The Design Board

Join us as we uncover the inspiring story of childhood friends Sarah Terzic and Tiffany Rafii, who founded UpSpring in their dorm room with a promise to innovate. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, design enthusiast, or industry professional, this episode offers valuable lessons and inspiration from UpSpring's journey in the world of design and development. The Design Board, by UpS...

In this episode, Nicole Lashae Ben, Design Strategist and C.E.O. of Thrive In Design, shares her incredible journey from working with renowned interior product brands to establishing herself as a prominent figure in the industry. Discover the secret sauce behind her success as Nicole unveils A.C.E. The Journey, her proprietary method designed to transform interior product companies. Learn how this...

Design enthusiasts won't want to miss this episode! This discussion takes a deep dive into the unique partnership between Sunda and Studio K, uncovering the inspirations and challenges that have shaped their journey. Discover how the design elements have set each Sunda location apart from the rest and how the team conceptualizes their "muse" for each space, drawing influence from lo...

Join us for an enlightening episode of The Design Board as we embark on a journey into the captivating world of sustainable luxury design with the visionary Laurence Carr. In this episode, we explore Laurence's incredible odyssey, from building her own design firm from scratch to the launch of Studio Laurence, a luxury, sustainable home goods brand that defies convention. The Design Board, by...

 In this episode, host Tiffany Rafii is  joined by David Tracz and David Shove-Brown, the visionary founders of //3877, a distinguished multi-disciplinary firm based in Washington, D.C. Join us as we take a journey back to the fall of 2010 when David and David embarked on the pursuit of their decade-long dream - forming a professional architecture and design partnership. The Design Board, by UpSpr...

Join us for a captivating discussion as we dive into the world of design with Edith Ponciano, founder of EP Atelier. In this episode, Edith shares her journey from her time as a Design Director at Gensler to founding EP Atelier, a hospitality lifestyle interior design firm dedicated to creating spaces that embody clients' values from concept to completion. The Design Board, by UpSpring , is a...

When Juniper’s Owner and Founder, Shant Madjarian, left his banking career to pursue entrepreneurship, he knew he wanted to build a team of motivated professionals who would create something with purpose and pioneer change. Two years later, he decided to enter an antiquated market and develop two lighting products. Join us in this enlightening episode as we dive into Shant's inspiring journey...

Discover the inspiring journey behind Skram Furniture, a company renowned for its singular marriage of austerity, warmth, and timelessness in their designs. Jacob shares insights into his design process, highlighting the importance of honing craftsmanship, developing a unique design voice, and embracing sustainability. The Design Board, by UpSpring , is a proud member of SANDOW Design Group's...

In this week’s episode, host Tiffany Rafii explores the journey of Dianne Murata, CEO of Kimiko Designs, and the creation of Kimiko Green. Discover the inspiration behind Kimiko Green and how Dianne's 20-year design expertise led to the development of the inaugural Kimiko Green playbook. This practical guide equips businesses with evidence-based tools, resources, and guidelines to responsibly...

Host Tiffany Rafii sits down with Hector Sanchez, CEO of Premier, to discuss leadership tips and tactics for fostering a positive company culture and collaborative environment for architects and interior designers.  The Design Board, by UpSpring , is a proud member of SANDOW Design Group's SURROUND Podcast Network , home to the architecture and design industry’s premier shows.

Host Susan Fernandez sits down with Bobby Bonett, EVP of Digital and strategic growth at SANDOW DESIGN GROUP and co-host of the podcast Barriers to Entry at NeoCon, to chat about the creation of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Bobby will share the lessons learned along the way and the invaluable insights they gained throughout their remarkable journey to create a podcast network for the architecture...

In this episode, host Tiffany Rafii sits down with Anne Kulinski , Director of Marketing at Kirei , Michael DiTullo , an independent designer and creative director for Kirei , and Gordon Boggis , CEO of Carnegie Fabrics , to honor Kirei’s founder, John Stein, and his impact on the acoustics industry. Guests share stories and examples of how John's leadership style helped shape the culture at...

