The Design Pop

Épisodes

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  Pop In: Why Great Designers Keep Learning 29.07.2026 12min

  Summer has been moving at full speed. In this episode, Alexandra reflects on Chicago Design Week, a record-breaking year for POP into Excellence, and the conversations that stayed with her after the event ended. With more than 2,300 seats filled across 11 sessions, this year’s event was a powerful reminder that growth does not have a finish line—and that many of the challenges designers face are shared across the industry.
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  POP into Excellence is back and it's FREE 08.06.2026 10min

  Designers are expected to think, communicate, adapt, and balance creativity—all while continuing to deliver exceptional client experiences and accurate project execution. POP into Excellence is an event created to support the people doing this work every day.
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  From Busywork to Better Work | Kieran Luke of Cerulean 28.05.2026 45min

  What happens when a former consultant, startup operator, and self-described “anxious overachiever” discovers the contract furniture industry for the first time?
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  POP In: Five Years In and Still Asking Questions 11.05.2026 13min

  The Design POP is FIVE years old! Celebrate with us and see what events and webinars are coming soon.
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  POP In: What 800 Designers Taught Me 27.04.2026 12min

  This episode is less about answers and more about observations. After hosting two recent Design POP webinars with designers—Alexandra reflects on personality tendencies, designer struggles, and workflows.
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  Configura’s New CEO | A Conversation with Steven Jenkins 03.03.2026 38min

  Before officially stepping into his new role as CEO at Configura, Steven Jenkins reconnects with Alexandra to share his full-circle journey from early employee to global technology leader and now back as CEO. Get to know the steady, practical mind behind the title before he begins shaping Configura’s next chapter.
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  Strategist by Day, Artist by Night | Designer Duality with Rebekah Jacobi of Pivot Interiors 27.02.2026 45min

  “If my sophomore-in-college self realized how much fun I’m having jamming out to an Excel spreadsheet right now, I would be on the floor.” Design leader by day. Watercolor artist by night. Rebekah Jacobi shares how embracing her duality has reshaped her leadership, her creativity, and her impact in the commercial interiors industry.
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  A Career Shaped by Strengths, Not Job Titles | Chad Bewley of Freeform 29.01.2026 44min

  Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy. He found success without a traditional design degree and proves that relationships matter more than resumes. Chad’s story proves that experience and people skills still carry real weight in our industry. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “doing it wrong” and need permission to define success on their own terms.
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  The Joy of Saying "Done" 18.12.2025 7min

  As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small.
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  The Renegade Mindset with Amy Jo Martin, Live at Configura's Experience 2025 21.11.2025 24min

  In this episode, Alexandra returns from Experience 2025 with a renewed voice—literally and figuratively. After a whirlwind of hockey coaching, travel, and the inevitable fall-break cold, she reflects on what kids learning to skate can teach adults about bravery, mindset, and the power of getting back up quickly. Alexandra sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host Amy Jo Martin, who describes herself as a “renegade of life” and a lifelong learner. Together, they explore what it means to embrace curiosity, take the next brave step, and say “Why not now?”—whether in your creative practice, your career, or your personal world.
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  Live at Configura's Experience with Aaron Okkema and Rob Detrick 08.10.2025 34min

  We are coming to you live from Day 1 of Experience—formerly known as CET Experience—where nearly 500 designers, manufacturers, and sponsors are fueling the excitement and innovation shaping the design industry. This year marks a major shift not just in the name, but in what the event represents. Configura’s vision has expanded beyond CET, and Experience now captures the full scope of their technology solutions. In this episode Alexandra sits down with two of Configura's very own Aaron Okkema, Head of Sales for North America, and Rob Detrick, Product Manager for Commercial Interiors, about the big announcements from the opening keynote.
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  The Confidence Report: How Designers Rate Themselves 07.10.2025 46min

  In this episode, Alexandra Tseffos breaks down the results of her latest dealer designer survey, which drew responses from nearly 175 professionals across the industry. She also brings in two expert voices to put the findings into perspective: Shelley Rosetta, Principal at Solomon Coyle and Kari Anderson, Owner of Techbox Collective. Together, these conversations uncover surprising gaps, celebrate areas of strength, and explore how designers—along with dealerships and manufacturers can evolve together. Whether you’re a dealer designer, leader, or manufacturer, there are plenty of insights to spark new conversations about the future of design.
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  What happens when you bet on yourself? | Christine Crawford of Alfred Williams & Company 24.09.2025 46min

