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Beyond the Design: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Cray Bauxmont-Flynn
Step into the captivating world of design with Beyond the Design. Unveiling the untold stories and shedding light on the real heroes shaping the industry, this podcast goes beyond the glamour to explore the journeys, experiences, and profound insights of visionary leaders. Each episode ignites a sense of curiosity, delving into the intersection of living in a creative atmosphere and tackling the industry's most pressing issues. Prepare to be inspired as we engage with today's foremost practitioners, including renowned designers, architects, manufacturers, emerging brands, and influential tastemakers. Their wisdom will quench your thirst for design and empower you to forge connections and embrace transformative ideas. From the realms of architecture, interior design, furniture, and urban planning to the intricacies of creativity and visionary perspectives, Beyond the Design covers an expansive range of topics. As a devoted design enthusiast, you'll find a treasure trove of inspiration here. Join us as we pull back the curtain and hear firsthand from the trailblazers of the design industry. Discover their thoughts on the ever-evolving landscape of creativity, emerging trends, sustainability, and their own personal narratives. Get ready to embark on a journey of profound insights and positive disruption in the world of design.
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- Today38 min
Outlining the Human Space with Laura Tribbett
Laura Tribbett’s evolutionary path into interior design had a remarkably early and structured beginning in the public school system of suburban Twin Cities, Minnesota. In the mid-1990s, a fourth-grade school assignment requiring graph paper and a scaled cardboard model house sparked a lifelong fascination with space planning. Growing up in a household with a one-story layout, a young Laura designed a two-story miniature cabin with a dramatic opening overlooking the main floor—an architectural element that represented the ultimate luxury in her eyes. This formative cardboard project established a clear lane that she would eagerly follow into adulthood.As the youngest of three siblings, Laura enjoyed a high degree of creative autonomy within her home. Her parents, who balanced careers as musicians and language and math teachers, gave her free rein to experiment, allowing her to constantly rearrange her furniture and explore 1990s trends like sponge painting and wallpaper borders. This self-directed exploration was heavily supplemented by consuming shelter magazines and racing home from school to absorb the transformative—and sometimes wildly chaotic—episodes of early home improvement television programs like TLC's Trading Spaces.While she pursued interior design as her core major in college, Laura candidly acknowledges that her real education only truly commenced upon stepping into professional high-stakes work environments. She sharpened her skills across the industry before taking the leap to launch her own firm. Intentionally naming the venture "Outline Interiors" rather than utilizing her own name, she aimed to establish a highly collaborative environment focused on collective, beautiful execution rather than individual vanity. Her path highlights how a blend of early public educational opportunities and a passion for spatial puzzle-solving can build a lasting legacy.
- 1 weeks ago53 min
The Design Alchemist, the journey of Marcel Wanders
Marcel Wanders' journey into the world of creation began long before he or the world around him even had a word for "design". Growing up in the Netherlands, where his parents ran a local shop, a young Marcel found his sanctuary in a backroom filled with broken items. Armed with just a hammer and a few screwdrivers at three or four years old, he would enthusiastically unscrew objects to study how they were made. He began gluing these pieces together to craft little sculptural fidgets as gifts for visiting aunts, discovering early on the intoxicating power of extracting a joyous, emotional reaction through handmade objects.This early instinct evolved into a deeply personal design philosophy centered on the concept of the "ultimate gift". Marcel realized that a truly great creation must feel intimately customized for the recipient while remaining unmistakably reflective of the giver's unique identity. This guiding principle ultimately anchored his professional life, driving him to view every commercial product and immersive interior space as a medium to celebrate and deepen the relationship between himself and his audience.The trajectory of his career changed forever with the 1996 debut of the iconic Knotted Chair, a piece that seamlessly fused handcrafted magic with technical innovation. Shortly thereafter, Marcel co-founded the globally renowned design brand Moooi alongside Casper Vissers, transforming a local Amsterdam lampshade venture into a premier launchpad for vanguard design talent. Today, having famously closed his massive powerhouse studio three years ago to embark on a solo path of rediscovery, Marcel looks back at his decades of work not as a series of shifting styles, but as a singular, organically growing philosophy.
