The Design Pop

Imagine a Place
  • 4.9 (54)
  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop, a podcast for dealer designers! The world of the dealer designer is changing and now more than ever, this community plays an ever-increasing role in the success of projects. These designers possess a wealth of knowledge and passion for furniture and design, but it seems this group is often left unrecognized. As the industry evolves, there is a growing recognition of the value of this role, leading to more opportunities for empowerment. Join me as I share my experiences as a designer, trainer, and consultant to help this community build more influence and recognition - this is the first step in building a community of dealers designers that are focused on learning, improving their craft, and growing their careers. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production.

  1. AUG 27

    POP into Excellence: Building a Design Career You Love with Brittney Herrera

    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. Whether you’re a design student, recent graduate, or just starting out in your career, you’ll hear practical advice on networking, mentorship, interviews, and building confidence in an often-intimidating industry. Industry veteran Jeff Carlson from My Resource Library joins the conversation as well—adding some great advice about connecting with others through LinkedIn. This episode is both a guide and an encouragement for anyone ready to find their place in design. Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn. Access on-demand training at The Design POP. Get $75 off CET Experience by using promo code: THEDESIGNPOP75 if you register before September 22, 2025.

    1h 10m

  2. JUL 30

    How Designers Can Lead From Within with Jennifer Evans of Hyphn

    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. What if the key to elevating dealer design isn't just mastering tools, but learning how to create better conversations? Subscribe to The Design POP to access POP into Excellence recordings. Use this link for $75 off Configura's Experience in Orlando. Or use promo code TheDesignPOP75 at checkout. Follow us on social media to hear more about our upcoming launches on The Design POP. Instagram and LinkedIn. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

    51 min

  3. JUN 2

    The Office Furniture Girl: Building Credibility in Furniture, One Post at a Time

    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. Where to find The Design POP in Chicago https://www.thedesignpop.com/Chicago-2025 The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

    50 min

  4. MAY 5

    Building a Career on Curiosity with Stephanie Wolfson of HAT Collective

    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. Learn more about POP into Excellence 2025; a professional development event for dealer designers & design leaders Last chance for "All Access:" https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/dmdNUU2R/checkout  The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

    53 min

  5. APR 14

    Bridging the Gap with Kate Bradley and Pam Smith of HKS

    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 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. Register for FREE to attend the webinar Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Collaboration Between Dealer Designers and A+D Submit a question for the panelists link: https://www.thedesignpop.com/pie-2025-questions Learn more about POP into Excellence 2025; a professional development event for dealer designers & design leaders The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

    52 min

  6. MAR 19

    Hard Truths and Real Talk with Wesley Edmonds of OFS

    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. Oh, and Pop Into Excellence kicks off on May 5th! (Stay tuned for more information).  The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn Connect with Alexandra Tseffos and The Design Pop

    47 min

  7. FEB 10

    Thriving in an AI Era: Why Remarkability Wins with Shawn Kanungo

    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. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn Connect with Alexandra Tseffos and The Design Pop

    42 min
  8. LIVE at CET Experience with Rob Kirkbride of officeinsight magazine

    JAN 21

    LIVE at CET Experience with Rob Kirkbride of officeinsight magazine

    On this episode, I sit down with Rob Kirkbride (Editor in Chief of officeinsight magazine), a true legend in commercial furniture journalism. Rob’s seen it all—from covering “just office furniture” in the early days to witnessing the incredible changes shaping our industry today. Recorded LIVE from the CET Experience in October, we dive into some seriously interesting stuff, like how AI is shaking up design and journalism, why in-person workplace connections are more important than ever, and what it’s like to have toured almost every furniture factory out there. Rob also shares his thoughts on mentorship, the future of dealer networks, and how we can better connect with younger professionals. It’s a lively, thoughtful conversation with someone who’s been at the heart of our industry for years—join us!  You can hear more on CETx, such as one of our most popular episodes, "Look for Friendly Faces." Learn more about ROOM  The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design Pop on LinkedIn Connect with Alexandra Tseffos and The Design Pop

    32 min
See All (35)

4.9
out of 5
54 Ratings

About

I'm your host, Alexandra Tseffos, and welcome to The Design Pop, a podcast for dealer designers! The world of the dealer designer is changing and now more than ever, this community plays an ever-increasing role in the success of projects. These designers possess a wealth of knowledge and passion for furniture and design, but it seems this group is often left unrecognized. As the industry evolves, there is a growing recognition of the value of this role, leading to more opportunities for empowerment. Join me as I share my experiences as a designer, trainer, and consultant to help this community build more influence and recognition - this is the first step in building a community of dealers designers that are focused on learning, improving their craft, and growing their careers. Whether you're a furniture enthusiast or just curious about growing and learning more to apply to your own career. I'm glad you're here. Join me as we harness the power of the design community to explore these important topics in the world of design. The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production.

Information

  • Channel
    Imagine a Place
  • Creator
    Imagine a Place Productions
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Imagine a Place
  • Show Website
    The Design Pop

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