I Hear Design: the i+s podcast

In this ICYMI article-read episode of I Hear Design, we explore Radford University’s Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, an interdisciplinary, student-centered hub that brings the health sciences and the arts under one roof based on a recent article published by interiors+sources. Designed by Hord Coplan Macht in collaboration with William Rawn Associates, the 178,000-square-foot...

When clients say they need a project to be “budget-conscious,” what do they actually mean—and how can design teams respond without sacrificing creativity? In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen sits down with Sophie Bidek, Studio Director of Vocon , a Chicago-based design leader whose work spans multifamily, mixed-use, workplace, boutique hospitality, and placemaking. Sophie shares...

With hybrid work raising expectations for the office, which is now judged against the comfort and convenience of home, organizations are increasingly prioritizing better amenities and services for their workplaces. In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article-read episode of I Hear Design, based on the article, " Designing Workplace Amenities: Create Experiences That Attract and Retain Talent ,"...

Emerging designers are stepping into a profession that looks nothing like what many were trained for—hybrid work has changed studio culture, and AI is accelerating everything from ideation to expectations. In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen sits down with Elisabeth Mejia, IIDA NY Chapter President and Office Design Leader, Interiors at HKS , and Paridhi Chawla, VP of Student De...

In this episode of Product Talk, host Lauren Brant explores what product engagement data reveals about the way designers are thinking, clicking, and ultimately specifying for the year ahead. Drawing on real behavior from the interiors+sources audience, the conversation uncovers the categories and qualities that held attention longest—and what those patterns suggest about evolving priorities in com...

As both a science and an art, acoustics can make or break the way a space functions. In this ICYMI article-read episode based on " The Art and Science of Acoustics ," by Armstrong's Kenneth Wood, published on the interiors+sources website on Oct. 16, 2025, we break down the fundamentals of how sound behaves in interiors, why ceilings and plenums matter more than many teams realize, and how designe...

In this episode of I Hear Design, Gensler’s co-CEO’s Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink sit down with host Robert Nieminen to explore the firm’s 2026 Design Forecast and what it means for the future of the built environment. They discuss how the “6 in ’26” meta trends emerged from research across 33 practice areas and 57 offices, and why design agility and creativity are now strategic imperative...

In this ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) article-read episode of I Hear Design, we explore “microbiome architecture,” a next-step evolution of biophilic design that intentionally integrates plants and their microbiomes into commercial and institutional interiors. Based on the article by Rose Morrison published on the interiors+sources website, you’ll hear how plant systems can be designed to support...

What does it really look like when a design firm leads with values, not simply as a slogan, but as an operating system? In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen talks with Perkins&Will Principal and CEO, Phil Harrison, and Lindsey Peckinpaugh, Principal and President, about their impact report, “ Stewardship in Action: A Values-Driven Approach to Design .” Together, they explore...

What do interiors+sources readers value most right now, and what does that reveal about where commercial interiors are heading next? In this year-end Editors’ Cut episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen is joined by interiors+sources Editor-in-Chief Carrie Meadows and Editor Lauren Brant for a behind-the-scenes look at the People’s Choice Projects of 2025 , including what stood out across t...

Welcome to the debut of Product Talk, a new monthly series on the I Hear Design podcast hosted by Lauren Brant. In this first annual roundup episode, Lauren shares the top five most-viewed Product Picks of 2025, chosen by your clicks on the interiors+sources website , and unpacks why these products rose to the top of the year’s analytics. You’ll hear what made each pick stand out for real-world sp...

Industrial designer and Luxxbox founder Jason Bird joins I Hear Design to unpack the design side of acoustic lighting—how soft materials, fixture geometry, surface area, and above-table placement can absorb chatter, clarify zones, and elevate “quiet luxury” in lobbies, lounges, F&B and guest rooms. He stresses designers as the true gatekeepers of the soundscape, and how acoustic lighting is a...