  In this inspiring episode, Alexandra sits down with Christine Crawford, Design Manager at Alfred Williams & Company in Nashville and MillerKnoll’s Designer of the Year. Christine shares her journey from an eager design student who did whatever it took to land an internship, to becoming the leader of a design team and the force behind a $15 million project. Her story highlights the power of curiosity, tenacity, and taking bold risks—such as writing a letter to land her dream role. Through Christine’s perspective, we explore what it means to redefine “perfect,” why dealer design can be a powerful accelerator for young careers, and how collaboration and courage shape long-term success. Whether you’re a student, a young designer, or a seasoned professional, Christine’s journey will leave you with practical wisdom and the confidence to bet on yourself.
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  POP into Excellence: Building a Design Career You Love with Brittney Herrera 27.08.2025 1h 10min

  In this episode, designer, author, and Thunder Egg founder Brittney Herrera shares her personal journey through the design industry—from internships and dealership work to leading her own firm. Along the way, she opens up about navigating firm politics, discovering her strengths, and learning how to turn every experience into a stepping stone for growth. Brittney's book Inside the Design Industry quickly became an Amazon best-seller and a must-read for students. This conversation brings her book and it's lessons to life.
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  How Designers Can Lead From Within with Jennifer Evans of Hyphn 30.07.2025 51min

  In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership. She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebranding to strategic acquisition—has strengthened its culture and diversified its services to meet the changing demands of today’s workplace. Jennifer also talks about building strong design teams, empowering designers through live design sessions, incentivizing client engagement, and embracing the "uncomfortable" as a pathway to growth. Throughout this episode, Jennifer shares insights on capacity challenges, industry training gaps, and the mindset shift that's required to lead effectively.
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  The Office Furniture Girl: Building Credibility in Furniture, One Post at a Time 02.06.2025 50min

  On this episode of The Design POP Podcast, host Alexandra Tseffos sits down with Erica Jaffe—Creative Director & Ancillary Specialist at Benhar Office Interiors, and affectionately known as the "Office Furniture Girl" on Instagram, to explore how dealer designers can sharpen their approach and enhance their impact on client interactions. From her early days in interior design, retail furniture sales, to business development at a dealership, Erica shares how clear communication, thoughtful expectation-setting, and a dose of humor can transform the designer-client relationship. Hear how she's leveraging social media to educate, entertain, and build both trust and credibility within the design community.
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  Building a Career on Curiosity with Stephanie Wolfson of HAT Collective 05.05.2025 53min

  Stephanie Wolfson, Design Manager at HAT Collective, didn’t set out to become a designer—she followed her curiosity, and it led her somewhere unexpected. With a background in theater and marketing, she found her way into the world of commercial interiors and discovered a love for the “3D puzzles” of furniture design. In this episode, Stephanie shares how curiosity helped her carve out new roles, take a bold career pause, and navigate the tough conversations that come with growth. It’s a candid, inspiring look at what’s possible when you stop chasing the perfect plan—and start following what lights you up.
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  Bridging the Gap with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith of HKS 14.04.2025 52min

  In this episode, we sit down with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith—two former dealer designers who made the jump to the A&D world and now work at HKS. They open up about what that transition was really like, from unexpected stress relief to letting go of manufacturer sales goals and adapting to new tech. We dive into the sometimes tricky dynamic between dealerships and A&D firms, and what it really takes to collaborate well. Kate and Pam share what they wish they had known earlier, bust a few myths (like whether fancy renderings actually help win projects), and offer real, practical advice for building better partnerships.
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  Hard Truths and Real Talk with Wesley Edmonds of OFS 19.03.2025 47min

  In this candid conversation, Alexandra chats with Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, about the challenges and opportunities for women in design. They tackle the evolving role of dealer designers, the gender gap in leadership, and how sponsorship can fuel career growth. With personal stories, industry insights, and plenty of laughter, they explore the disconnect between A&D and dealer designers, the need to break down silos, and why empowering all designers—regardless of title—matters. Plus, they get real about juggling careers and motherhood in a fast-paced, male-dominated industry. Honest, funny, and full of actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in workplace design or leadership.
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  Thriving in an AI Era: Why Remarkability Wins with Shawn Kanungo 10.02.2025 42min

  Join Alexandra Tseffos as she chats with innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo about how AI is shaking up the commercial interiors industry. After crossing paths at CET Experience, where Shawn delivered a keynote that got everyone thinking, they dive into what it really means to be "remarkable" in an AI-powered world. From lessons in cross-industry innovation to the future of furniture specification, this conversation will challenge how you see technology’s role in design. Whether you’re all-in on AI or still a little skeptical, Shawn’s take on embracing disruption "without losing the human touch" is one you won’t want to miss.