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!

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Join the opening session with OFS

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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.

This first “POP In” episode is a quick check-in—no guest, no script, just a few thoughts worth sharing.

This episode is less about answers and more about observations. After hosting two recent Design POP webinars with designers—Alexandra reflects on personality tendencies, designer struggles, and workflows.

Think of this as a quick pulse check on the industry and an open invitation to keep the conversation going.

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.

Before Steven Jenkins officially steps into the role of CEO at Configura, Alexandra is taking time to introduce him to The Design POP community. She reconnects with Steven who she worked with years ago during her time as a Configura trainer. He was known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to truly hear what users needed.

In this conversation, Steven shares how he first joined Configura as one of the company’s early employees, what he learned after leaving to build leadership experience in larger global organizations, and what it’s been like returning as a board member before stepping into the CEO role. While Alexandra plans to talk about the future in a later conversation, this episode is a chance to get to know the person behind the title.

Configura's Experience 2026 will be in Cincinnati. Stay tuned for more details by following Configura.

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn

Learn more about Configura

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 commercial interior designer falls in love with Excel spreadsheets and watercolor painting?

In this episode, Alexandra sits down with Rebekah Jacobi, Design Director at Pivot Interiors in San Francisco, to explore what it means to be a whole creative human in the commercial interiors industry. From leading high-level workplace design strategy and tracking performance metrics to rediscovering watercolor painting and surface pattern design, Rebekah shares how embracing her duality has transformed the way she leads.

We talk about data, design time tracking, decision making, creative identity, and the courage it takes to evolve beyond your job title. If you’re a design leader, interior designer, or creative professional navigating the balance between business and artistry, this conversation will leave you rethinking what it really means to thrive in this industry.

Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is make space to create.

Join a Design POP Circle

Connect with Rebekah on LinkedIn

Check out Rebekah's art on Lavender Canyon Co

Learn more about Pivot Interiors

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.

Chad Bewley has spent nearly three decades at the same dealership (Freeform) and he’s built a career many designers would envy.

In this episode, Chad and Alexandra sit down at CETx 2025. Chad shares how he found success without a traditional design degree and why relationships matter more than resumes. He also reflects on how long-term commitment can unlock trust and influence that simply can’t be fast-tracked.

From drafting tables and early CAD days to live design, sales leadership—Chad’s story proves that experience and people skills still carry real weight in our industry. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “doing it wrong” and need permission to define success on their own terms.

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn

Learn more about Freeform

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.

As winter settles in and the year comes to a close, Alexandra reflects on a habit many of us share—finishing something big and immediately moving on to what’s next. A simple moment at home with her son becomes a reminder to slow down, recognize progress, and make space to celebrate the wins, both big and small.

Thank you for listening, for sharing your time, and for supporting The Design POP this year.

Email Alexandra at alexandra@thedesignpop.com

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.