challenges of growing up in a racially tense environment to the potential impacts of emerging technologies. Growing up in Alabama during a turbulent period in American history—Joey reveals a journey marked by challenges, including his family's history of internment during World War II and the complexities of being one of the few Asian families in his community amidst the racial tensions of the 1960s. This backdrop serves as a foundation for Shimoda's profound insights into the role of curiosity, open-mindedness, and the embrace of both the analog and digital realms in shaping his design practices. Doug and Joey talk about how the implications of technological advancements like AI and the metaverse cannot be overlooked in the field of design. There is a need to emphasize human-centered creativity and tangible experiences in this rapidly changing technological landscape. This conversation not only showcases Joey's illustrious career and musings, but also serves as a testament to the enduring relevance of human creativity in the face of technological change. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 24 Jan 2022 | Data applied to place. | 00:28:21 | |
Shuli Steele is the Director of the Higher Education market at Planon, a global leader in smart building technologies. She’s an author, a TEDx speaker, and a self-titled learner advocate. In this episode, Shuli shares how space planning at the campus is evolving. We discuss campus and work/life culture and what we really crave from others when it comes to our time in the workplace. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 04 Apr 2022 | Sensitivity and Toughness. | 00:39:37 | |
Today, we host the developer and president of Prince Concepts, Philip Kafka - and we promise, this episode will feed your mind and your soul. Philip Kafka’s bold but unconventional vision for reimagining urban spaces has earned him commercial, critical, and career success with acclaimed projects in Detroit. In this episode, Philip explains the keys to personal growth, how to do GREAT work, and the necessity of maintaining a balance between sensitivity and toughness. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Connect with host, Doug Shapiro, below: By Email: dshapiro@ofs.com On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 16 Oct 2023 | A Deeper Life of Presence and Generosity | Vijay Gupta, Violinist and Speaker | 00:31:35 | |
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, reading, and integrating diverse inspirations into his learning. He values continuous learning as a verb, not just fixed achievements in time. All of this inspires Vijay to "give away his gifts" with one of his most important values being generosity. Vijay believes we find purpose by giving the gifts we didn't know we had. This conversation also touches a bit on AI. Vijay's take on AI is refreshing—he suggests we focus on how technology can amplify human values and intentions, rather than replace them for the sake of efficiency. AI can help people appreciate life's beauty, while still accomplishing tasks in a human way. Learn more about Vijay Gupta here. Find Vijay Gupta on Instagram. Learn more about Michael Motamedi who was referenced in this podcast. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 21 Feb 2023 | New Year, New You: LIVE from Miami | 00:29:23 | |
In this special LIVE episode of Imagine a Place, host Doug Shapiro travels to Miami to attend the 3rd annual "New Year, New You" event (presented by IIDA South Florida). The event brings together a diverse group of interior designers and design leaders to encourage, educate, and inspire a growing community of professionals in South Florida. This year's theme was legacy. As Doug records live from the event, he chats with event organizers Rad Larios, Sunny Reed, and other special guests on what legacy means to them, how they're working to create a lasting impact in their communities, and what they hope their legacy will be. Through conversation and personal anecdotes, our guests explore how they're shaping their legacies through their work, relationships, and personal values. From building businesses to advocating for social change, each guest shares their unique perspective on how they hope to leave a positive mark on the world. What will be your legacy? 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 06 Nov 2023 | Are you truly ready for change? | LIVE from Pittsburgh MiniCon | 00:35:48 | |
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 things, we need to value the blending of fresh perspectives with institutional wisdom, and realize that change often brings new relationships and opportunities. During this episode you'll hear from: Jane Hallinan from Perkins Eastman Sanela Schnitgen from University of Pittsburgh Beverly Shelby from AE Works Pamela Austin from Burns Scalo Real Estate Ralph Dallier from Franklin This episode was inspired by an episode The Disrupted Workforce with Warren Berger. Learn more about Franklin's Pittsburgh MiniCon convention. Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 18 Oct 2021 | Can a website help save the planet? | 00:20:45 | |
