Welcome to The "Designers Show" by Chief Experts, where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center!

In this episode, we’re diving into key topics that matter most to designers, builders, and Chief Architect users.

We’ll cover:
→ Chief Experts Summit 2025 – What to expect and why you should attend
→ Imposter Syndrome – How to overcome self-doubt in the design industry
→ Rising construction costs & labor shortages – Strategies for managing challenges
→ Chief Architect tips & tricks – Learn to think in CAD and optimize your workflow
→ The power of networking – Why connecting with other professionals is so valuable

Whether you're a designer, builder, remodeler, or contractor, this episode is packed with insights to help you grow, improve, and succeed!

0:00 – Introduction & Welcome
2:15 – The Chief Experts Summit: What to Expect
8:40 – Imposter Syndrome: Why Designers & Builders Struggle
15:30 – Construction Costs & Subcontractor Issues
23:10 – Chief Architect Tips & Learning CAD the Right Way
30:45 – Networking & Community – Why It’s So Valuable
40:20 – Upcoming Events & How to Get Involved
45:00 – Final Thoughts & Call to Action

📍 Chief Architect Summit
📍 Chief Architect PRO ACADEMY – Join the waitlist
📍 Chief Architect Free IBS Tickets – Claim Yours Here

What challenges are YOU facing in design or construction? Drop a comment below!
Like, Subscribe & Share!

*********************************************

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

About the Co-Hosts:

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

Welcome to The "Designers Show" by Chief Experts, where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center!

In this episode of The Designers Show, the team dives deep into Chief Architect plan reviews, troubleshooting, and workflow optimizations. If you've ever struggled with transferring old plans, terrain issues, or rendering settings, this episode is packed with expert insights to help you streamline your process.

We also discuss the upcoming Chief Architect Summit, why it’s a must-attend event for designers and architects, and how you can level up your business, design skills, and network. Plus, we explore AI-enhanced rendering, layer visibility issues, and how to align layout views for a professional presentation.

🔹 How to transfer old plans into new Chief Architect versions without errors
🔹 Fixing common layer and display issues in Chief Architect
🔹 Terrain modeling tips & how to rebuild terrain after copying plans
🔹 Best practices for rendering in Chief Architect & post-processing with AI
🔹 Using “Paste Hold Position” to maintain accuracy in plan transfers
🔹 Aligning layout views properly for clean and professional presentations
🔹 The importance of keeping project files centered at (0,0)
🔹 Pro Academy updates – upcoming training & keyboard shortcuts for efficiency

[0:00] - Introduction & welcome to The Designers Show #144
[1:52] - Plan review & live Q&A session begins
[3:00] - Chief Architect Summit details & why you should attend
[6:25] - Transferring old plans to newer Chief Architect versions
[10:26] - Best practices for copying & pasting plans while maintaining accuracy
[17:55] - Fixing missing layers & visibility issues in Chief Architect
[20:08] - Terrain challenges & rebuilding terrain after plan transfer
[28:42] - Optimizing Chief Architect renderings for better performance
[36:53] - Aligning layout views for a professional presentation
[48:28] - Robin’s framing plan issue & troubleshooting layer visibility
[54:12] - Chief Architect Pro Academy updates – training, shortcuts & live Q&A
[56:39] - Community questions & best practices for backing up Chief Architect data
[65:00] - Closing remarks & Robin’s KBIS award nomination

📍 Chief Architect Summit
📍 Alternative to Photoshop (Photopea)
📍 Chief Architect Pro Academy – Coming Soon
📍 Renee’s Rendering Tutorials on Youtube

*********************************************

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

About the Co-Hosts:

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

Welcome to The "Designers Show" by Chief Experts, where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center!

Unlock the full potential of Chief Architect in this episode of the Designer Show! Discover the 5 essential techniques that will elevate your design workflow and save you time. From mastering the Edit Area tool to advanced area calculations with CAD boxes, this episode is packed with actionable tips and expert insights. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer, you’ll learn how to work smarter, not harder.

What You’ll Learn:

Highlights from the Episode:

Welcome to The "Designers Show" by Chief Experts, where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center!