- 2 weeks ago54 min
The Editorial Eye: Michelle Morgan Harrison on Fashion, Ground-Up Construction, and Timeless Interiors
Michelle Morgan Harrison’s creative trajectory began not in design studios, but in the fast-paced world of 1990s print fashion journalism. An intersectional internship between her junior and senior years of college at Elle magazine introduced her to legendary industry giants like Marion McEvoy and Rona Berg. After completing her degree in magazine journalism at Syracuse University, she transitioned into a full-time career in the fashion capitol ecosystem.Her early professional years were defined by old-school curation, starting as the wardrobe manager for Mirabella magazine under the iconic Grace Mirabella. Working in the fashion closets handling couture dresses and traveling across Europe to cover runway shows alongside visionary creative directors, Michelle developed a keen instinct for predicting cultural shifts. During the height of the mid-90s "British Invasion," she was running up five flights of stairs in London to help spot and support emerging talents like Alexander McQueen.The transition into interior architecture happened organically as Michelle rose to become the fashion director at Mirabella, where she began managing holistic home and lifestyle photo shoots. After a brief stint directing corporate editorial work for Saks, her passion for historical home restoration took center stage. Shortly after relocating to Connecticut and giving birth to her second child, neighbors began knocking on her door to ask about her exterior paint colors and light fixtures—a sign that inspired her to officially launch her own design firm Morgan Harrison Home in 2006.
- 3 weeks ago53 min
Susan Weiss: Curation, Craftsmanship, and the Art of the Architectural Journey
Susan Weiss’s career is a masterclass in how early environments shape creative destinies. Growing up the daughter of Harold Bailey—an architect, avid collector, and adventurer—Susan was immersed in a world where design was not just a profession, but a lifestyle. She describes this early exposure as "intravenous," suggesting that while she didn't realize she was being shaped at the time, the appreciation for craftsmanship and the stories behind objects became part of her DNA.Her father’s approach to collecting was never about the mere possession of "things"; it was about the journey, the people met along the way, and the process of refurbishing and sharing those pieces. This foundational philosophy led Susan into the world of luxury curation, eventually leading her to play a pivotal role in the development of Net-a-Porter’s furniture and home divisions. She learned early on that a piece of furniture is a living history, carrying the fingerprints of those who created it and those who lived with it before.Today, Susan reflects on her journey from a curious child watching her father refurbish antiques to becoming a leading voice in high-end curation. She discusses how her background in art history and her inherent "processor" personality allowed her to bridge the gap between architectural structure and the fluid beauty of interior objects. Her story is a testament to the power of observation and the importance of honoring one's creative lineage while forging a unique professional path.
- 4 weeks ago35 min
From HGTV to High-End Design: The Evolution of Britany Simon
Britany Simon’s path to interior design was paved early on, influenced by her father’s career as a residential developer. As a child, she was constantly building and decorating homes for her Legos and Polly Pockets, showing clear signs of her future career. Though she briefly considered architecture and fashion in high school, she ultimately returned to her primary passion of interior design.Her early professional years were spent on the construction side of residential development, where she assisted clients in picking finishes for new builds. However, she found herself yearning for more creative fulfillment, as she rarely saw these projects through to completion. This desire led her to audition for HGTV’s Design Star on a whim, a move that proved to be her "first big break".Appearing on television was a pivotal moment that transformed her business. After the show aired, she began receiving calls from clients she didn't know, allowing her to transition from working with friends and family to taking her company to a professional level. Since 2004, she has built a career defined by transformation and a deep love for textiles and creativity.
- May 1, 202649 min
Jamie Drake: 40 Years of Bold Color, Philanthropy, and Iconic Design
Jamie Drake describes his aesthetic in a single sentence as "urbane, sophisticated, energetic, visually intriguing, and always has a touch of wit". His professional philosophy is driven by a balance between his creative and entrepreneurial sides, ensuring he remains a "chameleon" who can adapt to changing trends—from the vibrant, saturated colors he was first known for to the more neutral, gray palettes favored by clients in the last decade.Tactically, Jamie designs rooms to include "visual exclamation points". He believes that when entering a space, your eye should immediately land on a strong, bold, or tall piece at the far end. From there, the composition should guide the eye to discover additional interesting elements throughout the room, creating an experiential narrative. He emphasizes that spaces need "room to breathe," and he carefully guides clients in selecting art with composition and balance in mind.This process extends beyond interiors and into product design for furniture, lighting, and carpets. Jamie explains that while product design is simpler in focus—creating a single object—it comes with unique manufacturing limitations and high setup costs compared to interior decoration. Whether he is designing a bathroom faucet for THG or a sprawling oceanfront property, his work is guided by core principles of scale, texture, and program.
