Courtney Porter

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Building your company’s AI protocols

My inbox is full of pitches from furnishings companies claiming their latest collections exhibit exceptional craftsmanship, are deeply rooted in cultural heritage and are redefining modern design. These descriptions are AI-generated.

Reading redundant drivel is going to make us all go mad, but for thought experiment’s sake: Is there an instance in which AI-generated product descriptions are fine? Do they tell us anything useful?

Cutting through the noise: How to find a good interior designer on the internet

TALD is reshaping how homeowners find and hire design talent for their renovation projects. With a curated marketplace, transparent pricing, and a growing network of top-tier designers, architects, and builders, TALD is streamlining the path from inspiration to execution. Founder Emily Shapiro shares insights on scaling the platform, the future of digital sourcing, and how TALD is creating a smarter, more intuitive experience for both clients and professionals.

Why isn’t there more criticism in design media?

In a world where “good taste” and social media algorithms reign supreme, is everything starting to look the same? This thoughtful essay challenges the current absence of critique in interior design media, exploring why design escapes the kind of criticism common in art and film, and what we stand to gain—or lose—by speaking up.

From the ground up: Advice from designers (for designers)

When it comes to building a successful design career, experience is often the most powerful teacher. In our new series ‘Advice for Designers from Designers,’ we ask accomplished interior designers — from boutique studio founders to seasoned industry veterans — to share the pivotal lessons they learned early on, what they wish they’d known when starting out and what they would do differently if launching their careers today. In each edition, we are bringing you three pieces of advice from designers with diverse backgrounds and aesthetics.

Hospitality design ‘With Care’

Known for creating landmark hospitality destinations like the Hotel Del Coronado and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Wimberly Interiors brings restraint, clarity and cultural sensitivity to each of their hospitality projects. With the launch of its “With Care” brand refresh, they are reframing interior design services as an ongoing act of care, beginning with the first conversation and continuing throughout the life of a project. Our discussion with the firm’s Global Principal, Margaret McMahon, looks at how “With Care” informs everything from project development to client relationships. 

Five things defining the design moment: May 2025

At the end of each month, DNN Editor in Chief Courtney Porter curates a list of five standout items, including design projects, product launches and noteworthy events, that deserve your attention. Together they offer a snapshot of where the design industry stands, capturing emerging trends, influential movements and key developments. Think of it as your monthly briefing on what’s shaping the creative landscape.

Building a big firm in a small town

Interior designer Nicole Roe shares how she built R. Nickson Interiors in a small Central Florida town, navigating local challenges while redefining what it means to run a high-impact design firm outside a major metro.

Creating cohesion in a multidisciplinary design studio

Studio Juma has built a practice on clarity, narrative depth and visual integrity—eschewing trends in favor of thoughtful, multidisciplinary design. In this wide-ranging interview, the studio reflects on its creative roots, collaborative process and vision for the future.

Post-market musings: Tariffs, traffic and trends

We’re back from High Point with lots of unpack — tariff conversations have taken an unexpected turn, many vendors unveiled impressive product introductions and specific trends carried a sense of cohesion throughout the market. 

Meet Hallmark Channel’s first design star

Olivia Westbrook is Hallmark Channel’s first design star, leading the heartfelt home renovation series Home Is Where The Heart Is on Hallmark+. In this intimate conversation, she shares the emotional heart of her design approach, how she maintained creative control on set, and the ways personal loss shaped her connection to the show’s mission of honoring legacy through space.