In the first episode of the Designers Show for 2025, Chief Experts Dan Baumann, John Schrader and Robin Rigby Fisher welcomes marketing expert Joleen Emery from Big Raven Media to discuss actionable strategies for designers, contractors, and remodelers. Learn how to build stronger client relationships, simplify your marketing efforts, and use AI tools like ChatGPT to save time and grow your business. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you thrive in the new year.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[0:00] – Introduction and New Year Reflections
[5:20] – Importance of Planning for 2025
[8:30] – Guest Joleen Discusses Marketing Trends
[12:45] – Using AI for Content Creation and Time Management
[20:10] – Questions to Drive Marketing Success
[30:45] – Building Online Presence Effectively
[40:20] – Engaging Your Target Market on Social Media
[50:00] – Q&A and Final Thoughts

*********************************************

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

About the Co-Hosts:

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

Welcome to the "Designers Show" by Chief Experts — where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center!

In this episode, the Chief Experts team—Dan, Renee, Robin, and John—explore advanced features in Chief Architect software to help designers and architects take their projects to the next level. The hosts dive into default sets, saved plan views, and advanced scheduling techniques while sharing time-saving strategies for labeling finishes in elevations. They also highlight performance optimization tips for large projects and the power of automation through Ruby scripting. Packed with actionable insights and resources, this episode is a must-listen for Chief Architect users looking to streamline their workflow and boost efficiency.

What You’ll Learn:

📌 Chapters
00:00:00 - Introduction and Greetings
00:02:30 - Transition from Annotation to Default Sets
00:07:15 - Saved Plan Views Overview
00:12:00 - Editing and Saving Defaults
00:20:00 - Layer Management Best Practices
00:25:00 - Window and Callout Schedules
00:33:00 - Advanced Sorting Techniques
00:38:16 - Sorting Cabinet Schedules
00:40:00 - Custom Fields in Schedules
00:42:00 - Challenges with Elevation Labels
00:45:30 - Advanced Labeling Techniques
00:50:00 - Ruby Scripting for Labels
00:54:00 - AI Code Search Tool
00:58:00 - Performance Optimization Tips
01:02:00 - Closing Remarks and Promotions

📌 Resources Mentioned & Upcoming Events
→ 2025 Chief Experts Summit: 👉 Register now
→ Renee Rabbit Holiday Special: Discounts on templates and design tools (limited time)
→ Next Designers Show Episode RSVP here

*********************************************

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

About the Co-Hosts:

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

🎉 Happy Holidays from Chief Experts!  In this episode of The Designer Show, our hosts dive deep into the intricacies of creating efficient schedules that can boost productivity for kitchen and bath designers.

Learn from Chief Experts, Kevin, John, Robin and Renee as they share tips on integrating materials and specifications directly into your plans, making your specs easier and more systematic. The discussion covers billing rates, creating custom schedules, and even organizing CAD details. Plus, don't miss out on the interesting conversation about managing rates and increasing efficiency. Tune in to get valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your design workflow.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

📌 Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Holiday Greetings
00:08 Understanding Schedules and Their Importance
00:38 Efficiently Writing Specifications
01:36 The Importance of Proper Billing
03:40 Saving and Organizing Information
04:22 Creating Custom Fields and Formatting
09:49 Generating and Managing Custom Countertops
14:42 Creating Custom Schedules for Art and Furniture
16:28 Managing Multiple Schedules Efficiently
18:47 Advanced Copy-Paste Techniques
19:00 Understanding the S Key Functionality
20:07 Managing Layout Box Labels
20:39 Organizing Schedules in CAD Details
22:46 Finding and Using Zero-Zero in Drawings
26:26 Creating and Using Custom Schedules
30:52 Adding Live Links to Schedules
33:16 Summit and KBiz Announcements
36:44 Final Tips and Farewell

📌 Upcoming Events:

*********************************************

Rate & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us bring more valuable content to you!

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

About the Co-Hosts:

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

https://www.chiefexperts.com/

🚀Welcome to The Designers Show by Chief Experts, where design is more than just art—it’s your profit center!🚀

In this episode of the Designers Show, we’re joined by guest Tom Hotton to explore how JobTread is revolutionizing project management for small to mid-sized construction businesses. From its affordability and user-friendly interface to innovative features like interactive proposals and AI-powered automation, we’ll uncover how this tool can save you time, improve client communication, and boost your ROI.

*********************************************

Rate & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us bring more valuable content to you!