- Apr 24, 202629 min
Paloma Contreras: Modern Art, Traditional Foundations, and the Business of Design
Paloma Contreras did not begin her professional life in a design studio; instead, she spent four and a half years teaching foreign languages at the high school level. Her transition into the creative world was sparked by a deep-seated love for culture, art, and architecture, which eventually led her to start a design blog in 2007. Originally intended as a creative outlet and a way to document decorating her first home on a budget, the blog served as her "entree" into the design world as it gained unexpected traction.Despite her success, Contreras candidly discusses the "imposter syndrome" she felt for years because she did not attend design school. She reflects on her childhood bedroom—a product of the 1980s filled with wicker and Laura Ashley bedding—as an early, unrecognized influence on her path. Her story is one of evolution, showing how professional skills from one field, such as teaching, can translate effectively into running a successful interior design firm.Today, Paloma is a celebrated designer with two books, a retail store, and multiple product lines. Looking back, she believes her younger self would be proud of her accomplishments and the courage it took to follow a creative path. This version of the show notes highlights the grit and passion required to pivot from a stable career into the competitive world of interior design.
- Apr 17, 202633 min
Patrick Cunningham: Design Build Diaries
Patrick Cunningham always keeps a sketchpad within reach. Not because a client asked — because the ideas don’t wait.The co-founder of C & C Partners has spent four decades translating the personalities, dreams, and budgets of Southern California’s most discerning homeowners into architecture that feels inevitable. In this conversation, Patrick walks us through what that actually looks like: pools cantilevered off sheer cliffs, underground tunnels connecting guest houses to main residences, and a glass cube engineered to float beside an Antoine Predock landmark in Manhattan Beach. He talks about learning to read a client — whether they’re a fireplace-and-a-book person or a home theater and rooftop infinity pool person — and then finding the architecture that fits that life.He also opens up about what drives him: a sketchpad always within reach, a library full of architecture books, and a biannual tour of high-end custom homes across the country with a network of elite design-build peers. With nearly 30 projects currently on the board spanning seven distinct architectural styles, this episode is a masterclass in creative range without creative compromise.If this episode gave you something to think about, leave us a rating — it’s the single best way to help another architecture lover find the show.Follow the show so you never miss a conversation like this one.Patrick Cunningham is the co-founder and principal architect of CNC Partners, a fully integrated design-build firm based in Southern California. Since co-founding the firm with his brother Michael in 1987, Patrick has led the design of some of the region's most distinctive custom homes — from cliffside estates in Beverly Hills and Pacific Palisades to award-worthy reimaginings of architectural landmarks in Manhattan Beach and beyond.A lifelong student of architecture, Patrick trained alongside builders from the start, believing that great design and skilled construction are inseparable. Today, CNC Partners operates with 22 professionals and has nearly 30 active projects on the board — spanning Scandinavian, modern French, mountain modern, Japanese-Craftsman, and European styles. Patrick's daughter Brianna and his nephew have recently joined the firm as part-owners, ensuring the next chapter of CNC Partners stays in the family.
About Beyond the Design
Step into the captivating world of design with Beyond the Design. Unveiling the untold stories and shedding light on the real heroes shaping the industry, this podcast goes beyond the glamour to explore the journeys, experiences, and profound insights of visionary leaders. Each episode ignites a sense of curiosity, delving into the intersection of living in a creative atmosphere and tackling the industry's most pressing issues. Prepare to be inspired as we engage with today's foremost practitioners, including renowned designers, architects, manufacturers, emerging brands, and influential tastemakers. Their wisdom will quench your thirst for design and empower you to forge connections and embrace transformative ideas. From the realms of architecture, interior design, furniture, and urban planning to the intricacies of creativity and visionary perspectives, Beyond the Design covers an expansive range of topics. As a devoted design enthusiast, you'll find a treasure trove of inspiration here. Join us as we pull back the curtain and hear firsthand from the trailblazers of the design industry. Discover their thoughts on the ever-evolving landscape of creativity, emerging trends, sustainability, and their own personal narratives. Get ready to embark on a journey of profound insights and positive disruption in the world of design.
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