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Convo By Design: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Josh Cooperman
A podcast dedicated to promoting the ideas of architects, artists, designers, tastemakers and those making a difference in the way we live. Design is personal as is a good conversation.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 days ago1h 3m
Eileen Applebaum’s Dynamic Journey Unveiling the “Dynamic Tension” between Art and Commerce I 677 | The Evolution of Threads Soft Goods
In the world of interior design, there is a pervasive myth that one must choose between the left-brain rigor of business and the right-brain flow of creativity. Eileen Applebaum, the founder of Threads Soft Goods, spent 35 years proving that the most sustainable success actually exists in the "dynamic tension" between the two.
- 1 weeks ago22 min
CXD July 2026 Icon Registry | 676 | Mary Ann Schickedanz: Blending European Longevity with Western Resiliency
The Studio Schickedanz founder is inducted into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, showcasing three decades of sustainable innovation, material intelligence, and integrated architectural practice. This episode celebrates the installation of Mary Ann Schickedanz, founder of Carmel-based Studio Schickedanz, into the Convo By Design Icon Registry. Bringing a foundational Austrian perspective where buildings are crafted to endure for generations, Schickedanz has spent over thirty years pioneering sustainable architecture across the American West. The conversation highlights her holistic approach to environmental integration—combining high-performance building science with deep material intelligence to combat regional ecological pressures like drought and wildfire risks. The episode also revisits a poignant 2019 archival interview from the La Cienega Design Quarter (LCDQ) Legends event, where she discusses her creative process, storytelling, and the influence of Austrian modernist pioneer Josef Hoffmann on her multidisciplinary practice. The Icon Registry Induction: Recognized for achieving the highest tier of performance and intentionality in the design industry, proudly presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Material Intelligence & Eco-Integration: Schickedanz’s work prioritizes site-specific architecture, featuring native rooftop flora, local granite, and earth-toned integral plaster that allow structures to坐 sit seamlessly within their ecologies, achieving LEED certification and net-zero status. Modular Construction & Innovation: Her multi-family compound at the Santa Lucia Preserve demonstrates how high-end factory fabrication can deliver sustainable, all-electric, manufactured housing assembled on-site in just seven hours to minimize environmental disruption. The Integrated Studio Model: A key differentiator where architects, interior designers, and horticulturalists collaborate from project inception to ensure a fluid connection between the structural shell and the natural landscape. Honoring Heritage at LCDQ: The episode reflects on her 2019 window vignette at Mansur Carpets during the La Cienega Design Quarter Legends event, channeling the comprehensive maker-designer philosophy of Josef Hoffmann alongside collaborations with Shirley Robinson Wallpaper and furniture from Design Within Reach. Designing for Generations: The Material Intelligence of Mary Ann Schickedanz The contemporary architecture landscape frequently wrestles with the concept of “intentionality,” yet Mary Ann Schickedanz has quietly spent the last thirty years operationalizing it. Inducted into the Convo By Design Icon Registry, the Austrian-native and founder of Studio Schickedanz has permanently altered how the American West approaches luxury residential design by rejecting “disposable architecture” in favor of ancestral longevity. Schickedanz’s design philosophy bridges a European reverence for multi-generational structural permanence with the acute ecological demands of California’s topography. Rather than treating sustainability as a surface-level checklist, her methodology relies on deep material intelligence and total environmental integration. From pioneering the first LEED-certified projects in Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea to engineering net-zero contemporary estates, her structures are designed to function as living, breathing extensions of their native ecosystems. This is achieved primarily through her firm’s integrated studio model. By seating architects, interior specialists, and regional horticulturalists at the same table from day one, she eliminates the traditional fragmentation of design. Structural concrete, local granite, and native exposed-root rooftop flora are specified in tandem, maximizing thermal efficiency and wildfire resiliency while anchoring buildings seamlessly into rolling topography. Her forward-thinking mindset extends equally to modern building science and historic preservation. Whether rewriting the narrative around modular housing by assembling a luxury, all-electric compound at the Santa Lucia Preserve in a single day, or meticulously updating the performance of a 1948 Henry Hill midcentury landmark, Schickedanz proves that high design and strict environmental metrics are not mutually exclusive. Ultimately, her work champions a vital shift in the industry: shifting away from an architectural “etch-a-sketch” mentality and moving toward purposeful, permanent spaces built right the first time.
