Convo By Design®
432 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 39 ratingsA 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. Copyright © Fusion Media Management, Inc. 2013-2021 All rights reserved.
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Episodes
Sue Firestone | 210 | Your Guide to California Crafted
March 12, 2019 16:20 - 34.5 MBDon’t make the common mistakes when working ‘California Crafted’ style into your design project. Let Sue guide you through the key steps to making it all work together. She also explains how designers can create signature lines that are true and authentic to the designer’s vision. Every designer I speak with has their own unique talents and set of skills. That is what allows them to stand out and achieve a high level of success. People gravitate to creative types like a moth to light. I find...
Chad Dorsey | 209 Designing for Two Cities: LA Vs. DFW
March 05, 2019 17:06 - 24.3 MB“take a party where you have your close friends and everyone winds up in the kitchen. Why shouldn’t it be the best room in the house” -Chad Dorsey This is Convo By Design recorded in the Living Kitchen Studio. Designer/ Architect, Chad Dorsey was born in Tennessee, has a primary office in Dallas and projects from LA to Washington state. When you hear the accent, you know he isn’t a native Angeleno, but he understands design. Had is the founder of Chad Dorsey Design. Our conversation covers ...
Cynthia Lambakis | 208 Navigating Creative Partnerships and Owning the Role of Advisor
February 26, 2019 16:44 - 24.9 MB"One of the benefits of being an advisor is, you already know how long things take." - Cynthia Lambakis When you do a show like this long enough, like watching any family or group of friends, you see new partnerships form and others go away. This is a subject we have not talked about on the show and I am a little surprised. This episode features interior designer, Cynthia Lambakis. Cynthia is a returning guest from episode 63, I think. I was touring the Pasadena Showcase House of Design in 2...
Joan Behnke | 207 Insights: The Art of Design and Self Expression
February 21, 2019 04:15 - 33 MBJoan Behnke founded her namesake design studio in 1999. Since then, she has been trailblazing a path studded with interior design gems from LA to DC. Joan views interior design as a fine art and an exercise in self-expression. It’s both intimate and created for the world to see based on the unique personality of its inhabitant. I met Joan at her studio and we sat for quite a while. She is in a really good place. The firm has enjoyed international recognition and while that is important, she ...
Rocky LaFleur | 206 Legendary Los Angeles Design Ambassador
February 12, 2019 17:25 - 27.4 MBWhen you hit a certain level of success and notoriety, you co from having two names, to being known by one. In the design and architecture circles of Southern California, the name "Rocky" leaves no mistake about whom we are speaking. Rocky LaFleur is a fixture of the design and architecture scene. Rocky has been in West Hollywood for over 40 years, dedicating his time to promote our community and help mentor the next generation of design professionals. I met Rocky at the Pacific Design Center...
The Art Dept | 205 An Inside Look at TV and Movie Design Magic
February 05, 2019 21:30 - 21.7 MBIf you have been listening to Convo By Design for a while, you have heard amazing stories about set decorators from your favorite TV shows and movies. I thought there should be a special place, just for those who create TV and movie magic. So, I have launched a new podcast called The Art Dept. featuring stories about design and creativity from behind the camera. You are still going to hear from them here on Convo By Design, but in addition to the set decorators, The Art Dept. is going to int...
Brian Pinkett | 204 Creating Luxury as a Team with The Landry Design Group
January 31, 2019 18:25 - 22.9 MBThis is a conversation about teamwork, luxury design, collaboration and longevity. More specifically, how Brian Pinkett of the Landry Design Group structured his career. If that sounds contrived, listen to him describe it. He knew what he wanted to do at a very early age and built his work life around his passion. I wish I could have found my passion early, I didn’t and I would say that is most common. Ito took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do, what made me happiest. Brian fou...
Peter Gurski | 203 ON SET: Will & Grace
January 28, 2019 17:26 - 30.1 MBConvo By Design is recorded in the Living Kitchen Studio and this week, you are going to hear from an amazing talent and wonderful guy. This is Peter Gurski, set decorator and the man behind the look and feel of Will & Grace. Peter is a multifaceted creative meaning he is also an interior designer and has held multiple other roles within the art department including production designer and art director. But this is special for me and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Peter. He invited ...
