Imagine a Place

Dealer designers play a vital role in shaping the workplace experience, yet many navigate their careers without a strong professional network or a clear roadmap for growth. In this engaging conversation, Maria VanDeman sits down with Alexandra Tseffos, founder of The Design POP, to discuss the evolving role of dealer designers and the power of building community within the industry. Together, they explore career development, leadership, mentorship, professional visibility, and the importance of understanding what truly brings fulfillment and value to your work. From creating meaningful connections with peers to finding opportunities for growth within your organization, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement for designers who want to build a more purposeful, connected, and rewarding career.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.
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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

What happens when two design leaders sit down after one of the industry's biggest events and tell the truth about how they're really feeling?

In this candid episode, Maria VanDeman, Director of Design Strategy, and Christina Jameson, Director of Workplace, reflect on Design Days and NeoCon, discussing burnout, working motherhood, authenticity, workplace design, career passion, and the future of human connection in an AI driven world. They explore why designers are uniquely susceptible to burnout, how authentic spaces create stronger workplace experiences, and why meaningful conversations matter more than ever.

If you attended Design Days and NeoCon in Chicago, or if you're a designer, workplace strategist, leader, parent, or creative professional trying to balance purpose and pressure, this episode will resonate deeply.

Connect with Christina on LinkedIn.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.
Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck.
Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

What happens when art, wellness, and design come together? In this special Design Days Chicago episode, Maria VanDeman sits down with artist Liz Flores and Alkemis co-founder Price Latimer to explore the partnerships shaping the OFS showroom experience. Liz shares the stories woven into her vibrant artwork, from the symbolism of an acorn growing into a tree to her celebration of imagination, community, and the female perspective. Price reflects on Alkemis' journey to create the world's first wellness paint and why the materials surrounding us matter as much as the spaces themselves. 

Join us for an inspiring look at the creative vision behind the OFS Design Days experience and the collaborators making it possible. Together, they invite listeners into a showroom designed not just to be seen, but to be felt.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.
Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck.
Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Recorded live from ICFF 2026, Wesley Edmonds sits down with Sabrina Lippman, CEO of Habitat for Humanity NYC & Westchester, for a powerful conversation about housing, dignity, and the life-changing impact of homeownership.

From transforming underutilized spaces across New York City into thriving communities, to helping working families build generational stability, Sabrina shares how Habitat for Humanity is redefining what affordable housing can look like in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

Together, they explore the emotional impact of having a place to call home, the connection between design and dignity, and why creating stability gives people the freedom to dream bigger.

Connect with Sabrina on LinkedIn

Connect with Wesley on LinkedIn

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.
Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck.
Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Recorded live at ICFF in New York City, Wesley Edmonds sits down with Tana Hovland of Rockwell Group to talk about what design really means today.

Tana shares how her work has shifted from skyscrapers to experience-driven spaces and why hospitality is about more than just how things look. From healthcare clinics that feel like home to designing spaces that engage all five senses, this conversation explores how thoughtful design can shape how people feel, move, and connect.

It’s a candid, insightful look at creating spaces people actually want to be in.

Connect with Tana on LinkedIn

Connect with Wesley on LinkedIn

 

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.
Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.
Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.
Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck.
Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.