Imagine a Place

Latest Episodes:

In the Room at ICFF: The spaces that shape us with Sabrina Lippman of Habitat for Humanity May 28, 2026

Show notes

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 Humanity is redefining what affordable housing can look like in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

Together, they explore the emotional impact of having a place to call home, the connection between design and dignity, and why creating stability gives people the freedom to dream bigger.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

In the Room at ICFF: Designing for Experience with Tana Hovland of Rockwell Group May 19, 2026

Show notes

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 explores how thoughtful design can shape how people feel, move, and connect.

It’s a candid, insightful look at creating spaces people actually want to be in.

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Conversation to creation: Design, connection, and OFS at Design Days May 11, 2026

Show notes

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: an inspiring, human-centered environment designed to spark creativity, conversation, and new ideas. Join OFS in Chicago to experience it for yourself and see how design can bring people and possibilities together.

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Lighting the way for leadership, representation, and the power of connection | Natasha Brewer, Perkins Eastman Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

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 vulnerability can strengthen both teams and outcomes. Natasha offers a thoughtful reflection on what it means to lead with intention, step outside of your comfort zone, and support the next generation of designers.

Her insights reinforce that design is ultimately about people and the experiences we create for them. A meaningful listen for designers and creative professionals who are passionate about growth, community, and making a lasting impact through their work.

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When “Not In Scope” and humor become a design superpower | Morgan Maples of IA Interior Architects Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

This episode features Morgan Maples, a Chicago-based Senior Project Manager, who brings a real and refreshingly honest perspective to the realities of working in the design industry. The conversation explores themes of setting boundaries, managing expectations, and navigating the balance between saying yes and protecting your time. Morgan shares reflections on collaboration, emphasizing how creativity often thrives through shared ideas and team energy rather than working in isolation.

The episode also touches on career growth and perspective, including the value of understanding different paths within the industry and how designers can better communicate with clients. With humor and authenticity throughout, this conversation offers a relatable and refreshing look at the challenges and opportunities that shape a successful and sustainable design career.

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Reclaiming creativity: Leadership, balance, and the evolving practice of design | Abby Rolla, Vice President and Principal at ASD | SKY Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

In a profession shaped by increasing speed and complexity, how do we reclaim the creativity at the heart of great design? In this episode of Imagine a Place, Abby Rolla, Vice President and Principal at ASD | SKY, shares her perspective on protecting creative thinking, leading with intention, and building studio cultures that support both performance and wellbeing. From designing without constraint to advocating for healthier boundaries, this conversation explores how leaders can create the conditions for more thoughtful, human-centered design. It offers a clear lens into how the industry can sustain creativity while evolving toward a more purposeful future.

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You can’t mandate culture: Insights from WorkX Dallas Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Christina Jameson, Director of Workplace at OFS, and Lydia Moya, Brand Manager at OFS, reflect on conversations with workplace leaders from organizations like Warner Music Group, PepsiCo, Eli Lilly, Microsoft, UT Health San Antonio, and TDECU at WorkX Dallas 2026. One message came through clearly: The office is no longer required. It must be earned. Together they unpack themes that surfaced throughout the event including why policy cannot replace purpose, how the employee journey begins long before the badge swipe, the growing role of data in understanding how spaces are actually used, and why middle management remains the cultural bridge between leadership vision and team experience. At its core, the conversation highlights a simple truth. The value of the workplace lives in the connections it creates and the shared moments that bring an organization’s culture to life.

Check out our insights from the show HERE

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The design strategy behind one of the world’s leading coworking brands | Jean Chandler of Industrious Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

From architecture school to leading design at global coworking brand Industrious, Jean Chandler has seen the workplace from every angle. In this episode, we explore how coworking spaces create buzz, why people “vote with their feet,” and what it takes to design offices that feel more human.

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The designer’s secret superpower: Listening, empathy, and client-centered design | Melissa Borrmann of Niles Bolton Associates Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Maria sits down with Melissa Borman, Interior Design Director at Niles Bolton Associates in Atlanta, to talk about leadership, listening, and designing with intention. Melissa shares how seeing projects through a client’s business lens reshaped her approach to design. Along the way, she discovered that her greatest superpower isn’t just creativity, but listening.

Together, they explore the shift from designing for clients to designing with them, and why empathy, curiosity, and asking better questions lead to stronger outcomes. Melissa reflects on stepping into executive leadership, succeeding a long-standing mentor, and learning to move from working “in the weeds” to leading the forest. This conversation is about growth, mentorship, and what modern design leadership truly requires.

If you care about client-centered design, meaningful leadership, and building spaces with purpose, this episode is for you.

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AI and the future of design: Balancing technology, humanity, and innovation Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Maria sits down with Mike Sewell, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Gresham Smith, to explore what happens when engineering, interior design, and artificial intelligence intersect. From a life changing moment on a bicycle that reshaped how he thinks about designing for people, to his role as Chief Digital Transformation Officer guiding firm wide digital innovation, Mike shares a powerful perspective on the future of practice. Together, they unpack the tension between automation and creativity, the responsibility that comes with AI, the risks of a race to the bottom, and why authenticity and human connection matter more than ever. This conversation is a thoughtful, energizing look at how we balance technology and humanity and why, at the end of the day, design is still about people.

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