What if great healthcare design isn't just about beautiful spaces but about helping people heal, caregivers thrive, and every second count? In this episode, Nicole Ward, Senior Associate and Interior Designer at NBBJ, shares how purpose has shaped her career in healthcare design. Nicole offers an inside look at the complexity, and humanity, behind designing spaces where lives are changed every day. It's a thoughtful conversation about innovation, empathy, and why the best design solutions begin with asking better questions.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Amanda Schneider joins Imagine a Place for a candid conversation about the future of work, generational leadership, and what it takes to build workplaces where people can thrive. Beyond the researcher, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author, Maria uncovers the authentic Amanda, discussing motherhood, burnout, finding joy, and the "elephant circle" of women who helped her rediscover balance. Together, they explore Gen Z, personal branding, authenticity, and leading across generations with empathy, curiosity, and purpose. It's an inspiring conversation for anyone navigating leadership, generational differences, career growth, or the changing world of work.

Check out Imagine a Place on Instagram and LinkedIn for a giveaway of Amanda's new book, Work for What's Next: Why Workplace Culture is Failing and How the Next Generation Can Fix It.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Discover how neuroinclusive design is reshaping the way we think about workplaces, justice facilities, and human-centered environments. In this episode, Olivia Danielson-Veed, independent contractor for ThinkLab and former Associate and Senior Project Interior Designer at HOK, shares practical insights on designing for neurodiversity through choice, control, and variety, while exploring how thoughtful design can improve well-being, support rehabilitation, and create spaces where more people can thrive. She also discusses mentoring the next generation of designers, navigating an increasingly complex world, and why empathy remains one of the most powerful tools in the design profession. It's a compelling conversation about inclusion, human experience, and why great design begins with understanding people.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Dealer designers play a vital role in shaping the workplace experience, yet many navigate their careers without a strong professional network or a clear roadmap for growth. In this engaging conversation, Maria VanDeman sits down with Alexandra Tseffos, founder of The Design POP, to discuss the evolving role of dealer designers and the power of building community within the industry. Together, they explore career development, leadership, mentorship, professional visibility, and the importance of understanding what truly brings fulfillment and value to your work. From creating meaningful connections with peers to finding opportunities for growth within your organization, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement for designers who want to build a more purposeful, connected, and rewarding career.

Explore Pop into Excellence

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

What happens when two design leaders sit down after one of the industry's biggest events and tell the truth about how they're really feeling?

In this candid episode, Maria VanDeman, Director of Design Strategy, and Christina Jameson, Director of Workplace, reflect on Design Days and NeoCon, discussing burnout, working motherhood, authenticity, workplace design, career passion, and the future of human connection in an AI driven world. They explore why designers are uniquely susceptible to burnout, how authentic spaces create stronger workplace experiences, and why meaningful conversations matter more than ever.

If you attended Design Days and NeoCon in Chicago, or if you're a designer, workplace strategist, leader, parent, or creative professional trying to balance purpose and pressure, this episode will resonate deeply.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

What happens when art, wellness, and design come together? In this special Design Days Chicago episode, Maria VanDeman sits down with artist Liz Flores and Alkemis co-founder Price Latimer to explore the partnerships shaping the OFS showroom experience. Liz shares the stories woven into her vibrant artwork, from the symbolism of an acorn growing into a tree to her celebration of imagination, community, and the female perspective. Price reflects on Alkemis' journey to create the world's first wellness paint and why the materials surrounding us matter as much as the spaces themselves. 

Join us for an inspiring look at the creative vision behind the OFS Design Days experience and the collaborators making it possible. Together, they invite listeners into a showroom designed not just to be seen, but to be felt.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Recorded live from ICFF 2026, Wesley Edmonds sits down with Sabrina Lippman, CEO of Habitat for Humanity NYC & Westchester, for a powerful conversation about housing, dignity, and the life-changing impact of homeownership.

From transforming underutilized spaces across New York City into thriving communities, to helping working families build generational stability, Sabrina shares how Habitat for Humanity is redefining what affordable housing can look like in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

Together, they explore the emotional impact of having a place to call home, the connection between design and dignity, and why creating stability gives people the freedom to dream bigger.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Recorded live at ICFF in New York City, Wesley Edmonds sits down with Tana Hovland of Rockwell Group to talk about what design really means today.

Tana shares how her work has shifted from skyscrapers to experience-driven spaces and why hospitality is about more than just how things look. From healthcare clinics that feel like home to designing spaces that engage all five senses, this conversation explores how thoughtful design can shape how people feel, move, and connect.

It’s a candid, insightful look at creating spaces people actually want to be in.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

In this episode of Imagine a Place, Maria VanDeman and Wesley Edmonds reflect on a powerful start to the year, highlighting authentic conversations with women in design, ICFF, the growing importance of human connection in the workplace, and insights from the Power of Choice research. As Design Days in Chicago approaches, they share what to expect from OFS’s “Imagine a Place” showroom experience: an inspiring, human-centered environment designed to spark creativity, conversation, and new ideas. Join OFS in Chicago to experience it for yourself and see how design can bring people and possibilities together.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

In this inspiring episode, interior designer Natasha Brewer, Senior Interior Designer and Associate Principal of Perkins Eastman shares her perspective on leadership, creativity, and the evolving role of connection in the design industry.

The conversation explores the importance of mentorship, representation, and creating space for diverse voices, while highlighting how authenticity and vulnerability can strengthen both teams and outcomes. Natasha offers a thoughtful reflection on what it means to lead with intention, step outside of your comfort zone, and support the next generation of designers.

Her insights reinforce that design is ultimately about people and the experiences we create for them. A meaningful listen for designers and creative professionals who are passionate about growth, community, and making a lasting impact through their work.

Connect with Natasha on LinkedIn.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck.

Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.