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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More Episodes
LK & Associates Designed an Experience Center for Themselves
To be clear, the experience center that’s owned by LK & Associates in Southeast Florida may be theirs on paper. But, as Seth Kaplan told us, this space is intended to be a playground for the industry. Shortly after the official grand opening, we sat down with Seth to explore how they got to this point, plans for the space moving forward, and much more.
A Couple of Content Creators Chat About the State of Media and More
Though from different generations, our Editor in Chief Rob Stott and Strata-gee Founder and Chief Content Creator Ted Green have a lot more in common than you’d expect. Here, the two journos commiserate on the current conditions impacting media and the custom integration channel, how their stories have intertwined, and much more.
Kyle Steele On the Importance of Adaptability as an Integrator
Global Wave Integration Founder and CEO Kyle Steele has had quite the professional journey. From an aspiring rock star to a standout in the custom integration industry, he’s learned how to remain adaptable in life, let alone his profession. Here, we dive into the many challenges facing CIs today, including new technologies, AI, business operations, and more.
From Industry Newbie to CEDIA Board Chair
Amanda Wildman’s career arc is one she would’ve never predicted. Custom integration wasn’t even a term she was familiar with before leaving the jewelry business and getting into the channel with her husband over two decades ago. Now, she’s getting set to serve as the first-ever female Chair of CEDIA’s Global Board of Directors.
The Story Behind this New Chapter of Connected Design
The premiere episode of the Connected Design Podcast features an interview with our co-founders Rob and MEO.