Can a website help save the planet? Joanna Abrams believes so. Joanna Abrams is the CEO and Founder of Mindclick, a product intelligence platform that rates the environmental impact of manufacturers and their products. Joanna’s journey into Mindclick is an entertaining listen, full of windy roads, detours, and even failures. One of the highlights of this episode comes towards the end, when Joanna walks our host, Doug Shapiro, straight into an epiphany around why we sometimes lose sight of a way of living and thinking that really matters. Sign-up to receive a FREE copy of the newest Imagine a Place journal: Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 26 Jun 2023 | Charting the Future of HR and Design with David Ulrich, Speaker & Author | 00:40:00 | |
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 it does not disappoint. We talk about leadership, culture, the workplace, and we weave in some personal advice at the end. 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | Why design matters with Debbie Millman | 00:34:37 | |
Named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, Debbie Millman is an author, educator, curator, and host of the podcast, Design Matters. Launched in 2005, Design Matters, is one of the first and longest-running podcasts, and as host, Millman has interviewed nearly 500 of the most creative people in the world over the past 17 years examining the arch of their lives, fully exploring what it means to be inspired, creative, and curious. But today, we get the privilege to turn the table on Debbie and explore the arc of Debbie’s life and the richness of her life as a designer, podcaster, communicator, and all-around fascinating human being. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Leave Doug a question or comment on SpeakPipe Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 10 May 2021 | The wonder and weight of history in your life. | 00:43:10 | |
If you're curious enough, you can look backward in time and you’ll see a ribbon of lessons, treasures, good decisions, and bad decisions. While we can’t go back and change history, we also can’t move forward without the weight of it either.
Ronn Daniel, is an accomplished Author, Historian, and Interim Director for Kent State’s Interior Design Program. As a design historian, he investigates the relationships between interior space, cultural ideas, and technological change.
In this episode, Ronn takes us into his brain to explore the wonder and weight of history in our lives. This conversation will change how you see the world and the role you have in building the future.
Connect with Ronn Daniel:
https://www.kent.edu/caed/news/ronn-daniel-associate-professor
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 28 Apr 2020 | Juan Carlos Baumgartner (SPACE): Designing for optimism. - Ep. 02 | 00:27:24 | |
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 07 Jun 2024 | Building a People-First Culture + A Check-In with Alexandra Tseffos | 00:16:56 | |
In this episode, host Doug Shapiro shares some insights on corporate culture that came from a recent encounter. He also checks in with The Design POP podcast host, Alexandra Tseffos. Alexandra shares some learnings from her recent virtual event POP into Excellence. Subscribe to The DesignPop podcast
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 18 Sep 2023 | Finding Your Squirrel, What's Your Motivation? | Stefanie Ince, March Management | 00:15:37 | |
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 going against conventional wisdom. Can you find this naturally or does it need to be intentionally sought out? And once you find it, can it ever change? Stefanie talks about people such as Doug—someone who is very passionate about what he does—but still has to find variety and new challenges to keep his passion alive. Be open to reinventing yourself multiple times over in life. But most importantly, tell the truth about yourself in the best possible light when pursuing new opportunities. Stefanie loves coaching others and holding space for her clients to explore themselves. If you'd like to contact Stefanie, you can email her here. Learn more about Stefanie Ince. Learn more about Stefanie's company March Management. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 08 Mar 2023 | The Future of Our Work Life: Regan Donoghue, Unispace | 00:54:17 | |
My guest today is the ever-so-creative and impressive, Regan Donoghue. She leads workplace strategy at Unispace and is one of the most original thinkers when it comes to people and place. We sat with Regan now for a third time and we cover a lot of ground. In this discussion, we explore the potential of the metaverse and how it could impact the structure of work in the next decade, while also emphasizing the importance of prioritizing human connections over technological advancements. We also delve into how to promote “purposeful happiness” and why now is the time to develop emotional intelligence or an "inner sage" to overcome the challenges of the future workplace. Of course, there is SO MUCH more we discuss, so sharpen your pencils, get comfortable, and let’s take a look at what lays ahead for the future of work. 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 with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 28 Jun 2021 | Introducing "Design Your World" - The mission begins in Chicago. | 00:26:41 | |
Something BIG is happening in Chicago this July and it's something you should know about - it's called "Design Your World."
