Thrive In Design

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into design and architecture marks a transformative leap into a future where innovation meets efficiency. AI's impact is profound, streamlining the design process by analyzing vast datasets, predicting trends, and generating design possibilities in a short amount of time. The evolution of AI and its effective integration into the design processes with clien...

Welcome to Season 5 of Thrive in Design! As we celebrate this milestone, we delve into some of the hot topics covered in Season 4. AI and sustainability were our main focus in 2023 within the interior design sphere, and their significance will only grow in 2024. Interior designers often express concerns about AI replacing their creativity and altering various roles in the industry. However, from o...

Nicole started Thrive In Design to help interior product companies take a deep dive into their customer’s journey and reimagine an experience that doesn't solely depend on in-person interactions. For the last 10 years, she has helped interior product companies, including Koroseal, Lamin-Art, and USAI Lighting, collectively gain millions of dollars in sales.   Nicole started as an Architectural Sal...

Biophilic design brings numerous benefits to both individuals and the environment. Connection with nature can profoundly impact our overall well-being. By incorporating living walls into interior spaces, we can seamlessly bring the beauty and vitality of the natural world indoors. These living walls not only serve as aesthetically pleasing design elements but also contribute to air purification, s...

Interior designers are vital in shaping how we experience and interact with the built environment. By embracing technology and sustainability, they can create innovative spaces that look aesthetically pleasing and prioritize environmental consciousness. Join this conversation with Robert Ancill and learn more.   Robert Ancill shares how his passion for positively impacting people's lives through t...

As an A&D (Architecture and Design) sales representative, your role involves understanding the design process from a unique perspective. You must understand the nuances of aesthetics, functionality, and client preferences each day. Leveraging AI can significantly enhance your days’ outcomes by empowering you to be more productive and appear in the market with a more profound impact. AI tools l...

In today's digital age, using AI is a game-changer for designers. AI tools like Chat GPT and Google’s BARD can help you develop amazing design ideas. These tools combine human imagination with AI's smarts to create groundbreaking inspiration. Whether new to design or a pro, AI lets you push the boundaries of creativity. Join this conversation with JinJa Birkenbeuel and learn how to unlock your ima...

The Metaverse world is not as daunting as it may seem and doesn't have to be an eccentric utopia. Rather, it can be an architectural realm where we put our designs and use them in diverse ways. As designers, knowing the meaning and the difference between Metaverse, Digital Twin, AI, and AGI is essential in understanding how we can leverage them to light our creative designs and enhance outcomes wi...

AI has found its way into interior design, revolutionizing the way designers visualize and present their ideas. Despite the fears, it’s becoming clear through experiences that AI is not a threat, but rather a tool that can augment your skills and creativity in many areas of the interior design industry. Integrating AI in interior design and design sales can increase productivity, improve accuracy,...

Do you want to take a leap and develop your product as an interior designer or scale your existing one? Where should you start, and what do you need to do differently from your competitors? Wendy Noory joins us in this conversation to share her story in interior product development and sales, how she started her company, and the trajectory she has taken.   In addition to the several processes requ...

In part one of Revamping Your Customer Experience with A.C.E The Journey, we talked about two different scenarios of real-life interior product companies. We walked through a little bit of their customer journey, some things they were struggling with, and how those struggles can tie into the A.C.E The Journey, our proprietary method at Thrive In Design.   In this second and last part, we will go o...

It’s no secret that at Thrive In Design, we believe that the key to increasing brand awareness and revenue for your interior product company is tied to your customer experience. That’s why we rely heavily on A.C.E. The Journey, our proprietary method, which allows us to do a deep dive into understanding how a designer learns about your products, how they specify them, and, finally, how the materia...

Nicole started Thrive In Design to help interior product companies take a deep dive into their customer’s journey and reimagine an experience that doesn't solely depend on in-person interactions. For the last 10 years, she has helped interior product companies, including Koroseal, Lamin-Art, and USAI Lighting, collectively gain millions of dollars in sales.   Nicole started as an Architectural Sal...

We are ending Black History Month with a special conversation as Nicole Lashae Ben, CEO of Thrive In Design, and Tamara Archer, a returning guest, share their experiences navigating the interior design industry as black women. Since 2020, there has been a rise in conversation and increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The interior design industry has only scratched the surface on the...

If you haven’t listened to the last few episodes, we’ve been talking about all things social selling and how you can leverage it as an interior product company. We also discussed specific social selling campaigns that led to a few successes. Today’s episode is about digital experiences and the touch points to focus on to keep designers engaged on their journey with your brand. We discuss everythin...

As we discussed in the last episode, social selling is an invaluable tool for A&D sales reps looking to increase their reach and engagement on social media. By leveraging the power of various social platforms, such as Instagram and LinkedIn, you can create a coordinated campaign to deepen relationships with designers, land more specifications, and, ultimately, increase your sales.  But, how can an...

Social selling is becoming an essential tool for sales and marketing professionals in the product industry. By understanding the fundamentals of social selling, sales professionals have access to a powerful resource that can help them reach potential customers on multiple platforms and nurture long-term customer loyalty.   Social selling is using a brand’s social media channel(s) to connect with p...

Understanding the design needs from a multifamily perspective is an important part of the design and construction process. It can help you determine the best way to position branding for certain demographics, identify the performance criteria for different building types and develop strategies for meeting future market demands. Join this conversation with Genna Weiner, a Director of Interior Desig...

As we all know, times have changed since the Covid pandemic made itself known to the world. Since then, we have shifted into what we now call the “new normal,” which begets a change in the design and sales process.   It is okay to embrace that and figure out how we can continue on in our business and continue making an impact on the built environment. Previously, we talked about building a loyal c...

There are so many great ways to approach business development and sales as an interior product company. No matter the strategy, the foundation of it all should always be building a loyal client base. In this episode, Nicole shares three types of specifiers; once you understand that, you can create a strategy that converts them to your loyal clients.   The first category is your product advocates:...

Every interior product company wants to thrive and make more impact in the world. But, what does it mean to thrive? According to the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, “thrive” has three definitions. These are; to grow vigorously (flourish), to gain in wealth or possessions (prosper), and to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances. Together, we will break down this definit...

There has been one common theme this season: relationship building and its tie into sales planning for architecture and design representatives. In this episode, Nicole Lashae Ben, CEO of Thrive In Design, dives deeper into this topic. Nicole spent a decade as a brand representative for interior product companies. During her career, she developed and implemented human-centered sales strategies that...

In this episode, Nicole Lashae Ben, CEO of Thrive In Design, and Pamela Durkin, Founder of Pamela Durkin Designs, discuss the business side of interior design. Design is powerful and Pamela wants designers to step into that power. After 30 years in the high-end design business, she is now helping other designers create a business they love through her In Demand Designer Program. She teaches them h...

In this episode, Nicole Lashae Ben, CEO of Thrive In Design, and Sasha Denisov, Senior Sales Representative at Lutron, continue a conversation that they started in season one of this podcast. In the initial conversation (see episode nine of season one), Nicole and Sasha discussed: - Sales strategies for A&D representatives - The best way to take a consultative approach - 3 resources level up y...

In this episode, Nicole Lashae Ben, CEO of Thrive In Design, and Bob Habian, Co-founder and CEO of Tect App, Inc., chat about how relationships play a significant role in the design process. Architects and interior designers have complex design processes, which require specifying hundreds of materials. Those materials have technical information and nuances that, typically, only the product manufac...