Join us on an inspiring journey as we delve into the founding story of Artaic, an innovative company that seamlessly blends art and technology to redefine the world of mosaic art. In this podcast, host Susan Fernandez sits down with Ted Acworth, Founder & CEO of Artaic,  to explore the vision behind Artaic and the motivations that drove its inception. The Design Board, by UpSpring , is a proud...

In this episode, host Susan Fernandez sits down with the founders of Daniel House Club, a transformative design trade marketplace that simplifies the business of interior design. Alexander and Peter share their inspiration behind Daniel House Club and how they saw an opportunity to create a new kind of e-commerce platform to streamline project planning, product sourcing, and logistic processes. Th...

It’s no secret architecture and design firms play a critical role in creating and shaping the built environment. So what does the future hold? With the rapid pace of technological innovation and the growing concern for sustainable practices, the future of architecture and design is shaping up to be very different from what we know today. In this episode, host Caroline Saba explores how our industr...

In this episode, Jay Valgora , Founder and Principal at STUDIO V  Architecture, and Majora Carter , CEO of Majora Carter Group,  an urban revitalization, strategy, and real estate group firm, explore the importance of community reinvestment and the power of design to transform neglected spaces into vibrant, thriving places. Our case study is Bronxlandia, a community-led initiative in the South Bro...

 Good design has the power to shape our built environment and enhance the quality of our lives. In this episode, host Tiffany Rafii sits down with Michael DiTullo , an independent designer and creative director for Kirei , and Nick Gillissie , Principal - modus ID , to chat about the importance of functionality, aesthetics, sustainability, and everything in between when it comes to product design....

Join Caroline Saba and Amanda Schneider , founder and president of  ThinkLab , as they dig deep into how design thinking and consumer market research can be used to uncover solutions for various challenges we’re facing in the industry. The Design Board, by UpSpring , is a proud member of SANDOW Design Group's SURROUND Podcast Network , home to the architecture and design industry’s premier sh...

Championing sustainability in the architecture and design industry and beyond can help to create a more sustainable future. This episode unpacks the importance of fostering a culture that drives sustainability goals and highlights how we can all become advocates for sustainability. Host Caroline Saba chats with Pablo La Roche , Principal & Sustainable Design Director, CRTKL , Steven South, LEE...

The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the demand for commercial real estate as more people work remotely, reducing the need for office space. At the same time, there is a growing demand for housing, especially in urban areas. Host Caroline Saba sits down with Dan Sullivan, Vice President of Kova, Nick Boever, Writer and Editor at Emerald, and Rick Whitney, Vice President of FitzGerald, to discuss the...

Specifying sustainable products in the built environment is an important step in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. In this episode, host Susan Fernandez is joined by Phanos Hadjikyriakou , Co-Founder and CEO of 2050 Materials , and Ana Rita Martins , Sustainability Senior Associate at Woodalls Design , for a lively discussion on third-party certifications, resources available for designe...

B Corp certification is a third-party certification program offered by B Lab, a non-profit organization. B Corps are for-profit companies that meet rigorous social and environmental standards. Pursuing B Corp certification can be important for several reasons. In this episode, host Tiffany Rafii explores the process behind pursuing B Corp certification with Dave Shove-Brown , co-founder and partne...

Thinking about networking but trying to figure out where to start? Wondering about the value professional organizations have within the architecture and design industry? In this episode, host Caroline Saba chats with Natalie Darham , marketing manager at Urban Atelier Group (UAG) , about the benefits of getting involved with industry organizations and strategies for maximizing the knowledge, resou...

Are Continuing Education Unit (CEU) presentations a relevant sales tool? Listen and learn as host Tiffany Rafii chats with Meredith Campell , research and content development from ThinkLab , and Susan Fernandez , vice president of digital marketing at UpSpring , to explore the value of  CEU presentations and how to leverage them as a sales tool to maximize exposure.  The Design Board, by UpSpring...

 Architects and designers specify billions of dollars in products and materials annually. Bringing a product to market in a way that gets into a designer's consideration set is a complex journey. Tom Buck , owner of the Buck Agency , James Cull , design director at Rottet Studio , and Teddi Guilfoy , senior associate at M Moser , discuss the ecosystem of sales and distribution channels betwee...