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The Design Pop — Arts
The Design Pop

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.

Copyright: © Imagine a Place

Latest Episodes:

POP In: Are You a Linchpin or a Bottleneck? Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

Does your expertise make the people around you more capable or does everything come through you?

There's a difference between being a linchpin and being a bottleneck. If you're a linchpin, you're indispensable because you make everyone around you better. If you're a bottleneck, you're indispensable because nothing can happen without you.

AI and technology continue to reshape the design industry and as a result, we are either becoming more valuable to our teams or holding them back. Inspired by conversations at Configura's Experience and Seth Godin's book Linchpin, Alexandra explores the evolving role of designers, the importance of collaboration, and why true expertise isn't about being the person everyone depends on, but the person who makes everyone around them better.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Learn more about working with The Design POP

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

POP In: Steven Jenkins, Configura Experience 2026 Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Configura CEO Steven Jenkins to discuss what attendees can expect from Experience Cincinnati and how the event has evolved over the years. Steven also shares a preview of Configura’s future vision, including more connected, flexible, AI-enhanced tools that can support designers across every stage of the workflow. Together, they explore the importance of customer feedback, innovation, and creating more seamless experiences for the commercial interiors industry.

Learn more about Steven Jenkins

Learn more about Configura

Listen to Steven's previous episode on The Design POP

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Learn more about working with The Design POP

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Designing a Life of Service | Julie Sayers of encompas Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Julie Sayers never planned to become a business owner or mayor. She began her career as a dealer designer, became a co-owner of encompas, and now serves as the mayor of Lenexa, Kansas.

In this conversation, Julie shares how design skills like listening, problem-solving, building coalitions, and serving people have shaped every part of her career. She talks about encompas’s unique approach to design and customer service, the future of AI in the industry, taking on major leadership roles, and why she rejects the idea that imposter syndrome should hold people back.

Julie’s story is a powerful reminder that a career in design can lead in unexpected directions. And that sometimes the best way forward is to say "yes" and figure out the details along the way.

Connect with Julie Sayers on LinkedIn

Learn more about encompas

Learn more about the Lenexa, Kansas

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Learn more about working with The Design POP

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We Get to Write Our Own Story | Heather Ashley of Cove Creek Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Heather Ashley started Cove Creek in 2022 with a computer, an LLC, and a willingness to take a risk. What began as a one-person operation has grown into a successful team of six designers serving dealers and manufacturers across the industry.

In this episode, Heather shares how she built Cove Creek through relationships, word of mouth, continuous learning, and a commitment to creating the kind of flexible, supportive workplace she wanted for herself and her team. She also reflects on the challenges of working independently, the importance of finding good people, and how her team is thinking about the future of design and AI.

This is more than a story about business growth, it's a conversation about building something meaningful and getting to write the story your own way.

Sign Up for Experience with The Design POP promo code!

Connect with Heather on LinkedIn

Learn more about Cove Creek Design

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Learn more about working with The Design POP

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pop In: Why Great Designers Keep Learning Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

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.

Curious about POP into Excellence?

Take a look at the full 2026 lineup: https://www.thedesignpop.com/pop-into-excellence-2026

Want to explore past sessions?

You'll find recordings from all three years of POP into Excellence, along with more information about the event here: https://www.thedesignpop.com/pop-into-excellence

Looking for a little more time to learn?

Throughout July, we're offering a 30-Day Learning Pass. For a one-time $50, you'll have 30 days to explore the complete POP into Excellence recording library plus more than 850 searchable training videos covering CET, Spec, Worksheet, Aline, and other dealer design technology. It's a simple way to experience The Design POP without an ongoing subscription. (And yes—even if you purchase it on July 31, you still get a full 30 days.)

https://www.thedesignpop.com/offers/SoVFRjFt/checkout

If you'd like to stick around after that...

You can learn more about monthly and annual memberships here: https://www.thedesignpop.com/pricing

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

POP into Excellence is back and it's FREE Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

POP into Excellence is back June 15-26, 2026 and it's FREE!

Dealer designers are being asked to navigate more complexity than ever before.

Today’s projects move faster, involve more stakeholders, rely on more technology, and require stronger collaboration across every phase of the process. Designers are expected to think strategically, communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and balance creativity with increasing operational demands—all while continuing to deliver exceptional client experiences and accurate project execution.

POP into Excellence was created to support the people doing that work every day.

Designed specifically for dealer designers and design leaders, this virtual professional development experience brings together industry experts, technology innovators, and experienced practitioners for conversations that go beyond product knowledge alone. Through sessions focused on communication, workflow, onboarding, financial literacy, creativity, emerging technology, and professional growth, POP into Excellence is dedicated to supporting both the technical and human side of design work.

Show up and show us that this event is important!

Sign up for POP into Excellence

Join the opening session with OFS

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Busywork to Better Work | Kieran Luke of Cerulean May 28, 2026

Show notes

What happens when a former consultant, startup operator, and self-described “anxious overachiever” discovers the contract furniture industry for the first time? In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Kieran Luke, founder of Cerulean, to discuss how AI is being thoughtfully applied within dealer workflows and why the goal isn’t replacing people, but helping them reclaim their time.

Kieran accidentally found himself in contract furniture after growing up in Australia and building startups in New York. During this path, he realized that highly skilled dealer designers were spending hours each week on repetitive, manual tasks. Alexandra and Kieran unpack the realities of AI in our industry: the skepticism, the ethical concerns, the fear around jobs, and the opportunities to create more sustainable and fulfilling work.

Whether you’re AI-curious, AI-cautious, or already experimenting with new workflows, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about what technology should actually do for people.

REGISTER NOW for POP Into Excellence

Connect with Kieran Luke on LinkedIn

Learn more about Cerulean

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

POP In: Five Years In and Still Asking Questions May 11, 2026

Show notes

After celebrating five years of TheDesignPOP.com (with a full cake, not just a cupcake), this month's POP In reflects on milestones, AI, environmental concerns, design workflows, and the surprisingly human conversations happening behind the scenes in our industry.

Alexandra gives us a first look at Pop Into Excellence 2026, new training, and some thoughts on innovation with regards to sustainability and humanity in design.

Oh...and yes, there’s also a story about compostable diapers. No script. No guest. Just a thoughtful industry check-in from inside the Design POP community.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

POP In: What 800 Designers Taught Me Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

This first “POP In” episode is a quick check-in—no guest, no script, just a few thoughts worth sharing.

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.

Think of this as a quick pulse check on the industry and an open invitation to keep the conversation going.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Configura’s New CEO | A Conversation with Steven Jenkins Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Before Steven Jenkins officially steps into the role of CEO at Configura, Alexandra is taking time to introduce him to The Design POP community. She reconnects with Steven who she worked with years ago during her time as a Configura trainer. He was known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to truly hear what users needed.

In this conversation, Steven shares how he first joined Configura as one of the company’s early employees, what he learned after leaving to build leadership experience in larger global organizations, and what it’s been like returning as a board member before stepping into the CEO role. While Alexandra plans to talk about the future in a later conversation, this episode is a chance to get to know the person behind the title.

Configura's Experience 2026 will be in Cincinnati. Stay tuned for more details by following Configura.

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn

Learn more about Configura

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn

Access on-demand training at The Design POP.

Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com

The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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