The Design Pop
The Design Pop is a podcast hosted by Alexandra Tseffos, focused on the world of dealer designers in the furniture and design industry. Each episode explores how this community's role is evolving, emphasizing their growing influence on project success. Tseffos shares her experience as a designer, trainer, and consultant to help dealer designers gain recognition, improve their craft, and advance their careers. The show aims to build a supportive community of professionals who want to learn and grow. It is produced by Imagine a Place Productions.
Episodes
Pop In: Why Great Designers Keep Learning
Summer has been moving at full speed. In this episode, Alexandra reflects on Chicago Design Week, a record-breaking year for POP into Excellence, and the conversations that stayed with her after the event ended. With more than 2,300 seats filled across 11 sessions, this year’s event was a powerful reminder that growth does not have a finish line—and that many of the challenges designers face are s
POP into Excellence is back and it's FREE
POP into Excellence is back June 15-26, 2026 and it's FREE!
Dealer designers are being asked to navigate more complexity than ever before.
Today’s projects move faster, involve more stakeholders, rely on more technology, and require stronger collaboration across every phase of the process. Designers are expected to think strategically, communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and balance creativity wit
From Busywork to Better Work | Kieran Luke of Cerulean
What happens when a former consultant, startup operator, and self-described “anxious overachiever” discovers the contract furniture industry for the first time? In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Kieran Luke, founder of Cerulean, to discuss how AI is being thoughtfully applied within dealer workflows and why the goal isn’t replacing people, but helping them reclaim their time.
Kieran accide
POP In: Five Years In and Still Asking Questions
After celebrating five years of TheDesignPOP.com (with a full cake, not just a cupcake), this month's POP In reflects on milestones, AI, environmental concerns, design workflows, and the surprisingly human conversations happening behind the scenes in our industry.
Alexandra gives us a first look at Pop Into Excellence 2026, new training, and some thoughts on innovation with regards to sustainabili
POP In: What 800 Designers Taught Me
This first “POP In” episode is a quick check-in—no guest, no script, just a few thoughts worth sharing.
This episode is less about answers and more about observations. After hosting two recent Design POP webinars with designers—Alexandra reflects on personality tendencies, designer struggles, and workflows.
Think of this as a quick pulse check on the industry and an open invitation to keep the con
Configura’s New CEO | A Conversation with Steven Jenkins
Before Steven Jenkins officially steps into the role of CEO at Configura, Alexandra is taking time to introduce him to The Design POP community. She reconnects with Steven who she worked with years ago during her time as a Configura trainer. He was known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to truly hear what users needed.
In this conversation, Steven shares how he first joined Confi
Strategist by Day, Artist by Night | Designer Duality with Rebekah Jacobi of Pivot Interiors
What happens when a commercial interior designer falls in love with Excel spreadsheets and watercolor painting?
In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Rebekah Jacobi, Design Director at Pivot Interiors in San Francisco, to explore what it means to be a whole creative human in the commercial interiors industry. From leading high-level workplace design strategy and tracking performance metrics to
A Career Shaped by Strengths, Not Job Titles | Chad Bewley of Freeform
Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy.In this episode, Chad and Alexandra sit down at CETx 2025. Chad shares how he found success without a traditional design degree and why relationships matter more than resumes. He also reflects on how long-term commitment can unlock trust and influence that simply can’t be
The Joy of Saying "Done"
As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small.Thank you for listening, for sharing your time, and for supporting The Design POP this y
The Renegade Mindset with Amy Jo Martin, Live at Configura's Experience 2025
In this episode, Alexandra returns from Experience 2025 with a renewed voice—literally and figuratively. After a whirlwind of hockey coaching, travel, and the inevitable fall-break cold, she reflects on what kids learning to skate can teach adults about bravery, mindset, and the power of getting back up quickly.Alexandra sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host Amy Jo M
Live at Configura's Experience with Aaron Okkema and Rob Detrick
We are coming to you live from Day 1 of Experience—formerly known as CET Experience—where nearly 500 designers, manufacturers, and sponsors are fueling the excitement and innovation shaping the design industry. This year marks a major shift not just in the name, but in what the event represents. Configura’s vision has expanded beyond CET, and Experience now captures the full scope of their technol
The Confidence Report: How Designers Rate Themselves
In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos breaks down the results of her latest dealer designer survey, which drew responses from nearly 175 professionals across the industry. The survey explores the confidence levels of designers in core responsibilities such as technical specification, ancillary selection, pricing, meeting participation, live design, and advanced visualization.Not only did Alexandra sh
What happens when you bet on yourself? | Christine Crawford of Alfred Williams & Company
In this inspiring episode, Alexandra sits down with Christine Crawford, Design Manager at Alfred Williams & Company in Nashville and MillerKnoll’s Designer of the Year. Christine shares her journey from an eager design student who did whatever it took to land an internship, to becoming the leader of a design team and the force behind a $15 million project. Her story highlights the power of curiosi