- 1 weeks ago52 min
Building a Safe Harbor for Creative Growth: A Family Affair | 675 | Introducing Shelter Republic
Today is one of the most incredible episodes of the show I have ever produced. I don’t say this lightly. Today, you are going to hear about a new project called Shelter Republic, officially launching although if you are an avid listener, you have probably heard me talking about it as we prepared for launch. Well, it’s here, and it’s official. And You are going to hear from my co-founder…I’m sitting down with computer engineer and Shelter Republic co-founder Jack Cooperman to discuss the platform’s structural architecture, functionality, purpose, and the necessity for safe places to explore ideas amongst peers. The Genesis of Shelter Republic: Jack and I reflect on the evolution of the platform, tracking its roots back to when Jack and his sister first visited Josh on stage at the WestEdge Design Fair. The community was built to bridge regional gaps and provide a collaborative, peer-to-peer ecosystem for architects and designers. Designing UX for Geographic Context: Jack outlines the structure of the platform, which is divided into five nationwide micro-communities (including the Mountain Atlantic and Southwest regions). This allows for highly localized discussions on styles, culture, and business norms while keeping a unified national hub. Cultivating a “Safe Place to Fail”: The co-founders debate the nature of failure in school versus a creative career. Josh emphasizes that Shelter Republic is deliberately engineered as a vetted, invite-only environment to protect accomplished creatives from public “dogpiling” or algorithmic scrutiny when exploring new, untested concepts. Platform Features & Onboarding: Built to avoid user-data exploitation and ad clutter, the platform operates via direct invitation and QR codes. Features include text-based feeds, real-time messaging, direct networking via professional member bios, live video-conferencing rooms, and educational modules—including Josh’s masterclass, Podcasting for Creatives. Addressing Industry Disruptions (AI & Legislation): The conversation dives into how early-career junior designers are transitioning into technology facilitators due to AI studio integration. They also discuss how the platform serves as a “modern town crier” for critical industry news, citing a recent user post by a Southern California designer regarding the engineered quartz ban in California due to silicosis risks. Cooperation Over Competition: Drawing a contrast with the competitive nature of the design world, Josh shares a lesson from his time covering the Playboy Jazz Festival, where legendary jazz musicians prioritized mentoring the next generation to keep the collective genre alive. Shelter Republic aims to foster that exact cross-regional mentorship. Thank you Jack. I know I have already said it, but I have enjoyed every moment putting this together and we are thrilled to share it. Note on Access: Shelter Republic is entirely free, and does not collect user data except when stated like the use of polls and prompts for professional input. To maintain community standards and security, entry is restricted to verified industry professionals via peer invitation or direct QR code scanning at upcoming events.
- 2 weeks ago1h 11m
Bill Baldwin of Hartman Baldwin | 674 | The New Intentionality Behind Design-Build, Guided by Passion & Driven by Purpose
The Future of Innovation and Adaptive Reuse The episode wrapped up with a look at future innovations, including the potential for prefabricated and modular homes to address housing needs. The idea of "adaptive reuse," moving and repurposing existing functional structures instead of demolishing them, was also discussed as a potentially more sustainable way forward for the industry, reflecting a broader trend toward more conscious and resourceful building practices.
- 3 weeks ago1h 9m
Cristina Cruz of Christina Cruz Interiors | 673 | Designing a Unique Perspective: From Media Sales to Measurable Interiors
A former media executive trades corporate strategy for interior design, only to discover the same rules still apply. In a rapidly evolving industry shaped by AI, rising client expectations, and economic pressure, design has become as much about systems as it is about style. This conversation reveals how one designer is navigating that shift by treating every project like a campaign with outcomes that extend far beyond aesthetics. A conversation about reinvention, material intelligence, and why the most effective designers today think in terms of ROI, storytelling, and client experience.