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) recognized that inside the profession of interior design there's been a lack of diversity for, pretty much, its entire existence. So, to address this deficit, they dreamt up "Design Your World" - it's a high school pipeline program to expose the underrepresented to a career in design. And to help make the dream a reality, the IIDA teamed up with OFS.
IIDA and OFS (along with the support of After School Matters, Mannington Commerical, 3form, and Configura) are all thrilled to kick off this 6-week crash course in design.
So, today we're giving up the mic to IIDA's CEO, Cheryl Durst who will be interviewing the first-ever Design Your World instructor, the Chicago-based Architect and Interior Designer, Ciera Payton. Together, they will share their expectations, wishes, and the future vision of what Design Your World could really mean to this industry.
Watch the story behind Design Your World:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxaCUAulGK8
Read more about Design Your World:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/elevating-equity-design
Connect with IIDA and the Design Your World program:
https://iida.org/
Learn more about the mission of After School Matters:
https://www.afterschoolmatters.org/
Connect with Cheryl Durst on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cheryldurst/
Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
| |||
| 06 Feb 2023 | We wrote a children’s book. | 00:29:14 | |
Today is a special day as Imagine a Place is launching its first children's book, "Design Your World." This heartwarming book shares the mission of IIDA's pipeline program of the same name (Design Your World), which aims to educate and inspire kids to see design as an accessible tool for both their life and career - and to make a positive impact on the world. A portion of the proceeds from each book directly supports IIDA's Design Your World program. On today's episode, we feature co-author Maria VanDeman, who is known for advocating for diversity and inclusion in the design profession, and the talented illustrator, Kenzie Leon Perry, one of Miami's favorite artists and designers. Together, we discuss the inspiration, purpose, and goals of this book and the importance of sharing its story. We hope you enjoy today's episode and join us in supporting this important initiative and sharing the book with young readers in your life. Get the book here Learn more about IIDA's Design Your World program Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 06 Jan 2021 | Dr. Eve Edelstein (Clinicians for Design): The Intersection of Neuroscience and Architecture | 00:32:35 | |
If you are curious about architecture and you’re also curious about your brain, then it means that you are curious about Dr. Eve Edelstein. Eve lives at the intersection of architecture and neuroscience. She co-founded Clinicians for Design, an international consultancy whose research is guiding more thoughtful environments for healthcare.
In this episode, we discuss artificial intelligence, new technologies, how we think and learn, and the exact moment when Eve came to recognize the responsibility that architects and designers have to save lives through design.
Imagine a Place online:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/
Learn more about Clinicians for Design: https://www.cliniciansfordesign.com/Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 02 May 2022 | How to put a city in a building. | 00:43:26 | |
Adam Stover is a Senior Principal at Kansas City’s Populous and has led the design for some of the most significant sports stadium renovations and new builds of the last decade: These include Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium, Gillette Stadium, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever….. which is exactly where we met Adam for this interview, smack dab on center court.— And as you might have expected, we brought the crew and filmed it – you see the center court action for yourself here. Today, we’ll go deep on designing for the human experience and Adam shares his advice on how we as individuals and teams can grow in our pursuit of excellence. Watch the conversation with Doug Shapiro and Adam Stover, center court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Connect with host, Doug Shapiro, below: On Instagram: @Douglas_Shapiro On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doshapiro/ Email Imagine a Place: imagineaplace@ofs.com Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 19 Apr 2021 | Design is a love story: Our 1-year anniversary episode with Angie Lee of FXCollaborative. | 00:38:12 | |
For our 1-year anniversary episode, we welcome back Angie Lee, Partner and Design Director at FXCollaborative. Angie was our first ever guest on the Imagine a Place podcast, and together we look back on the last 365 days. Angie’s curiosity about what makes us feel and think the way we do, and her courage to explore these ideas out loud, make this a very special episode that we are proud to share.