POP into Excellence: Building a Design Career You Love with Brittney Herrera
In this episode, designer, author, and Thunder Egg founder Brittney Herrera shares her personal journey through the design industry—from internships and dealership work to leading her own firm. Along the way, she opens up about navigating firm politics, discovering her strengths, and learning how to turn every experience into a stepping stone for growth. Brittney's book Inside the Design Industry
How Designers Can Lead From Within with Jennifer Evans of Hyphn
In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership.She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebran
The Office Furniture Girl: Building Credibility in Furniture, One Post at a Time
On this episode of The Design POP Podcast, host Alexandra Tseffos sits down with Erica Jaffe—Creative Director & Ancillary Specialist at Benhar Office Interiors, and affectionately known as the "Office Furniture Girl" on Instagram, to explore how dealer designers can sharpen their approach and enhance their impact on client interactions.From her early days in interior design, retail furniture sale
Building a Career on Curiosity with Stephanie Wolfson of HAT Collective
Stephanie Wolfson, Design Manager at HAT Collective, didn’t set out to become a designer—she followed her curiosity, and it led her somewhere unexpected. With a background in theater and marketing, she found her way into the world of commercial interiors and discovered a love for the “3D puzzles” of furniture design.In this episode, Stephanie shares how curiosity helped her carve out new roles, ta
Bridging the Gap with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith of HKS
In this episode, we sit down with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith—two former dealer designers who made the jump to the A&D world and now work at HKS. They open up about what that transition was really like, from unexpected stress relief to letting go of manufacturer sales goals and adapting to new tech.We dive into the sometimes tricky dynamic between dealerships and A&D firms, and what it takes to col
Hard Truths and Real Talk with Wesley Edmonds of OFS
In this candid conversation, Alexandra chats with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, about the challenges and opportunities for women in design. They tackle the evolving role of dealer designers, the gender gap in leadership, and how sponsorship can fuel career growth.With personal stories, industry insights, and plenty of laughter, they explore the disconnect between A&D and dealer des
Thriving in an AI Era: Why Remarkability Wins with Shawn Kanungo
Join Alexandra Tseffos as she chats with innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo about how AI is shaking up the commercial interiors industry. After crossing paths at CET Experience, where Shawn delivered a keynote that got everyone thinking, they dive into what it really means to be "remarkable" in an AI-powered world. From lessons in cross-industry innovation to the future of furniture specification
LIVE at CET Experience with Rob Kirkbride of officeinsight magazine
On this episode, I sit down with Rob Kirkbride (Editor in Chief of officeinsight magazine), a true legend in commercial furniture journalism. Rob’s seen it all—from covering “just office furniture” in the early days to witnessing the incredible changes shaping our industry today. Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience in October, we dive into some seriously interesting stuff, like how AI is shaking
Milestones and Progress, Starting 2025 with Purpose
The Design Pop starts the new year with a reflective and forward-looking episode. Alexandra takes you on a journey through the milestones of the past year while sharing her vision for the year ahead. Discover how experiences from 2024 are shaping bold new initiatives, inspiring personal growth, and fostering deeper connections in the design community. Tune in to be inspired, refocus your goals, an
Rebuilding After the Storm: A Story of Resilience with Trisha Harp
In this candid conversation, Trisha Harp from Young Office shares her incredible story of resilience in the wake of Hurricane damage to their Asheville location. She walks through the devastating impact of the hurricane, how her team rallied together, and the unexpected silver linings of rebuilding their showroom from scratch. From navigating disaster recovery to sharing insights about her career
The Art of the Proposal with Erick Gama of BOS
Join us as we chat with Erick Gama, a strategic RFP specialist at BOS in Chicago, about his unique journey in the design world. From his college days studying interior design to becoming an integral part of a specialized response team, Erick shares how he carved out his career path. He opens up about the challenges of working on RFPs, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his advice for emer
LIVE at CET Experience with Lance Amato of CANOA
In this episode of The Design Pop, host Alexandra chats with Lance Amato, Head of Customer Experience at CANOA, live from CET Experience. Together, they explore how design technology is changing the commercial furniture industry, especially for dealer designers. Lance opens up on his journey from architecture and design to tech, admitting he once underestimated the complexity of dealer designers'
LIVE at CET Experience with Aaron Okkema and Erin Corrill of Configura
I'm at CET Experience this week, meeting with designers and hugging friends, new and old - this is one happy place! This morning, Configura hit the stage with some exciting updates, and though you might’ve missed it, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! In this episode, I sit down with two very special guests: Aaron Okkema (Global Head of Interiors at Configura) and Erin Corrill (Global Head of U
AI in Design: Friend, Foe, or Just a Fancy Tool?
