In this In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) article-read episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen opens with a brief update on the White House’s proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom project, including preservation groups’ calls for a rigorous review process, a December 12, 2025 lawsuit seeking to halt the work, and reporting that a new lead architect has taken over the project in spite of calls from the A&D community to decline the commission.

Then we revisit the original September 3, 2025 commentary by Carrie Meadows, "Architectural Community Responds to Trump’s Executive Order on Federal Design," responding to President Trump’s executive order on federal design. The episode summarizes the American Institute of Architects’ concerns that a mandate favoring classical styles restricts thoughtful design, removes meaningful local feedback, and limits architecture’s ability to reflect modern culture and diverse needs. Drawing on responses from multiple professional organizations, the piece argues for a more democratic, evidence-based, future-forward approach; one that supports community engagement, sustainability, and innovation while respecting architectural heritage.

How are interior designers actually using AI—and what are they afraid of? In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen sits down with Guy Adam Ailion, co-founder and CEO of Mattoboard, to unpack the company’s new State of AI & Interior Design report. Based on a global survey of designers and architects, the findings reveal a striking paradox: AI adoption is widespread and many designers feel it boosts creativity, yet concerns about homogeneity, plagiarism, bias, and a loss of creative authorship remain.

Guy explains why the most experienced designers are often the most optimistic about AI, while young designers report the highest anxiety despite leading in daily usage. He shares practical ways firms can protect their “design DNA,” why the next phase of AI must move from prompts to control and context, and how new tools like Mattoboard’s Design Stream aim to bridge the gap between inspiring visuals and real-world materials, budgets, and codes. The discussion also explores AI’s role in reducing sampling waste, accelerating sustainable material choices, and shifting designers from execution to orchestration in AI-native studios.

Whether you’re an AI skeptic, a power user, or somewhere in between, this episode offers a grounded look at how designers can stay in the driver’s seat while harnessing AI to support what Guy calls “the great creative mess” where the magic of design truly happens.

In this In Case You Missed It episode of I Hear Design from interiors+sources, we revisit the article “Transforming Built Environments Through Trauma-Informed Design,” written by Carrie Meadows and originally published on August 12, 2025, on the interiors+sources website. Drawing on guidance from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the work of the Trauma-Informed Design Society, the episode explains what trauma is, why it shows up in every building type—not just healthcare—and how the built environment can either mitigate or magnify its effects.

Listeners will learn how trauma-informed design connects to environmental psychology, human-centered design, and biophilic principles; why current codes and professional standards don’t yet address emotional safety; and how designers can bridge that gap in everyday practice. The episode also touches on strategies for talking about trauma with clients, overcoming stakeholder skepticism, and understanding the broader social impact of stress-reducing environments—from academic performance to community violence and incarceration rates.