Imagine a Place

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 m...

Every year, OFS sponsors two student roundtables through the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The roundtables consists of a panel of professionals sharing insights that can help students and new professionals grow their career in design. Everything from putting together the right portfolio, to picking the right firm, to nailing the interview. The target audience for this episode i...

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 th...

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...

There is a new variable to consider for your workplace planning equation. Melissa Hanley will share why "time" needs to find its way into our planning metrics. She’s the co-founder of Blitz, an architecture and Interiors firm, and the author of several popular articles on workplace design. Her language around designing more meaningful places for work is a fresh and honest take. As we hope you’ve c...

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...

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 emp...

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 y...

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 fr...

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 ea...

Nate Thompson and Alex Schwartz are the cofounders of the Disrupted Workforce .  As thought leaders and co-hosts of their own podcast (also called The Disrupted Workforce ), they bring an almost piercing level of clarity to the very muddy world of work that we exist in today. We’ll talk about leadership, priorities, the 4 day work week, and the human spirit.   Their advice at the end gives you the...

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 prof...

On today's episode, Doug reflects on what we've learned in 2022 and takes a look ahead into what's in store for the Imagine a Place podcast in the new year. As you'll hear from Doug, there's a lot to be excited about in 2023 - great guests, new show announcements, book launches, live events, and more!  2022 was full of amazing milestones and moments, but we have SO MUCH more in store in 2023.  And...

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...

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 em...

In October, the Imagine a Place team had the great fortune of podcasting LIVE from WorkSpaces , 2022 - a three-day event that brings together workplace innovators and thought leaders from all over the world.  This amazing event was packed with incredible people, speakers, and thinkers - all with BIG ideas about the future of work, which you'll get to hear over the course of three special episodes!...

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...

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 wh...

Ginger Curtis is an award-winning interior designer, author, Instagram Influencer, and serial entrepreneur, but most of all she's an incredible person. After surviving cancer, she began Urbanology Designs in 2015 to inspire and help others elevate their homes' beauty, comfort, and function. So, in our interview with Ginger, we’ll talk design, but there’s a long list of takeaways that will fuel you...

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:  Sara Marber...

This summer, the Imagine a Place team huddled to ask the question:  Who would be the perfect guest to explore creativity?   So, naturally, the conclusion was: Let’s talk to a Creative Director at a REALLY creative company. This led us straight to James Gregson at Lego . James’ work as the Creative Director for LEGO’s internal creative agency has landed him on AD Week’s Creative 100 List and over t...

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...

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 exp...

Well, here we are...episode 100! And we're thrilled - not just because of the milestone, but because of what we get to share with you today. In this episode, we’ll be introducing you to the people, the strategy, and the work that goes into making these episodes. We also take you back to some of our favorite moments from the podcast - and if you stick around until the end, you'll hear Doug's "aha m...

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 showroo...