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

About the Co-Hosts:

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

https://www.chiefexperts.com/

🚀Welcome to The Designers Show by Chief Experts, where design is more than just art—it’s your profit center!🚀

In this episode of The Designer Show, host Dan, John, Kevin and Rene explore the transformative role of AI in the architectural and design sectors. From drafting project documents to experimenting with visualization tools, the team dives into practical uses, workflows, and limitations of AI in design. Discover how to enhance productivity and creativity while navigating the challenges of integrating AI responsibly.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

📌 Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome & Introductions
[1:05] AI in Media and De-Aging Technology
[2:36] Text Generation with ChatGPT
[4:00] Writing Tips and Fun Prompts
[5:08] Structural Calculations and AI
[6:50] AI Limitations and Verification
[7:27] Exploring “AI for Spaces” for Visual Concepts
[9:36] Midjourney’s Retexturing Feature
[10:28] Preparing Line Drawings for Retexturing
[11:56] Using Midjourney’s Re-Texturing Mode
[13:31] Photoshop Tips for Integrating AI Textures
[14:09] Consistency in Perspective Across Programs
[15:00] Q&A and Closing Remarks

📌 Resources Mentioned:

*********************************************

Rate & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us bring more valuable content to you!

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

Welcome to The "Designers Show" by Chief Experts, where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center!

In this episode, Chief Experts Dan Baumann, Rene Rabbitt, Kevin Transue and John Schrader dive into an open-format session with live viewer interactions, tackling a range of issues and demonstrating advanced techniques in Chief Architect software. Topics include troubleshooting ceiling and roof overhang problems, customizing staircases, creating duct and HVAC designs, and setting up a viewer collaboration through an interactive forum.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
→ Troubleshooting Techniques: Learn how to fix ceiling plane and overhang issues in architectural designs.
→ Room Definitions in Chief Architect: Understand the importance of proper room definitions for ceiling and roof planes.
→ Custom Stair and Railing Designs: Explore new methods for designing staircases and railings with Chief Architect tools.
→ Complex Wall Assemblies: How to create and save custom pony walls, furring, and more for use in future projects.
→ Plumbing and Ductwork Design: Step-by-step approach to designing duct systems and creating reusable plumbing symbols.

📌 Chapters:
0:00 - 0:25: Introduction and casual opening.
0:25 - 2:01: Stream issues and viewer interaction.
2:01 - 3:24: General updates and personal stories.
3:24 - 4:37: Plan review setup – Ceiling plane issue.
4:37 - 10:06: Fixing ceiling planes and overhang issues.
10:06 - 14:22: Managing layers and defining rooms.
14:22 - 20:01: Matching room properties and ceiling heights.
20:01 - 26:00: Forum interaction and plan collaboration.
26:00 - 33:03: Solving sofit and overhang problems.
33:03 - 40:18: Customizing staircases and railings.
40:18 - 44:00: Creating complex pony walls and assemblies.
44:00 - 52:00: Advanced stair and wall customizations.
52:00 - 57:00: Duct and HVAC design techniques.
57:00 - 64:40: Plumbing ISO design and symbol creation.

📌 Resources Mentioned:
→ Chief Architect Software https://www.chiefarchitect.com/
→ ChiefExperts.com https://www.chiefexperts.com/

📌 Upcoming Events:
Chief Experts Summit: Training event with limited spots available. Learn more at Chief Experts for registration details https://www.chiefexperts.com/chief-architect-outer-banks-nc-total-immersion-by-chief-experts-2025

*********************************************

Rate & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us bring more valuable content to you!

---

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

John Schrader

Kevin Transue

Robin Rigby Fisher

Rene Rabbitt

In this episode of The Designer Show, Dan, John, Renee, and Kevin dive into various topics, including handling complex design issues, automating workflows with Chief Architect, and leveraging AI in the design process. They provide valuable tips on managing client requests, such as resizing homes, and demonstrate solutions for common Chief Architect challenges like adjusting foundations, roof heights, and creating curved glass stair railings.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

📌 Chapters:

📌 Resources Mentioned:

Chief Experts Academy

Submit your design plan for future episodes

John Schrader's Website

Rene Rabbitt's website

Robin Fisher's website

Kevin Transue's website

📌 Upcoming Events: