Brush up on your business skills and join ADAC for a day dedicated to helping designers at every level explore the ins and outs of running a business. Learn what it takes to work with C-Suite executives, explore how to build a successful business and diversify your pipeline, discover how to license your designs, take a first look at the Sherwin-Williams Colormix® Forecast 2025, and more.
Registration opens Sept. 17.
10-11 a.m. | Harnessing the Power of Your Intellectual Property
Whether it’s a book, a licensing collaboration, or a digital series, the way a designer expresses their creativity outside of offering design services, can be a powerful extension of their brand. Those expressions of their emotional and aesthetic signature are called Intellectual Property (IP), and they are one of the key differentiators between designer and design leader. In this strategy session, led by Kim Kuhteubl, founder of Me By Design, an Idea Boutique and Visibility Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurs, designers will learn how to package the creative flashes and solutions that come so easily to them into alternate revenue streams. They’ll also learn how to identify the key players and partners that will help them make their IP ideas a reality. Sponsored by Business of Home.
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | The Ins and Outs of Licensing from a Designer’s Point of View
In this day and age there are many interior designers and architects wishing to expand their skills beyond their normal practices and form alliances by licensing their designs to companies for various product categories. There are many ways to go about this, and Lori Weitzner, a distinguished textile and product designer, covers them all through a narrative of her own experiences in the licensing arena for over thirty years. By sharing her personal knowledge, designers will walk away with a clear pathway to licensing from a holistic point of view.
1-2 p.m. | Diversify Your Pipeline to Grow Your Business
Even if a firm is currently overwhelmed with projects, a successful business owner is constantly cultivating new leads and connections. With so many avenues to expand a business, from product development and licensing deals to satellite offices, books, brand partnerships and more, it can be hard to know where to begin. Join The Peak of Chic’s Jennifer Boles leading a panel of top design professionals, including Chris Reebals of Christopher Architecture & Interiors, Eric Chang of Hellman-Chang, and Christi Barbour of Barbour Spangle, as they share how they keep their pipelines robust with new clients and brand extensions. They’ll also provide insights on how they stay motivated to keep achieving future success. Sponsored by Decorative Furnishings Association, Design Centers International, Hellman-Chang, and Kravet Inc.
2:15-3:15 p.m. | Taking Design to the Top Level
Join award-winning interior designer Lorna Gross of LORNA GROSS Interior Design for a deep dive into what it takes to collaborate with and design for C-Suite executives. Gross will share her strategies, ideas, and experiences working with high-performing business leaders, and what it takes to succeed in both concept and execution amongst discerning and multidisciplinary clientele. Sponsored by Black Interior Designers Inc.
3:15-4 p.m. | Lorna Gross Book Signing, Entertaining by Design
Immediately following Gross’ presentation, she will sign copies of her new book, “Entertaining by Design,” a must-have guide to stress-free and beautiful entertaining ideas for various occasions and holidays. Sponsored by Black Interior Designers Inc.
4-5 p.m. | Sherwin-Williams Colormix® Forecast Reception
Network with your peers and enjoy a sneak peek at the Sherwin-Williams color trend stories for 2025. Following the reception, Sherwin-Williams invites you to delve into its Colormix® Forecast 2025 during an informative CEU presentation. Sponsored by Sherwin-Williams.
5-6 p.m | Sherwin-Williams Colormix® Forecast 2025
Led by Katie Davis, Sherwin-Williams’ Design Account Executive, this directional color journey and CEU class will showcase stimulating imagery and evidence-based findings with a focus on the health, safety, and welfare requirements to highlight the color, material, and finish directions for 2025. Explore the macro trends influencing future color directions that include global, technological, historic, psychological, and sustainability factors that have insight over the four-color trend stories for 2025: Chrysalis, Paradox, Wellspring, and Kindred. Sponsored by Sherwin-Williams.
