Recorded live at NeoCon 2025, this special episode of DNA brings together three voices from across generations for a dynamic conversation on what’s shaping the future of the built environment. From AI and creativity to sustainability and generational shifts, this panel unpacks the challenges — and opportunities — designers must navigate now to stay ready for what’s next.

The panelists:

Cindy Kaufman | Vice President of Marketing, Mannington Commercial

Kaelynn Reid | Certified Design Futurist, Kimball International

Ethan Barbour | Intermediate Designer, IA Interior Architects

This episode was recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND, sponsored by Material Bank, and in partnership with HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BASELINE, a new podcast from ThinkLab, brings the product side of the interiors industry together to crowdsource real-time insight, delivered through easy-to-digest reports and a straight-talking podcast. Take a listen to this sample episode and if you enjoy, please go follow wherever you get podcasts.

Baseline is available on all major podcast platforms like Apple, Spotify, and SURROUND

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode of Design Nerds Anonymous, host Amanda Schneider goes live at the Worktech Chicago 2025 event. The episode features interviews with event organizers, speakers, and attendees who share insights on the future of work, focusing on workplace design, technology enablement, employee experience, and more.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think you know how to win in 2025? Think again.

In this season finale of Design Nerds Anonymous, we break down six bold, data-driven strategies that will define success in the coming year. From frictionless websites to AI-powered sales, immersive showrooms to redefined workspaces, our expert guests share insights that go beyond the buzzwords and into real-world applications that will help you stay ahead.

This season has been all about the phygital revolution—where digital and physical experiences don’t compete but complement each other. Companies that master this balance will attract customers, build lasting relationships, and drive real growth.

After listening, you will be able to:

• Optimize your website to create a frictionless, intuitive, and engaging customer experience.
• Rethink workplace strategy to support hybrid collaboration and digital equity.
• Elevate events by blending in-person experiences with digital tools that enhance—not replace—human connection.
• Transform your showroom into a destination experience that goes beyond product displays.
• Strengthen rep-client relationships by shifting from sales-focused interactions to mentorship and problem-solving.
• Leverage AI strategically to work smarter—not harder—and reclaim valuable time for high-impact tasks.

Links Mentioned:

• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more insights
• Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to keep up with industry trends
• Watch Amanda’s TEDx talk on the future of work: “Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it” on TED.com

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART, and NeoCon – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The sales landscape is shifting, and AI is at the forefront of this transformation. The best sellers today aren’t just choosing between in-person or digital—they’re mastering both. In this episode, we explore how AI can help sales professionals scale their time, automate routine tasks, and focus on what really moves the needle: building relationships and growing their business. Whether you’re a seasoned sales leader or just starting to explore AI, this episode offers actionable strategies to help you stay ahead..

After listening, you will be able to:

• Understand how AI is reshaping B2B sales and what it means for your role
• Learn how to automate and scale sales outreach without losing the human touch
• Identify AI tools that can help you streamline research, follow-ups, and client engagement
• Recognize the impact of AI-powered insights in improving sales strategies
• Prepare for the evolving expectations of buyers and decision-makers in 2025

 Links Mentioned:

• Listen to the AI For Sales Podcast
• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more insights
• Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to keep up with industry trends
• Watch Amanda’s TEDx talk on the future of work: “Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it” on TED.com

Connect with our guest on LinkedIn:

• Chad Burmeister

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART, and NeoCon – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The rep-designer relationship has changed. Hour-long lunch presentations and spontaneous drop-ins are becoming rare, and digital demands are reshaping how reps connect with designers. Today, reps must redefine their roles to remain indispensable, while designers who engage with the right reps can gain a competitive advantage. In this episode, we discuss what’s behind this shift, the biggest challenges reps and designers face, and the strategies that are working in today’s evolving industry landscape.

After listening, you will be able to:

• Recognize how rep-designer relationships are shifting and why it matters
• Learn new strategies for building deeper, more impactful connections with reps
• Understand how reps are evolving from product pushers to trusted advisors
• Gain insights into how Gen Z designers perceive industry relationships
• Discover digital tools and engagement tactics that are strengthening rep and designer partnerships

Links Mentioned:

• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more insights
• Learn about ThinkLab’s Gen Z Cohort, a next-gen advisory group
• Watch Amanda’s TEDx talk on the future of work: “Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it” on TED.com

Connect with our guests on LinkedIn:

• Ashley Delano
• April Ibarra
• Julia Friedman

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART, and NeoCon – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think about the last showroom you walked into. Was it visually stunning? Now ask yourself:

• Did it stick with you?
• Did it make you want to explore and engage?
• Was it truly remarkable?