In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article-read episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen opens with a brief update on the White House’s proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom project, including preservation groups’ calls for a rigorous review process, a December 12, 2025 lawsuit seeking to halt the work, and reporting that a new lead architect has taken over the project in spite of calls fr...

How are interior designers actually using AI—and what are they afraid of? In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen sits down with Guy Adam Ailion, co-founder and CEO of Mattoboard , to unpack the company’s new State of AI & Interior Design report. Based on a global survey of designers and architects, the findings reveal a striking paradox: AI adoption is widespread and many desig...

In this In Case You Missed It episode of I Hear Design from interiors+sources, we revisit the article “ Transforming Built Environments Through Trauma-Informed Design ,” written by Carrie Meadows and originally published on August 12, 2025, on the interiors+sources website. Drawing on guidance from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the work of the Trauma-In...

How often do you think about the air your projects are asking people to breathe? In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen unpacks why indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a frontline design issue—from post-pandemic health concerns and wildfire smoke to rising expectations for healthier workplaces. Unpacking insights from articles published in interiors+sources and BUILDINGS , along wi...

In this In Case You Missed It episode of I Hear Design, we revisit Jennifer Kenson’s feature, “ Beyond Aesthetics: Biophilic Design & Neuroscience in Healthcare Spaces ,” originally published on i+s. You’ll hear how biophilic design in healthcare goes far beyond adding plants or wood tones—it taps into neuroscience and concepts like the “collective unconscious” and prospect-refuge theory to re...

The hospitality market is recalibrating, and design teams are adapting accordingly. In this episode, Jill Cole, President of Cole Martinez Curtis and Associates (CMCA), returns to the I Hear Design podcast to unpack what’s changed since her last guest appearance in 2023: financing slowdowns and the rise of limited-service/extended-stay, why experiential design still wins, and how the hotel lobby i...

On this article-read episode, we spotlight the University of Arkansas’s new Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R)—a 144,000-sq-ft hub designed by HGA (with Hufft) to accelerate convergent research and regional economic development. Published on August 27, 2025, on the interiors+sources website, the piece explores how a mass-timber pavilion, biophilic strategies, and a flexible...

In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen talks with Brandon Larcom, Global Director of Product Development at Gensler , about the strategy behind today’s most effective workplace products. Larcom unpacks how research, user personas, and storytelling guide the design process—and why “hackability,” flexibility, and hybrid work are redefining what products must do. The discussion covers...

In this ICYMI article-read, i+s Editor-in-Chief Carrie Meadows unpacks the renewed federal design directive from her article, “ Architectural Community Responds to Trump's Executive Order on Federal Design ,” originally published on Sept. 3, 2025, and why it’s drawing pushback across the A&D community. You’ll hear a concise overview of the order’s call for classical styles, a quick history les...

The workplace is evolving faster than ever—and the office must evolve with it. In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen sits down with Allan W. Smith, President of the Americas and Chief Product Officer at Steelcase , to explore how decades of its workplace research are shaping the future of work. Smith shares insights into designing offices that balance privacy with collaboration, s...

This is an ICYMI article-read episode of I Hear Design, adapted from our i+s feature “ Designing for Every Mind: 5 Ways to Build Neuroinclusive Workplaces .” You’ll hear five practical, research-informed strategies for neuroinclusive workplace design—covering choice and zoning, sensory load management, predictable wayfinding, user control/personalization, and biophilic design—along with expert per...

Waste in the interior design industry is more than an inconvenience—it’s a systemic challenge that affects every stage of a project, from material sampling to tenant turnover. In this episode, host Robert Nieminen examines the root causes of waste and shares insights from industry experts, including highlights from Swatchbox’s groundbreaking Second Life Samples program. Listeners will also learn a...

In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article-read, we explore how thoughtfully curated artwork can do far more than simply “decorate” a space. It can help anchor brand identity, support wayfinding, and even deepen a sense of place and belonging for occupants. Adapted from the article, " Art in Interiors: Why Integrate Local Culture Into Commercial Spaces? " written by Rose Morrison and published...