Design Rewind: feat Kathryn M Ireland, Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Christopher Farr
January 25, 2019 15:59 - 38.4 MBAfter five years doing the #podcast, 200 podcast episodes and 150 videos on YouTube, this might be a good opportunity to republish some previous episodes of the show, schedule permitting. I am publishing #ThrowbackThursday episode featuring guests and conversations you haven’t heard in a while…. Like this one. These TBT episodes have been so much fun for me. It’s been like going through a box of family photos. Each conversation has special memories for me. and this one is very special. When ...
LA’s Silicon Beach | 202 The Design Hub of Innovation
January 21, 2019 17:50 - 33.8 MBConvo By Design is recorded live from the SubZero Wolf Living Kitchen Studio. You heard that right, Convo By Design has a new sponsor, SubZero Wolf Cove. The Living Kitchen Studio will be recording from the studios in Los Angeles and surrounding areas bringing you the stories of amazing design and architecture. Speaking of which, this week we have a great conversation from the Convo By Design stage at the WestEdge Design Fair. You might recall that the stage was designed by Julia Wong featuri...
Design Rewind: feat Designing for the Red Carpet #DIEM 2014
January 17, 2019 16:01 - 32.8 MBThis is Convo By Design with a special #ThrowbackThursday episode of the podcast. This is from the West Hollywood Design District in 2014 with a really fun conversation called Designing for the Red Carpet. Because it is award season, I thought this would be a good time to look back at this chat whose name suggests that it is an in-depth look at the red carpet. It is about fashion, the red carpet and our connection to celebrity, glamour and design. Interiors and home decor are being influenced...
The Starview House | 201
January 14, 2019 19:10 - 30.7 MBIt's happening… There is a transformational shift taking place in the design house space. It’s a mash-up of the traditional idea of a design house and a reinvented version of the model home with its roots in Southern California architecture dating back to the 1950’s and 60’s. As LA’s architectural engine was powering up, ‘tract homes’ became a thing. The concept was simple, take use swaths of land and fill it with homes built from a handful of layouts. Provide different color and material opt...
Design Rewind: feat To Live and Design in DTLA from WestWeek 2016
January 10, 2019 16:40 - 28.3 MBThis was originally published in two parts, episodes 67 and 68. It was March 23, 2016 at the Pacific Design Center for WestWeek. This conversation called To Live and Design in DTLA was moderated by Carlo Caccavale, Associate Director, AIA Los Angeles. Downtown LA was changing, rapidly and the world was beginning to notice. This panel included some of the very participants in this revolution, they include Erin and Ian Besler of Besler & Sons, Lawrence Azerrad of LAD Design, Loryn Napala and...
Celebrating 200 Episodes | Bonus Tracks
January 09, 2019 16:41 - 15.2 MBI thought about making this one long episode and thought better of it. You are busy and don’t have time for a three hour production. This is part two of our 200th episode retrospective. You heard from some remarkable designers, architects, set decorators and chefs. I wanted to share another side of the podcast in part two. A series of creatives that don’t necessarily fit into a specific category when talking about design and architecture. The Triforium is a public art project that had seen b...
Celebrating 200 Episodes | 200
January 08, 2019 17:51 - 30.1 MBThank you for getting us to 200 episodes! Thank you for listening to the podcast, watching our videos on YouTube, coming out to the events, design houses and remote recording sessions. Thank you for reaching out on social media and better yet, in person to tell me you like the show, disagreed with me about something I said or make a suggestion for a future guest or topic. The show is now in its sixth year and this is episode 200. I wanted to do something special this week and for the past fe...
Design Rewind: feat Designer Ryan White from WestEdge Design Fair 2016
January 03, 2019 16:48 - 21.2 MBThis is Convo By Design and after five years doing the podcast, after 200 podcast episodes and 150 videos on YouTube, this might be a good opportunity to republish some previous episodes of the show. Moving forward, as the schedule permits, which means I am going to try and publish these every week, but things happen… anyhow, moving forward and schedule permitting, I am going to publish a #ThrowbackThursday episode featuring guests you haven’t heard from in a while…. This episode is dedicate...
