This is a podcast about people, places, and design that will help you learn and grow. Our guests share insight, stories, and big ideas that inspire courage and curiosity. Whether it's our workplace, our home, or all the places in between, interior design is shaping the human experience every day.
What if great healthcare design isn't just about beautiful spaces but about helping people heal, caregivers thrive, and every second count? In this episode, Nicole Ward, Senior Associate and Interior Designer at NBBJ, shares how purpose has shaped her career in healthcare design. Nicole offers an inside look at the complexity, and humanity, behind designing spaces where lives are changed every…
Amanda Schneider joins Imagine a Place for a candid conversation about the future of work, generational leadership, and what it takes to build workplaces where people can thrive. Beyond the researcher, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author, Maria uncovers the authentic Amanda, discussing motherhood, burnout, finding joy, and the "elephant circle" of women who helped her rediscover balance.…
Discover how neuroinclusive design is reshaping the way we think about workplaces, justice facilities, and human-centered environments. In this episode, Olivia Danielson-Veed, independent contractor for ThinkLab and former Associate and Senior Project Interior Designer at HOK, shares practical insights on designing for neurodiversity through choice, control, and variety, while exploring how…
Dealer designers play a vital role in shaping the workplace experience, yet many navigate their careers without a strong professional network or a clear roadmap for growth. In this engaging conversation, Maria VanDeman sits down with Alexandra Tseffos, founder of The Design POP, to discuss the evolving role of dealer designers and the power of building community within the industry. Together, they…
What happens when two design leaders sit down after one of the industry's biggest events and tell the truth about how they're really feeling? In this candid episode, Maria VanDeman, Director of Design Strategy, and Christina Jameson, Director of Workplace, reflect on Design Days and NeoCon, discussing burnout, working motherhood, authenticity, workplace design, career passion, and the future of…
What happens when art, wellness, and design come together? In this special Design Days Chicago episode, Maria VanDeman sits down with artist Liz Flores and Alkemis co-founder Price Latimer to explore the partnerships shaping the OFS showroom experience. Liz shares the stories woven into her vibrant artwork, from the symbolism of an acorn growing into a tree to her celebration of imagination,…
Recorded live from ICFF 2026, Wesley Edmonds sits down with Sabrina Lippman, CEO of Habitat for Humanity NYC & Westchester, for a powerful conversation about housing, dignity, and the life-changing impact of homeownership. From transforming underutilized spaces across New York City into thriving communities, to helping working families build generational stability, Sabrina shares how Habitat for…
Recorded live at ICFF in New York City, Wesley Edmonds sits down with Tana Hovland of Rockwell Group to talk about what design really means today. Tana shares how her work has shifted from skyscrapers to experience-driven spaces and why hospitality is about more than just how things look. From healthcare clinics that feel like home to designing spaces that engage all five senses, this conversation…
In this episode of Imagine a Place, Maria VanDeman and Wesley Edmonds reflect on a powerful start to the year, highlighting authentic conversations with women in design, ICFF, the growing importance of human connection in the workplace, and insights from the Power of Choice research. As Design Days in Chicago approaches, they share what to expect from OFS’s “Imagine a Place” showroom experience:…
In this inspiring episode, interior designer Natasha Brewer, Senior Interior Designer and Associate Principal of Perkins Eastman shares her perspective on leadership, creativity, and the evolving role of connection in the design industry. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship, representation, and creating space for diverse voices, while highlighting how authenticity and…