Born and raised in Chicago IL, Kara Mann was steeped in an environment of creativity, elegance, and resourcefulness. An entrepreneur at heart, Kara would sell CDs to fund projects and lie about her age to work restaurant shifts. Now she runs her own studio and has racked up clients like Virgil Abloh, Goop and several luxury hotels. She’s just launched a collection with CB2 and a line of home essentials called Kept. The wall street journal aptly calls her a “spark plug in the world of design.”
Images, links and more from Kara Mann!
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Clever is hosted by Amy Devers and produced by 2VDE Media, with editing by Rich Stroffolino, and music from El Ten Eleven.
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Ep. 131: Interior Designer Kara Mann

Clever is a window into the humanity behind the design of the world around us. In each episode, designer Amy Devers has candid and revealing conversations with the visionaries, culture-makers, and creative forces who shape our world and inform our society. Through raw candor and honest shop-talk, Clever peels back the layers to unearth the gritty, authentic and sometimes surprising details of their creative paths. 
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Co-founders of House of Rolison, Amanda Leigh and Taylor Hahn, grew up on opposite coasts but were both self-described angsty teens. Both had a deep love for art and architecture, choosing different professional paths before they met online and their fates intertwined. Their first date turned into a road trip and then quarantine-based cohabitation. Since starting House of Rolison, they’ve renovated a number of forgotten old homes into warm, elegant, modern beauties. Their complementary strengths and deep reverence for their crafts and trades crew, ensures that each new project has room for magic and a whole lot of soul.
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Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 211: The Soulful Renovations of House of Rolison

Frequently referred to as the godmother of Italian design, Marva Griffin Wilshire, grew up in a large family in Venezuela, reading House & Garden and rearranging the furniture. Drawn to Italy in the 1970’s, she landed a job as a secretary for Piero Busnelli, founder of B&B; Italia, which opened up her entire world. She was introduced to architects and designers, getting a first-hand look at the inner workings of Italian design. Since then, she’s committed herself to giving young designers a chance to showcase their creativity – most notably by founding the wildly successful SaloneSatellite which welcomes emerging designers worldwide. 
Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript (with links!) of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! 
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For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources
Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.
Gild Insurance is revolutionizing the small business landscape and putting the power back in creative entrepreneurs’ hands with Credited and Healthcare for Creatives.
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If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 210: Marva Griffin Wilshire on 25 years of Salone Satellite and Showcasing Creativity

Polymath Holly Howard has lived many lives. A former professional ballet dancer, bassoonist, medical researcher and board-certified music therapist, she’s pulled from science, art, and design to create a one-of-a-kind path for herself. Now, she runs the successful culture-first business consultancy, Ask Holly How, to help creative entrepreneurs grow personally and professionally, and better understand that business and creativity are more powerful when wielded together. 
Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! 
Subscribe to our free substack for updates, bonus content, and new episode alerts.
For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources
Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.
Gild Insurance is revolutionizing the small business landscape and putting the power back in creative entrepreneurs’ hands with Credited and Healthcare for Creatives.
Please say Hi on social! X, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers
If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 209: Holly Howard on Business Growth for Creative Entrepreneurs

Lionel Ohayon was born in Canada to a family spanning Morocco, Israel, and Spain. This multi-cultural upbringing armed him with the ability to synthesize different inputs and understand complex topics from an early age, and an innate appreciation of hospitality. He founded ICRAVE as a design-build startup in 2002, and several ground-breaking projects later, is now leading the charge in reinventing hospitality experiences like the immersive and otherworldly Las Vegas Sphere, and the anxiety-reducing David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 
Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! 
Subscribe to our free substack for updates, bonus content, and new episode alerts.
For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources
Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.
If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Please say Hi on social! X, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 208: ICRAVE’s Lionel Ohayon on Designing the Las Vegas Sphere and Other Brave Ideas

Illustrator, graphic designer, speaker and picture book-maker Andy J. Pizza grew up in the Indiana suburbs, the child of two diametrically opposite parents - dad in corporate finance and mom an artist. Often feeling out of place, he learned to cope by drawing and smoking cigarettes, before finding indie music, and from there gig posters and graphic design. Now, he’s a wildly successful illustrator and beloved podcaster who remains exceptionally honest, open, and real about the inner workings of being a neurodivergent creative.  
For a transcript and images from Andy head to cleverpodcast.com.
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If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 131: Interior Designer Kara Mann

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