Wanting to combat burnout after stints at several high-profile firms, Barbados-born, Toronto-raised Ian Rolston set out on his own to found Decanthropy.  Rather than bringing just another design studio to market, Rolston was fueled by his desire to remake design for the better.  The "innovation studio", as he calls it embeds equity and inclusivity at every layer from people to processes to projects. As Rolston says,  "We have to understand how other people see the world and through their lenses. And we can only do that be collaborating with people that are different and have different experiences. It's okay as a designer to not have all the answers." 

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Entrepreneur K.J. Hughes has proven himself time and again, first  cutting his teeth as a nightlife promoter before founding a sports and entertainment agency. His latest venture? Manifest, the Snarkitecture-designed, Washington, D.C.-based hybrid concept that spans a barbershop, speakeasy, coffee bar, and retail shop. No matter Hughes' pursuits, there's one constant—his persistence to bringing his dreams to life, despite any challenges that arise.

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In this 100th episode clip show of Hospitality Design's What I've Learned podcast, editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen reflects on 100 fascinating guests, incredible stories, and thought-provoking lessons learned with past guests including Raul Leal, SH Hotels & Resorts; Brad Wilson, Ace Hotel Group; Venus Williams, V Starr; Ian Schrager, ISC; chef Daniel Boulud, Kia Weatherspoon, Determined by Design, Paula Scher, Pentagram, and more.

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In November, Marcus Samuelsson became the first chef to guest edit Hospitality Design magazine, and to celebrate, we're re-releasing his episode from August 2020.  During the conversation, the prolific chef, restaurateur, and author discussed his career as well as the subject on everyone’s minds at the time—COVID and its impact on the industry.  Since then, Samuelsson has opened Hav and Mar, a fusion of his Ethiopian and Scandinavian roots. The barrier-breaking restaurant is featured in the issue, along with conversations with artists Derrick Adams and Shantell Martin, fashion plates Dapper Dan and Lana Turner, and champions of  Black food, Rasheeda Purdie and KJ Kearney. To read it, visit Hospitality Design.com

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Michael Suomi's multifaceted career in architecture and interior design has included stints with Jordan Mozer and Associates in Chicago to Stonehill Taylor in New York, where he worked for 15 years before going out on his own with the New York-based Suomi Design Works. His namesake firm's budding portfolio includes the Pelham Hotel in New Orleans and the forthcoming Radical hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, which promises to push boundaries. As Suomi oft-repeats, "If you can dream it, it's possible."

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Born into a family of painters, musicians, and designers for Hallmark, and growing up in the art-centric city of Kansas City, Missouri, creativity was an encompassing part of Kellie Sirna's childhood. After pinpointing her passion for interiors and spending a decade at Duncan Miller, Sirna set out on her own. Her multifaceted firm, Studio 11 Design, which has offices in Austin, Dallas, and New York works with some of the biggest names in the hospitality including IHG, Kimpton, and Omni. Rather than limiting herself to one area, Sirna has grown her firm from solely interiors to branding, and art development and procurement.

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Amar Lalvani says, “You have to be bold at the right time.” Lalvani exemplifies his own advice with a career that has seen him working with some of the biggest names in hospitality. After studying business, Lalvani cut his teeth at Starwood Capital Group and Blackstone before landing at the Standard. Working alongside the brand's founder, André Balazs, Lalvani helmed its worldwide expansion—creating playful properties paired with creative F&B concepts as seen at the newly opened the Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, which was designed by the in-house team and Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon. Now, as the executive chairman of Standard International and its sister company, Bunkhouse Group, the proven tastemaker has a slew of audacious new projects lined up, including the forthcoming Hotel Genevieve in Louisville, Kentucky.

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Intertwined by their love for design (and each other), Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk and Peter Joehnk are the minds behind the Hamburg, Germany-based JOI Design. Together, they and their family-like team have designed more than 500 hotel projects around the world including Moxy Hamburg City in Germany and Il Salotto Wines & Resort in Italy.

This episode is brought to you by Craft and Main. For more information, go to craftandmain.com.

Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria to a family of entrepreneurs, Victor Body Lawson seemed destined to build something of his own. After moving to the states, he discovered his passion for architecture while studying at Montgomery College, Catholic University, and Columbia University and went on to found his firm Body Lawson Associates. A certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Body Lawson strives to help close inequity gaps in hiring practices and through projects designed to empower communities.

This episode is brought to you by Craft and Main. For more information, go to craftandmain.com.

Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Tristan du Plessis’ rise through the ranks of the design world has been meteoric, going from self-taught designer to partner at a firm to founding his namesake studio—all in less than 10 years. The South Africa native’s portfolio, which includes Rome’s Chapter Roma hotel and Gorgeous George in Cape Town, spans the globe.

This episode is brought to you by Craft and Main. For more information, go to craftandmain.com.

Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.