CHAIRity: The Art of Giving | 199
January 02, 2019 19:06 - 23.2 MBGiving back to those in need has been a part of the design and architecture community for as long as I can remember. The D & A community is one of the most generous groups of which I have ever been a part. Convo By Design is proud to be a part of a program that includes the remarkable talents of decorative artist Shari Tipich, Nick Arquette, founder of Walk With Sally, a fantastic youth mentor organization and Christopher Suess, VONDOM showroom manager, who donated some beautiful pieces to th...
Global Design Inspiration: Paris Calling | 198
December 19, 2018 17:13 - 31.1 MBIt’s very easy to be completely happy and satisfied with the design and architecture community in Southern California, but where is the fun in that? This conversation took place at the WestEdge Design Fair and featured designers Kelli Ellis and Barclay Butera, also present was architect Greggory Phillips. This diverse panel discussed Maison y Objet in Paris. They compare and contrast this event with other design focused events around the US. This is a conversation about experience. While ...
Leslie Shapiro Joyal | 197
December 14, 2018 17:29 - 32 MBThis is Convo By Design with designer, showroom owner and furniture maker, Leslie Shapiro Joyal. I met Leslie at the Wattles Mansion Showcase house a few years ago. When talking with designers at showhouses, much of the topic of conversation is the house itself, understandably so because the goal is to learn all about the space before it’s gone. At the same time, for quite some time, I have been wanting to circle back with Leslie to talk about her design, the showroom and her furniture. We ...
Trip Haenisch | 196
December 06, 2018 16:32 - 33.1 MBThis is Convo By Design with designer, Trip Haenisch. Haenisch is known for his comfortable, collected and easy-going style. He has earned a reputation for his incredible talent and the celebrity clientele that followed. Trip has a new book out called Personal Space and it features his elegant Hollywood style juxtaposed against comfortable California living. These two would appear to be in direct conflict. Actually, it is all in the presentation, a skill Haenisch has mastered. You are going...
Design, Art and Mobility with LA Metro | 195
November 28, 2018 22:13 - 22.4 MBThis is Convo By Design with a chat about design and traffic. What do these two things have to do with each other? Everything. I think it is safe to say that we are in the midst of an industrial revolution of sorts. I think one might not always notice the changes going on around them until those changes significantly affect their own lives. If you live in Southern California or any major metropolitan city you have probably noticed that your life is being directly affected by changes in the w...
Kelli Ellis & Erika Heet | 194 The Insiders Guide to Getting Published
November 20, 2018 20:05 - 19.4 MBI was recording live from the WestEdge Design Fair and onstage with me are designer Kelli Ellis and Interiors Magazine Editor-In-Chief Erika Heet. If you listen to the podcast regularly you know that I like to go deep and focus on the less explored side of design and architecture. The business side is fascinating to me and these two women are hyper-engaged and have so much to offer. They are also polar opposites in their demeanor and style. Conversations like these are fun, informative and ...
Dan Brunn | 193
November 13, 2018 17:27 - 28.7 MBThis is Convo By Design with a special conversation with Dan Burnn, a fascinating architect. This interview was recorded live from the WestEdge Design Fair in the Programming Lounge presented by Convo By Design. This conversation was really fun for me. Dan is a very interesting guy with a unique perspective on architecture and how he bends and blends ideas to fit the lives of his clients. Dan and I spoke about modern ideas in architecture and studied two of his California projects, the Flip-...
Elle H Millard | 192 NKBA Award Winning Kitchens
November 07, 2018 21:00 - 26.1 MBThe National Kitchen and Bath Association conducts one of the most comprehensive kitchen competitions I know of. Many designers I have spoken to are not even aware of the competition so I wanted to shed some light on the subject. Elle H Millard is a certified kitchen designer and Industry Relations Manager for the NKBA. She joined me for a conversation about the NKBA and the kitchen competition. I enjoyed my chat with Elle and I was reminded that designers and architects need only search fo...
Anthony Poon | 191
October 31, 2018 23:11 - 28.4 MBI have told you a number of times why I started this podcast and how much I love these conversations. Following is one of my favorites for a number of reasons. I had the chance to sit with Anthony Poon, musician, artist, teacher, award-winning architect and IIDA interior designer. Poon received his Bachelor of Arts from Berkley and his Master of Architecture from Harvard. So, we talk about architecture but we also discuss music and art, compare and contrast these disciplines and explore ways...