Many showrooms are caught in a tension between aesthetics and function—following a formula that’s been used for decades. But in 2025, playing it safe is the fastest way to be forgotten.

In this episode, retail futurist Doug Stephens and experiential retail pioneer Rachel Shechtman help us reimagine the future of B2B showrooms by blending immersive storytelling, digital integration, and human connection.

After listening, you will be able to: 

• Create immersive showroom experiences that engage visitors both digitally and physically.
• Use storytelling to enhance your showroom design, turning it into a dynamic brand experience.
• Integrate technology into showrooms in a way that amplifies, rather than replaces, human connection.
• Transform your showroom into a space that sparks curiosity and emotional engagement, setting your brand apart from the competition.

Links Mentioned:

• ThinkLab’s Secret Shopper Program: Showrooms are expensive. Secret shoppers are priceless. Get unbiased A&D feedback that will inform future showroom and trade show strategies.
• Doug Stephens' Books: The Retail Revival, Reengineering Retail, Resurrecting Retail
• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more insights
• Watch Amanda’s TEDx talk on the future of work: “Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it” on TED.com

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART, and NeoCon – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The return to in-person events is not a return to business as usual. As trade shows, conferences, and live events thrive, some brands are redefining the event experience, while others risk making events feel outdated.

In this episode, Marco Giberti—a leading expert in live event innovation—returns to Design Nerds Anonymous to revisit his 2021 predictions and share insights on what’s next for events, sponsorships, and engagement strategies.

After listening, you will be able to:

• Rethink events beyond logistics—focusing on why people gather, not just how
• Leverage AI & data to measure event ROI and engagement
• Use hybrid and virtual experiences strategically (hint: they’re not dead)
• Integrate events into a year-long marketing strategy, instead of isolated activations
• Create meaningful event experiences that resonate with changing audience expectations

Links mentioned:

• Watch Amanda’s TEDx talk on the future of work: “Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it” on TED.com.
• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more insights.
• Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to stay updated on industry trends.

Connect with our guest on LinkedIn:

• Marco Giberti

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART, and NeoCon – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The future of work isn’t just about where we work or what tools we use—it’s about why people choose to show up at all. In this thought-provoking episode, Amanda Schneider is joined by workplace strategy expert Phil Kirshner and Microsoft’s Matthew Marzynski to explore corporate collaboration in the phygital era—where physical, digital, and emotional elements intersect.

This conversation goes beyond hybrid work models and office design—it challenges assumptions about what drives human connection, the role of AI in shaping our workplaces, and why designing for experience, not just efficiency, is the real game-changer.

After listening, you will be able to:

• Rethink workplace collaboration beyond hybrid models and into fluid, responsive environments.
• Understand the role of emotions in workplace design—how social capital, trust, and human connection drive engagement.
• Learn how AI and emerging tech will redefine meeting experiences, reducing friction and increasing accessibility.
• Shift from reactive workplace policies to intentional workplace design—where offices serve a clear purpose beyond just a space to work.
• See how leading companies are balancing self-service and human interaction to create more equitable, inclusive digital workplaces.

Links Mentioned:

• Watch Amanda’s TEDx talk “Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it” on TED.com.
• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more workplace insights.
• Explore ThinkLab’s Gen Z research

Connect with our guest on LinkedIn:

• Phil Kirschner
• Matthew Marzynski

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART, and NeoCon – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s digital-first world, your website isn’t just a tool—it’s your first impression. If potential clients struggle to navigate your site, find outdated information, or encounter friction at every turn, they’ll leave.

In this episode, Amanda Schneider is joined by two experts, Tyler Suomala and Erica Waayenberg, to break down exactly what companies get wrong when it comes to their digital presence—and how to fix it. From architecture firms to product manufacturers, businesses across the built environment must rethink their websites to inspire, inform, and convert visitors into loyal clients.

After listening, you will be able to:

• Rethink your website’s role—it’s not just a portfolio or digital brochure; it should be a frictionless experience that builds trust and drives action.
• Understand the #1 mistake companies make— not having a clear call to action for their target audience.
• Learn why simplicity wins—reducing friction, improving navigation, and making the next step clear increases engagement and conversions.
• Balance self-service with human connection—clients want the ability to explore autonomously, but they also need fast access to real people when they’re ready to move forward.
• Optimize your website for action—avoid outdated content, overly gated resources, and vague calls-to-action (CTAs) that confuse visitors instead of guiding them.

Links Mentioned:

• Download ThinkLab’s 2025 U.S. Design Industry Benchmark Report: ThinkLab Reports
• Watch Amanda Schneider's TEDx Talk

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com.

This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART, and NeoCon – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.