- Jun 30, 20261h 13m
Nick Cryer of Berkeley Place | 672 | Historical Preservation in the UK: Respecting the Past While Building for the Future
Integrating Sustainability in Heritage Design. Despite rigid preservation laws, the industry is gradually seeing a shift towards allowing sustainable upgrades, such as double glazing and improved insulation, provided they are sympathetic to the original design. Nick noted that older structures, with their thick stone walls and natural thermal performance, often offer inherent sustainability advantages over modern, thinner-walled builds. Modern Kitchen Functionality in Historic Spaces The pandemic has redefined the kitchen as a central social and functional hub, requiring more sophisticated appliance suites and technology. Adapting these modern requirements to historic layouts often involves creative solutions like building internal partitions to accommodate new plumbing and infrastructure without damaging the original building fabric. Applicable Elements
- Jun 25, 20261h 8m
Convo By Design June 2026 ICON Parkin Architects | 671 | Redefining the Architecture of Incarceration: Healing Over Hardship
In January, you heard from Rebecca MacDonald and Kyle Basilius, principals at Parkin Architects, …Parkin is a Canadian, employee-owned, award-winning architectural practice with roots dating back to the 1940s. Founded and established in Toronto, expanded to Ottawa, and Vancouver, the firm specializes in designing purposeful, beautiful, and functional buildings. Our commitment to collaboration has earned us a reputation for excellence, bringing clients’ visions to life through thoughtful, impactful design. With a focus on social impact, we take pride in creating spaces that are accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all. Not my words, theirs.
- Jun 23, 20261h 10m
Architecture After Disruption: Health, Resilience, and the Future of the American Home | 670 | Tim Barber Architects
In this conversation with the principals of Tim Barber Architects, the discussion explores how architecture has evolved since 2020. The pandemic fundamentally changed how people live in their homes, forcing architects to rethink everything from spatial organization and material choices to health, resilience, and long-term adaptability. The architects describe a profession balancing client desires, environmental realities, and community responsibility. Topics include aging in place, the shift away from open floor plans, rebuilding after wildfire loss, and the growing role of resilience and sustainability in residential design. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Shelter Republic – Request your membership invitation The conversation also examines larger systemic issues—from the housing crisis and the loss of architectural criticism to concerns about deregulating the architectural profession and the future pipeline of architects. Ultimately, the discussion reveals architecture as both a creative discipline and a civic responsibility. Tim Barber, Kelly Becker, David Stone, Ari Engleman, Katie Peterson-Hesketh Post-Pandemic Spatial Design Homes are now workplaces, classrooms, and wellness environments. Architects are designing more flexible, compartmentalized spaces rather than large open rooms. The Reassessment of the Open Floor Plan Open layouts are losing popularity as homeowners seek acoustic separation, privacy, and spatial hierarchy. Healthy Homes Clients increasingly ask about air quality, non-toxic materials, EMF concerns, and overall wellness in the built environment. Aging in Place & Multigenerational Living Homes are being designed for lifelong occupancy, with elevators, adaptable bathrooms, and secondary primary suites. Housing Crisis Misconceptions The problem is not a lack of housing overall but a shortage of affordable, well-located housing. Sustainability Through Longevity The most sustainable building is the one that already exists. Adaptive reuse and generational homes are key strategies. Fire Resilience and Climate Adaptation Wildfire rebuild projects are forcing architects to rethink materials, structural resilience, and building codes. “Performance Spending” Homeowners must choose between visible luxury and invisible resilience investments. Architects as Client Advocates Architects frequently guide clients away from poor decisions through education and alternatives rather than simply saying “no.” Material Uncertainty and Construction Cost Volatility Rapid cost changes and new materials create challenges for planning and specification. Professional Deregulation Concerns Removing architectural licensing protections could threaten safety, quality, and professional standards. Education and Knowledge Sharing The firm runs an internal “university” model to continuously train staff and share knowledge. Loss of Architectural Criticism The disappearance of critics and serious architectural journalism has created a cultural vacuum in evaluating design. Adaptive Reuse and Density Office conversions and moderate urban density may become major architectural trends. Future of Residential Design Homes may become smaller but more sophisticated—prioritizing performance, durability, and resilience.
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