Design Perspectives

Mandy Cheng is a FORCE of Nature. I was so honored to sit down & discuss how she created her eponymous firm.

Mandy launched her solo design career first as a production and graphic designer in the film/television industry. She has designed music videos for chart-topping names such as J.Cole, One Republic, and Dillon Francis & DJ Snake, and worked as a graphic designer on projects ranging from 20th Century Women and Ladybird to Beyonce's Lemonade.

Mandy Cheng, named AD 100 for 3 years in a row (2022, 2023, and 2024), has transitioned her set design experience into a career...

As a Chief Financial Officer for over 10 years, Danielle loved accounting but felt like something was missing while just helping investors and board of directors of large companies.

That’s when she realized her thrill for helping entrepreneurs, especially women, who were breaking the rules of business in order to create something amazing – something the rest of the world didn’t expect them to do. Danielle left corporate accounting and formed Kickstart Accounting, Inc; an accounting firm designed to help female entrepreneurs understand their financials in order to grow their businesses and become more profitable.

Since...

Hello beautiful people! I am back and excited to dive into some key topics; customer service, communication, and accountability.

Recently, I found myself facing a situation that demanded direct action. As creatives, we're natually sensitive about our craft - it's part of what makes our work so unique. But there's a balance to strike: being open to critical feedback is just as essential. For me, ensuring my clients' satisfaction isn't just about completing a project; it's about building lasting relationships. Happy clients aren't just a one-time success-they're the cornerstone of repeat business and the source of invaluable...

This is a story about falling in love, taking chances, and of course, Brooklyn. 

We met on an app in 2017 and chatted non-stop for two weeks before ever meeting in person. Immediately, we bonded over our shared love of architecture and design, and have been inseparable ever since.

Although Jordan is from Las Vegas and Barry is from New Orleans, we’ve called Brooklyn home for 15 years. Our first dates were biking around Bed Stuy, admiring the beautiful brownstones and dreaming about our future home.

Six months into dating, we purchased our...

Ariel Okin is the founder of her eponymous firm, Ariel Okin Interiors, a New York-based, full-service interior design firm specializing in luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the country. Ariel’s signature style can be interpreted as “traditional with a twist” – warm, livable and elegant spaces, with an edited, contemporary and practical approach. A deft use of color, emphasis on clean lines, and mix of bespoke and antique items are hallmarks of her aesthetic, yet no two projects are alike; Ariel believes every home should reflect its owner.

Ariel established her firm in 2016, and has since been feat...

The roots of our products are in Johanna’s native Sweden. That is where, as a young girl, she sat in her mother’s atelier as she meticulously crafted dresses by hand.
Johanna learned to appreciate the quality and versatility that only hand work can achieve. And it is where she was surrounded by the clean elegance of Scandinavian design.
As a young woman, Johanna took these influences with her to America to attend fashion school and then to establish herself as a successful clothing designer.
Working for such companies as BCBG, Katayone Adeli, Express and Gap ...

Alix Lerman is the Chief Marketing Officer of the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue, a premier destination for high-end interior design. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovation, Alix has transformed the marketing landscape of the center, making it a hub for designers & architects. Her strategic vision & creative prowerss have elevated the center's brand, driving engagement & growth. Under her leadership, the New York design Center has become synonymous with excellence & sophistication in the design industry.

Courtney McLeod is the founder and principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design, an award-winning, full-service design studio located in the heart of the Flatiron District in Manhattan.She has been included on the Elle Decor A-List since 2022 and the 1stDibs Top 50 Interior Designers List. She received the Rising Star Award by the DDB in 2022 and was named an Emerging Designer To Watch by Luxe Magazine in 2019. Her work is featured in the books “By Design: The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Designers” published by Phaidon, “Living to the Max“ published by Gestanlten, and “Live Colorfully” published by House Beautiful. She h...

David Mann is the founder and Principal behind MR Architecture & Decor, a nationally published New York based architecture and interior design firm (also part of ELLE Decor A-List in 2023 and AD100 in 2014) known for his work on some of the most iconic fashion boutiques (Lanvin, Takashimaya, Dior, J Mendel and Tory Burch) to The Parker Palm Springs and homes for power players like Pierre Hardy. He is working on projects throughout New York City, upstate and the Hamptons and is completing a few new residential projects. He also has a book and a furniture collection with Maison Gerard.

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Tram is a full-time chemical engineer who has spent many years working in consumer industries. She has always fallen in love with the feeling of transforming simple elements into everyday products. There have been countless moments when she felt incredibly excited to see the products she has worked on land on grocery shelves. The feeling is pure joy.

Her love for these consumer products grows bigger every day, which is why I am so passionate about creating a product line that she can proudly call her own. What could be better than making your home feel cozier...