Thank you to all our guests and subscribers for joining us on this journey, we are truly appreciative of this amazing Imagine a Place community and the stories we share together. We have many more amazing guests planned and incredible perspectives to share, so stay tuned!
For more Imagine a Place, please visit:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place
Angie Lee: the evolution of identity:
https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/angie-lee-evolution-identity
Learn more about Angie Lee and FXCollaborative:
http://www.fxcollaborative.com/people/196/angie+lee/Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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| 12 Dec 2022 | WorkSpaces LIVE: Part 2 - What value is the workplace? | 00:42:19 | |
Part 2 of our "LIVE at WorkSpaces" series goes DEEP on the purpose, value, and goals of the workplace. Doug and his lineup of incredible guests discuss how our new ways of working are revealing new questions about the fundamental needs humans seek through work and space. Questions like: Are we trying too hard to fit an old model of collaboration into new ways of working? Are we thinking about empathy in the right way? And at the heart of it all...what value does the workplace truly provide? On today's episode, you'll hear from: Tracy Hawkins, Former VP of Real Estate & Work Transformation at Twitter. Brett Hautop, Founding Partner at Workshape. Rex Miller, Host of The Resilience Lab Podcast and Thought Leader at Go mindSHIFT. Sara Andersen, Head of Real Estate and Workplace Effectiveness at Genentech. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Learn more about WorkSpaces Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 05 Dec 2023 | Code and Concrete, Tech's Impact on Commercial Real Estate | Todd Edstrom | 00:40:40 | |
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 data be used to inform better decision-making? While data sets such as survey's and utilization/badge data are necessary, Todd argues that productivity data is most important right now to understand exactly how spaces are being used. There's even new technology emerging that uses sensors to capture data and give researchers insight into how a spaces are actually used. Looking into the future, Todd is encouraged by technologies like virtual construction site scans to automatically track progress and tools that use AI to instantly generate 3D space plans from PDFs. It's important to note that these technologies shouldn't replace human relationships and expertise in CRE deals, but should compliment them. Follow Todd Edstrom on LinkedIn. Follow Doug on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 05 Apr 2020 | Welcome to the Imagine a Place podcast | 00:01:44 | |
Visit Imagine a Place online for more original stories and videos. Imagine a Place articles: Imagine a Place on YouTube: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 20 Dec 2023 | Take a Seat, It Will Change Your Life | Doug Shapiro | 00:09:07 | |
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 possibilities open up tremendously. We also get some holiday and family appreciation from Doug. He is human after all and he couldn't do what he does without the support of those closest to him. Thank you all for a wonderful year! We have big things planned for 2024! Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 17 Oct 2022 | Special Episode: Healthcare roundtable hosted by Sara Marberry | 00:36:17 | |
Over the Summer, we gathered together a talented group of healthcare designers to meet with one of the healthcare industry's great writers and design explorers, Sara Marberry. In this discussion, Sara and the group explore the critical importance healthcare design plays for the patient and caregiver, as well as healthcare’s role in responding to the climate crisis. Roundtable guests:
Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn Connect with Maria on LinkedIn. Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn. | |||
| 06 Dec 2020 | David Galullo (Rapt Studio): The truth about great workplace culture. | 00:33:00 | |
David Galullo, CEO of Rapt Studio, shares the secrets and debunks the myths around great workplace culture. Rapt Studio has recently designed for Dropbox, Google, Ancestry, and Vans. As a multidisciplinary design firm, they describe themselves as a group of believers with big hearts, good instincts, and uncommon curiosity. David certainly lives up to that mantra.
Today, he shares his thoughts on getting workplace culture right and what he’s learned through designing for some of America’s most recognizable brands.
For more, visit Imagine a Place online: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/
Learn more about Rapt Studio: https://raptstudio.com/Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your
World.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
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