From smart technology and creative process to business insights and emerging trends, the Connected Design Podcast explores the ideas, projects, and people pushing design forward—across residential, commercial, and everything in between.
Latest Episode
SureBright Explores How Whole-System Coverage Improves the Integrator’s Offering
Warranty programs have their own connotations that they carry. But, traditionally, they’re seen as single-product programs that are there in the event of a product failure to protect the consumer. For custom integrators, who install products in myriad rooms and across a variety of categories and price points, the idea
Latest Episode
SureBright Explores How Whole-System Coverage Improves the Integrator’s Offering
Warranty programs have their own connotations that they carry. But, traditionally, they’re seen as single-product programs that are there in the event of a product failure to protect the consumer. For custom integrators, who install products in myriad rooms and across a variety of categories and price points, the idea of attaching a warranty to all those products would be impossible. That’s where SureBright’s new offering comes in.
VP of Strategic Partnerships Keith Kranepool joins the Connected Design Podcast to discuss whole-system warranty protection, recurring revenue opportunities, AI-powered proposal workflows, and why project-level coverage can help integrators strengthen client relationships.
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TheCoTeam’s Chris Smith Wants Integrators to Stop Unicorn Hunting
Drawing on more than two decades in the CI channel and hundreds of successful placements through TheCoTeam, Chris Smith breaks down why “unicorn hunting” is holding companies back, where integrators can find talent beyond the obvious candidate pool, and how a more intentional hiring process can help businesses grow stronger teams.
How Southtown AV Turned Relationships Into a Stadium-Sized Opportunity
Heather Sidorowicz, president of Southtown AV, talks about the company’s evolution from a local hi-fi shop into one of Buffalo’s leading commercial AV firms.
Force AV is Building Luxury Experiences All Over South Florida (and Beyond)
From luxury estates in Palm Beach to custom projects across the country, Rosenberg shares how Force AV approaches technology integration as a full-service experience centered on problem-solving, storytelling, and client trust.
Putting AI to Use in Floor Plan Generation with Drafted
Drafted, an AI-based platform that launched earlier this year, is a free-to-use tool that lets users dream up their ideal house plan with just a few simple prompts. Founder Nick Donahue sat down with us to talk about how the tool works, where he plans to expand its capabilities, and the role of AI in all areas of the homebuilding process.
Keder Screens on the Obstacles and Opportunities in the Shading Business
We pick the brain of Kim Parker, a partner at Keder Screens, to learn about the challenges and opportunities integrators face getting into the outdoor shade business.
What’s Next for Lightapalooza? HTSA and AVIXA Tell Us.
On the heels of the major news that AVIXA—the producers of InfoComm and a number of other AV industry show—had acquired Lightapalooza from HTSA, we sat down with Jenn Heinold, SVP of Expositions in the Americas, and HTSA’s Tom Doherty. The two dove into the growth of the event and what’s to come now that it’ll co-locate with InfoComm starting next year.
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Communication and Culture Drive Growth for Liaison Technology Group
Steve Weber’s career arc is an incredibly interesting one, but, much like the growth plan at Liaison Technology Group, it’s all been very intentional and well thought out. After visiting their new showroom in Fort Myers, we sat down with Steve to talk shop, learn more about him, and get him to share some of the secrets to his success.
Simplifying the Story Around Shading with Somfy
Karthick Kanagalingam, the Architectural Specifications Manager at Somfy, has always been fascinated by the world of motorized shading, dating back to his first job as a post-grad, which sent him into a commercial building that just happened to have a series of motorized shades. Today, he leverages that passion to help tell the story of the category and help it make sense to the brand’s partners and installers.
Legrand Discusses Builders’ Show Positioning and the Opportunity for Integrators
Following our visit to the Legrand booth at the 2026 Builders’ Show in Orlando, we sat down with Sr. Product Manager Racheal Rich to dive deeper into the brand’s positioning, how they balance conversations with integrators and builders, and how their portfolio perfectly blends the world of tech and design.
Caster’s New Owners Talk Future Plans, AI’s Impact, and More
Following up on our conversation with Caster Communications’ Founder Kimberly Lancaster, Connected Design sits down with the company’s new owners, Alexandra Crabb and Peter Girard. The duo share a bit about the legacy of the company, their plans for the future, and how AI is impacting every aspect of the business.
Succession Planning Ain’t Easy. Caster Comm Founder Walks Us Through Hers.
Taking on a seemingly insurmountable challenge is nothing new to Kimberly Lancaster. Every step of her career journey has been marked by defying the odds. Now, the PR firm founder and decades-long leader of Caster Communications is taking on a new kind of challenge—her exit from the business she spent years building. The calculated, honest approach to transitioning into this next phase is a great lesson for any business owner.
Picking the Brain of Power Proponent Joe Piccirilli
A veteran of the consumer electronics industry, Joe Piccirilli has seen it all. Today, as a major proponent of precision power performance, he’s set out to ensure integrators, builders, and consumers alike understand the importance of power in the context of the luxury smart home. When implemented properly, the right system can serve as the perfect power-driven painkiller for everyone involved.
