A client who says they don’t want technology in their home may still expect reliable Wi-Fi, effortless music streaming, and a television that fits comfortably into a thoughtfully designed room. For interior designers, reconciling those expectations is as much a question of collaboration as it is product selection.
The new Technology Design Collective is built around helping designers navigate that intersection. Bringing together CEDIA, KMB Communications, Leon Speakers, Mills Technologies, and Sonos, the initiative aims to connect the interior design and residential technology communities through education, demonstrations, and direct conversations with potential project partners.
The Collective will make its debut at Design Edge Midwest, November 4–5 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Its presence at Booth #235 will give attendees a place to explore a central premise: Designers can confidently incorporate technology into their work without becoming technology specialists themselves.
“Interior designers shouldn’t have to become technology experts to confidently incorporate technology into their projects,” said Katye McGregor Bennett, founder and CEO of KMB Communications, who is leading the Collective’s programming and activation. “They do, however, benefit tremendously from understanding what’s possible, knowing when to bring technology into the conversation, and having the right partners at the table.”
That emphasis on timing and relationships is central to the Collective’s mission. Its goal is to encourage conversations that, according to the organizers, don’t always happen early enough in a project. Bringing technology professionals into those discussions can help designers consider how connected systems will support a space’s function while preserving its aesthetic.
The participating organizations bring several perspectives to that conversation. CEDIA offers its expertise as the professional association for the smart home technology industry. Chicagoland integration specialist Mills Technologies contributes practical insight into planning, installation, and working alongside design professionals. Leon Speakers and Sonos provide opportunities to explore how audio and other technology can fit into an interior, while KMB Communications coordinates the experience and educational programming.
For designers, the value lies in connecting those resources to familiar project challenges. Where should a display sit? How can speakers complement the room? What does a client actually mean when they say they do (or don’t) want a smart home? Those questions connect technology decisions to the broader work of understanding how clients want to live.
The Collective’s hands-on demonstrations will make those discussions tangible. An integrated wall featuring a Sony BRAVIA television, concealed backbox, articulating mount, and Leon Mera Sound Sconces will illustrate ways to reduce visible technology and create a more intentional installation. Other examples will explore the relationship between sound, materials, acoustics, and placement.
Short educational talks will extend that approach, addressing subjects such as engaging qualified technology partners, uncovering clients’ everyday connectivity needs, and incorporating technology without overwhelming a room’s aesthetic. The informal format includes opportunities for individual follow-up conversations, giving designers room to discuss questions specific to their own work.
“We’re creating an environment where designers can ask questions, explore ideas, and build relationships that make their projects and their businesses even stronger,” McGregor Bennett said.
That relationship-building ambition gives the Technology Design Collective a purpose beyond its show-floor demonstrations. The products help illustrate what is possible; the conversations are intended to help designers understand how to bring those possibilities into a project.
For a profession charged with balancing beauty, function, and individual client needs, the Collective offers an invitation to expand the project team — and to treat technology as part of realizing the design vision from the outset.
The Technology Design Collective will be at Booth #235 during Design Edge Midwest, November 4–5, 2026. Learn more at technologydesigncollective.com.
