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.

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.

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.