Brand Development for Creatives – Presented by CXD and ASID Los Angeles | 190
October 23, 2018 18:51 - 47.7 MBThis past weekend was the WestEdge Design Fair and once again, Troy Hanson and Megan Reilly have outdone themselves. I have been so fortunate to be associated with Troy and Megan at WestEdge. This is my favorite design event because it is really, as Troy and Megan have called it, “the anti-trade show”. Not that shows for the trade are bad, they are great. This one is presented differently and having worked with them for so many years, they try to give their attendees something new and differe...
Dara Waxman | 189
October 16, 2018 18:56 - 24.9 MBThis is Convo By Design with Dara Waxman, a set decorator whose work has appeared in films and TV but what is truly unique about Dara is here artistic endeavors in total. She has worked at multiple levels within the art department. Her skills include sketch up, illustration, carving, metalsmithing, goldsmithing, she crafts jewelry and comes from a family that was “in the business.” Dara and I talk about crafting for the winter during the summertime. Dara is so fun to talk to. You are going to...
Xander Noori | 188
October 09, 2018 16:06 - 31.2 MBXander Noori and Keon Khajavi-Noori are Orange County, California’s dynamic duo of design. This all-in partnership is both personal and professional and as you listen to these two talk about how they met and how they work you will see that this partnership is built upon and thrives on contrast, conviction and perhaps a little conflict. They each have their professional lane in which they try to remain and there is a great deal of respect each has for the other and each compensates for the ot...
Winning an OSCAR and Set Design with Victor Zolfo | 187
October 03, 2018 15:18 - 30 MBThis is Convo By Design with award winning set decorator, Victor Zolfo. Award winning…. Oscar winning for his work on Benjamin Button. I was really curious what that experience was like. How do you prepare yourself for the Academy Awards? Do you prepare a speech, or not? What if you win, what if you don’t…. I know, it’s an honor just being nominated. I’m sure that it is, but what if they don’t call your name? So, you get to hear it strait from someone who’s been there. Zolfo has works on so...
Modern Open Ranch with Rozalynn Woods | 186
September 27, 2018 15:01 - 27.2 MBThis is the third and final episode of our Pasadena Home Tour featuring Rozalynn Woods. The ASID, Pasadena Chapter is offering a really unique event. This is a semi-guided tour of three amazing homes that will give design enthusiasts a truly unique glimpse into Pasadena’s rich and diverse design and architecture. This one day event will feature tours of three amazing homes, a pop-up and food trucks… The event is October 7th from 10am to 4pm in Pasadena and you can find all the details on the...
Paul Williams Revival with Jennifer Bevan | 185
September 26, 2018 15:00 - 28.4 MBThe ASID, Pasadena Chapter is offering a really unique event. This is a semi-guided tour of three amazing homes that will give design enthusiasts a truly unique glimpse into Pasadena’s rich and diverse design and architecture. This one day event will feature tours of three amazing homes, a pop-up and food trucks… The event is October 7th from 10am to 4pm in Pasadena and you can find all the details on the ASID Pasadena Chapter website. Now, if you download these episodes AFTER the 7th, that’...
Traditional Vegas Baby with Santana Design |184
September 25, 2018 14:21 - 25.9 MBThis is a first for Convo By Design. We are producing three episodes in one week to showcase a design tour in Pasadena on one day only, October 7th, 2018. Since the purpose of Convo By Design is to share, inspire, educate and motivate the design and architecture communities in particular and all creative thinkers and doers in general, this seemed like a good time to do this. The ASID, Pasadena Chapter is offering a really unique event. This is a semi-guided tour of three amazing homes that ...
Ysabel Executive Chef – Alison Trent | 183
September 18, 2018 17:51 - 22.6 MBAlison Trent invited me into her world for an afternoon, and it was a wonderful experience. Trent is Executive Chef at LA eatery, Ysabel. She calls LA home by way of New York and her first home, Australia. Alison’s journey to Ysabel included stints at French Laundry and Bouchon. She has been at Ysabel for 3 years as of this recording. A few things that make Alison Trent so unique is her attention to detail, a focus on perfection with a strong desire to experiment and create. Two very differe...
Lorcan O’Herlihy & Peter Culley | 182
September 11, 2018 16:13 - 30.6 MBIn 2017, I had the opportunity to speak with noted architect Lorcan O’Herlihy. We spoke about the ever changing architectural landscape of Los Angeles. This conversation features a comparison between architecture in Los Angeles and Detroit. Most people don’t realize how many similarities exist between these two cities…. one that is reaching its limits with regard to growth and the other which is in the process of a wholesale rebirth. You can decide which is which. Lorcan discusses the “infill...
EMMY Nominations and Set Design with Brandi Kalish | 181
September 05, 2018 23:25 - 18.7 MBBrandi Kalish is a set decorator with a nomination this year for a prime time Emmy for her work on HBO’s Silicon Valley. She is up for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour Or Less). Kalish, whose work includes, of course Silicon Valley, Wilfred, White Famous and Teen Wolf amongst other shows. This conversation gets very fun when we start discussing different types of blood that don’t stain and how to use nut shavings for an assortment of different types of bugs. S...
EMMYS Episode feat. Juan Morales & Kimberly Wannop | 180
August 30, 2018 15:32 - 28.1 MBThe EMMYS are coming and while many will be watching to see who wins best actor, best actress and best show, a few of us will be looking to see who wins the awards for production and set design. As a fan of television and movies as well as design and architecture, the EMMYS present the best of both worlds. I had the opportunity to sit with Juan Morales, publisher of Emmy Magazine before Emmy season started and we discussed both the magazine, the Emmy’s themselves and the art behind the creati...
Wade Weissmann | 179
August 22, 2018 17:55 - 29.4 MBWade Weissmann is principal and founder of Wade Weissmann Architecture. The firm has studios in Santa Barbara, Nashville, Millwalkie, Chicago and Pittsburg and Wade is a really interesting guy. He has a very eclectic sense of space and he balances that against historic influences to create really amazing environments. The following conversation is about craftsmanship, innovation and application of time-tested techniques. Wade talks about the influence of past masters and incorporating his own...
Mia Lehrer | 178
August 16, 2018 16:21 - 41.1 MBMia Lehrer is the principal architect, president and founder of Studio-MLA. She was raised in El Salvador to a family that was heavily involved in activism and community leadership. In the 60’s, her mother started a micro lending project for women while her father was helping disadvantaged youths. Lehrer earned her Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. She founded Studio-MLA and surrounded herself with some of the best and brightest. Speaking ...
Stephen Francis Jones | 177
August 08, 2018 16:47 - 24.3 MBStephen Francis Jones is an architect with offices in Marina Del Rey, California. Stephen is the principal of SF Jones Architects, a unique firm that has turned architectural design of restaurants into somewhat of an art form. I don’t use that term lightly, and as you will hear, Jones doesn’t either. As the in-house architect for Wolfgang Puck, he helped set the tone for the dining experience that led to a very successful, global brand. His objective is to create an environment that matches ...
Lawrence Azzerad | 176
August 02, 2018 14:38 - 27.6 MBWe continue our journey through the forrest of unique conversations from this years LA Design Festival. This week, we have a very cool presentation from LADdesign founder, graphic designer, creative director and Grammy Award winner, Lawrence Azerrad. Azerrad’s studio, LADdesign is focused on the crossroads of branding, culture, music and education. It makes perfects sense too as Azzard’s prior experience was as an art director with Warner Bros. Records working on the creative packaging for ar...
Intellectual Property Rights for Creatives | 175
July 25, 2018 18:06 - 27.8 MBI was in #PalmSprings for #ModernismWeek and got into a very passionately heated conversation between an architect, designer and myself on the topic of intellectual Property rights and their relationship to the design and architecture business. The designer at the table that night was LA native and LA design fixture, Gary Gibson. My background is in broadcasting and digital media. Was the general manager and program director for Playboy and the digital audio division. It was there that I met ...
Haily Zaki – Founder of LA Design Festival |174
July 19, 2018 18:37 - 15.9 MBThe LA Design Festival has come and gone this year. But, over the next few weeks and months, you will be hearing the conversations that were recorded live in the Convo By Design Audio Design Lab as well as panel conversations from the main stage at the event. Design really is for everyone, Haily Zaki, founder of the LA Design Festival is a believer and practitioner of that very concept. Following is a conversation with Haily that was recorded during this year’s event. For me, the main take-a...
ON SET: William DeBiasio | 173
July 09, 2018 15:25 - 22.3 MBYou have heard from set decorators on the podcast before. I enjoy speaking to set decorators for a number of reasons not the least of which is their MacGyver like skills. The great ones possess a superpower for turning one thing into something else for the sake of the script. Another skill is looking at a page of text and creating a designed space based on nothing but that. Designers and architects do this every day by channeling and deciphering the needs and wishes of clients, now imagine th...
Christopher Mercier | 172
July 03, 2018 21:39 - 23.7 MBPairing passions and finding a way to do what you love for a living make for great conversations. Art and architecture go so well together and it is an absolute joy to find these two qualities in the same individual. We have had masterful architects on past episodes like Takashi Yanai, who, in addition to being a masterful architect, is a highly skilled photographer. Ward Jewell, another master who is not only an accomplished draftsman but a musician as well. It seems counterintuitive to me b...
Rossoblu Chef & Owner Steve Samson | 171
June 26, 2018 22:02 - 24.9 MBDesign and food go hand in glove, the similarities are too numerous to mention all but consider texture, color and the connections we make with food, as we do with design that remind us of moments in time and places that make us happy. I had the opportunity to catch up with Steve Samson, a cornerstone of the Southern California culinary community. Samson is the chef and owner of not one but two Los Angeles restaurants on note, Sotto and Rossoblu. Steve has mastered the art of Italian cuisine ...
The Best Advise for Maximizing Your Creative Thinking | 170
June 20, 2018 17:03 - 23.8 MBI am happiest at work when I am surrounded by creative types and talking about creative endeavors. The LA Design Festival has come and gone, but for the past few weeks, I have been culling throughout the content from the event and putting it together in ways that I want you to hear and see it. Sometimes, that means changing the order and this is one of those times. Following is a conversation for anyone who considers themselves a “creative”, an artist, designer, architect or any other title t...
Russ Diamond | 169
June 12, 2018 21:14 - 23.8 MBI have learned a lot in five seasons producing, hosting and publishing Convo By Design. If you have been listening for a while, you know that the show is presented by Snyder Diamond. It has been a while since we had Russ Diamond, second generation president of Snyder Diamond on the podcast and it was time to have Russ back. We were recording all weekend long at the LA Design Festival in downtown Los Angeles. Sitting with Russ is always a great opportunity to learn new things about the busines...
Gary Gibson | 168
June 05, 2018 15:13 - 33.1 MBOne of the most rewarding things about doing this podcast is meeting new architects, designers, artists, product manufacturers, show producers and fans of design. Here are a few things we all have in common… We love beautiful design and amazing architecture. We all love talking about beautiful design and amazing architecture. And, best of all, we all have very different opinions as to what does and does not qualify as beautiful or amazing. I get approached quite often at industry events by pe...
Food and Design at The intersection of Passion and Art | 167
May 29, 2018 22:39 - 39.3 MBThis June seventh through tenth, Convo By Design will be back at the LA Design Festival. Last year, we covered the event as a media partner. We brought you coverage from some amazing events and conversations. This year, we are going back and in addition to covering all the activities from the event at ROW Downtown LA, Convo By Design will be hosting the Audio Design Lab, an experimental space dedicated to the craft of audio design. We will be hosting conversations, testing new equipment and t...
Pasadena Showcase Vikki Sung, Shari Tipich and Jeanne Chung | 166
May 22, 2018 16:45 - 25.7 MBThis past weekend (5/20/18) marked the closing of the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts. And it coincides with the end of our coverage as well. Following are our final three conversations. I think you will enjoy them. But first, a little bit more about the Pasadena area that you might not be aware of and how this region of Southern California has shaped the way we live and design and it’s probably not what you might be expecting. Pasadena is rich with tradition from the Tournament of Roses...