Building 3D, physical models are not a new concept or way of designing, but with most design work now being done completely digitally, it can be easy to overlook or skip out on. 

Senior Designer Napoleon Meraña has over 25 years of experience designing around the U.S. and Europe, and physical modeling has remained a core component of his design process, even as he began his designs on computers instead of hand-drawn sketches. He has brought a unique perspective on how to approach designing that has not been common at RDC for the last few years. 

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Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com

When people hear of "interior design," what comes to mind is HGTV and primarily women wanting to decorate their homes. Senior Designer Katy Wise and Senior Design Manager Itzel Meynard can tell you that interior design is so much more than picking out furniture and swatches. 

On this week's episode, we talk about how Interior Design complements and should be considered just as important as exterior Architecture, and how the merging of the two has created "Interior Architecture." There are some misconceptions about Interior Design that we debunk, as well as some talk about what it is like as a woman in the Architecture industry as a whole. 

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Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com

This week's episode becomes theoretical as we discuss how designing for the digital world is interconnected with how we design for the physical world, and vice versa. We sit down with Senior Graphic Designer Brian Newman and Designer William Ellsworth to explore how these two worlds are merging but also how they will always remain distinct, despite rapidly changing technology.

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More and more in the last few years, hotels and hospitality spaces have been taking cues from the retail world and vice versa. 

This week, we're talking with principals Sean Slater and Jackson Thilenius to discuss how both of these typologies have been converging to create experiences that will keep guests coming back. 

Mentioned on this week's episode: 

• Chicago Athletic Association
• Tiffany & Co.
• The Maven Hotel

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Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com

Millennials have spurred a wave of self-care, and it is seeping into how we design spaces for them to take care of themselves, namely the hospitality industry. 

  This week, we sit down with Senior Interior Design Manager Alex Kuby to discuss how the prioritization of self-care with indulgence and luxury has pervaded how we design hospitality spaces. Even the rise of social media has affected the kinds of experiences and materials we choose and include in our designs. 

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Despite the rise of streaming services around the world, Cinépolis is confident and looking forward to the rise of luxury cinemas to keep cinephiles coming back to the movies.

The way we consume media is changing rapidly, but the cinema and entertainment industry is keeping up with more luxurious amenities to give customers an experience they cannot just get at home.

We engage in a conversation with Senior Principal Mitra Esfandiari and Cinépolis CEO Luis Olloqui about everything from the design of their latest flagship theater to how movie theaters will still thrive despite streaming services on the rise.

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Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com

With the rise of Amazon as the world's most popular e-commerce site and its purchase of Whole Foods, brands everywhere are scrambling to keep up, grocers in particular. 

We sit down with Senior Principal Branko Prebanda and discuss how retailers are innovating to keep customers in their stores. From Walmart to Kroger to Aldi, it has become vital for brands to step up and change their business models before they are left in the dust. 

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Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com

When people think of the design process in regards to architecture, there is a scenario that comes to mind. There is the initial meeting, the architects and designers draw up a design for the client, and there you go. However, the design process is actually much more complex than that and actually is much more similar to any kind of design process in a number of different fields. 

We listen in on a conversation between designers Niccolo Boldrin and Sean Davis as they talk about how they work through their design processes and how related it is outside of the architecture world. They also touch on specific misconceptions between design school and practicing in the real world, as well as why the "starchitect" is no longer plausible or realistic in today's world of architecture and design. 

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Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com

In this week's episode, we sit down with CEO Brad Williams as we touch on everything, from the architecture industry shifts over the last decade, architecture in China vs. America, and shifting from a private office to being out in the open with the rest of the company. Flexibility is key to surviving in an ever-changing industry and economy, and we talk about how the architecture and engineering industry has evolved since the 2008 Recession.

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Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com

The rise of obesity in America has also brought about new research regarding the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle. Due to the nature of working in offices, corporations are now providing wellness programs and solutions for their employees so as not to contribute to the problem. 

We sit down with Sustainability Director, Sara Hickman, as she goes in depth about the RDC wellness program and the benefits of having one, despite the initial overhead costs. We talk about what may be considered the "second wave of sustainability" and how certifications such as LEED and WELL have paved the way for health and sustainability to intersect. 

Let's stay in touch: 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @retaildesignc

Head on over to our website http://rdcollaborative.com