Are you using AI without even realizing it? In this episode, Alexandra takes a fun dive into how AI is shaking up the design world. She’s joined by Kari Anderson, founder of Techbox Collective, Scott Loomis from Steelcase, and Felipe Teixeira of Encodec to chat about how AI is being used in real design projects. They break down the perks, the pitfalls, and what we need to watch out for as AI becom
Look for Friendly Faces
Join Alexandra as she takes you on a journey to the CET Experience, Configura's annual user conference. From her emotional first attendance in 2009 to her current role as a media sponsor, Alexandra shares personal anecdotes and insights into this unique industry event.Featuring interviews with Configura CEO Stefan Persson and award-winning designer Allessandra Sollazzo, this episode explores what
Jet Lagged and Inspired: From NeoCon + Design Days, to Greece, and Beyond
In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos takes a moment to reflect and reconnect after a whirlwind month. She shares stories from a recent journey to Greece, exploring her heritage and creating memorable family experiences. From historic landmarks to unique family dynamics, Alexandra's travel tales reveal deeper connections to her life's purpose.She also dives into her experiences at NeoCon and Design D
Less Noise, More Flow: What drives rep-designer collaboration?
What truly drives collaboration between sales reps and designers? Today, we cut through the noise to explore how technology and simplified processes can foster better partnerships.Join us as we hear from industry experts Lindsey Shepherd, owner of Full Circle, and Tom Caterino, principal at Contract Sources in Boston, as they share how they use technology and unique approaches to communication to
The Power of YOU: Designing Your Personal Brand for Growth with Aaron Estabrook, OFS
In today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Estabrook, Director of Digital Marketing and Media Strategy at OFS, who shares compelling insights on building a personal brand that resonates and stands out in a crowded market. Together, they explore the impact of personal branding on career advancement, the psychological barriers professionals face, and practical strategies for overcoming them. Aaron o
Crossing Over: From Designer to Dealmaker with Alison Kulisek
Are you thinking of "crossing over?" On this episode, we welcome Alison Kulisek, a designer-turned-salesperson who has experienced multiple "crossover" events in her design industry career. Alison is currently an Account Executive at MDC Interior Solutions and today she'll share her path from dealer designer to sales, discussing the stresses and challenges of both roles.This episode offers a deep
Flipping the Traditional Dealer Script with Laura Boone
On today's episode, Laura Boone, co-founder and principal of turnerboone, shares the unique business model and company culture that drives their success. During our chat, Laura discusses prioritizing highly skilled account managers (who have design backgrounds) over traditional commission-based sales, emphasizing hiring for culture fit and developing leaders internally. Laura also highlights embra
Pivoting with Purpose
Despite starting his design career in his 30s, Paul Riches has become a distinguished leader at MillerKnoll. Captured during a conversation between long-time industry friends at the CET Experience, Paul traces his winding path to design. From deciding against law school to touring with a heavy metal band, his journey demonstrates how saying "yes" can unlock unforeseen opportunities.Now a celebrate
Part 2 of Exploring Design Incentives
In the second installment of our series, we delve deeper into the actual practices of dealer design incentives.Join us as we speak with Brent Matthews, President of Price Modern, who explains the rationale behind introducing designer incentives in their organization.We'll also engage with two design leaders who take distinctly different approaches to incentives. Joining us are Julia Machado, a fam
Skin in the Game: Part 1 of Exploring Design Incentives
As projects get more complex, dealer designers juggle more responsibilities - and as more responsibilities grow, so too does dealer designer compensation, right? RIGHT?! Well, apparently, not always…In this first episode of our two-part series, we dive into the complexities of dealer designer compensation and incentives. Join us with consultant Shelley Rosetta from Solomon Coyle, who helps shed li
Embracing the Unknowns: My First Year Podcasting
Can you believe it's been a whole year of podcasting already? Crazy! As a new podcaster, 2023 has been a fun and surprising journey. For instance, my kiddos now call this podcast, "mama’s show" and my hairstylist mentioned she “digs the sound of my voice.” It’s a little startling to know so many folks are listening, both inside and outside our industry. Even though I’m still adjusting to this new
Squeaky Wheels Get Promoted: Taking Initiative in Your Design Career
Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience, Alexandra sits down with Julia Machado, Director of Design at Price Modern. Together, they explore Julia's transformative journey from a production designer to a leader in management. Their discussion delves into the evolution of her leadership skills, the criticality of maintaining work-life balance, and the art of empowering teams while fostering specializ
LIVE from CET Experience with Stefan Persson, CEO at Configura
CET Experience is Configura's annual user community conference. This year, CETx was in Scottsdale, Arizona and The Design Pop Podcast was lucky enough to get to speak to, interview, and mingle with the attendees of this incredible event. In fact, we were excited to get some time with a very special guest, Stefan Persson, Chief Executive Officer at Configura (maker of CET Commercial Interiors softw
Making the Leap: Pivoting from Physical to Digital Design
While at AIA’s Women's Leadership Summit, there were references to the fact that women were leaving the profession between graduating and becoming licensed. When I asked where they were going, a common response was: Interior Design and UX.Kari Anderson has spent 3 decades in the industry, mostly at dealerships, and has always been fascinated by technology. I met her as an early adopter of CET in
The Ancillary Dilemma: Who Calls the Shots?
In today's episode, we're going deep into a surprisingly hot topic in the world of the dealer designer. Should the reins of ancillary decisions be in the hands of designers, salespeople, a specialist, A&D, manufacturer’s rep… all of them? To help break down this debate, we welcome two very special guests, Jodi Sorenson (Director of Furniture Design at AGILE INTERIORS) and Abby Leopold (Principal a
Crafting Expectations: A Designer Parent's Guide | Ellen Gerovac, BSI
In today's episode, Alexandra interviews Ellen Gerovac, VP of Design at BSI-Milwaukee and Mother of 4 children. Together, they discuss their experiences becoming parents while building design careers, including overcoming early misconceptions about motherhood in the industry. Ellen shares advice on setting boundaries between work and home life, being creative about managing workload, and involving
Dealer Designers Can Dent the Universe | Josh Collins, Atmosphere Commercial Interiors
Today, we chat with Josh Collins, Design Director at Atmosphere Commercial Interiors. In this episode, we discover how Josh's experience working in A&D and data analysis led him to prioritize design and embrace the challenges of the dealership industry, realizing the immense potential for dealer designers to make a lasting impact on the world of work environments.We also explore the transformative
The Dealer Stress Index | Rob Langejans, AlwaysStrategic
In Part 2 of our designer stress series, I team up with esteemed communication coach and AlwaysStrategic founder, Rob Langejans, as we explore the findings from our Dealer Designer Stress Assessment. With his extensive expertise in Architecture, Engineering & Construction, and Contract Furniture, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation.Tune in as we go further on the topic of managing
Under Pressure: Navigating Stress as a Dealer Designer
Let's talk stress. In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into the complex stress landscape that dealer designers confront daily. From relentless requests for deliverables, quick deadlines, exhaustive email chains, and unending creative demands - we examine how these tasks can grind you down. This balancing act between projects and people strains not just the mind and body, but also begins to c
Get to the Table | Jill Stewart, Office Revolution
On this episode of The Design Pop, I sit down with the brilliant Jill Stewart, VP of Business Strategy at Office Revolution. Together, we dive into Jill's journey, starting as a dealer designer to leading a diverse team of designers and workplace professionals today. Jill breaks down what she's learned on this journey and how embracing change just might be the most important skill we can learn in
The Best Place to Start
Welcome to the very first episode of The Design Pop! So...where should I start?In this inaugural episode, I take a moment to reflect on my design career and share the valuable lessons I've learned along the way. As I delve into the topic of success, I ponder which skills have truly contributed to my achievements. For instance, could it be that figure skating, a passion nurtured by my Mom, has play
Introducing The Design Pop with Alexandra Tseffos!
I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop! I'm here to help you build a design career that you love by learning and understanding perspectives from within our industry. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here.Through my journey as a designer and trainer in the design community, dis
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