Barriers to Entry

The Curse of YouthThis week Andrew welcomes Caroline Murphy, Design Engagement Strategist at SANDOW, for a conversation that starts with a familiar modern curse of youth: being the default tech support person in your family. From there, Andrew and Caroline dig into a bigger question—what happens when young designers are expected to master both design and AI at the same time?Caroline shares how her own early-career frustration in Nashville led her to build the Young Designers Collective, creating spaces where emerging designers could actually learn, connect, and feel supported. She and Andrew unpack why many younger designers are more cautious about AI than people assume, where firms are embracing it, and how the best use case may simply be removing friction so designers can spend more time actually thinking.They also explore why, in an age of algorithms and AI companions, real-world community, mentorship, and human connection may matter more than ever.Connect with our host, Andrew Lane, on LinkedInFollow Caroline Murphy on LinkedInReferences and resourcesYoung Designers CollectiveInterior Design 30/30Get in touch with us at [email protected] more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.comThis episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.This season of Barriers to Entry is sponsored by Arktura.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Architecture as a StartupSeason 4 opens with a milestone moment: Andrew Lane’s first solo episode as host. With a little encouragement from Producer Rob, Andrew welcomes back friend of the show Matthias Hollwich, founder of HWKN Architecture, for a conversation about why the architecture industry may need to reinvent itself entirely.Matthias argues that today every architecture firm needs to think like a startup. With AI transforming design tools and workflows at breakneck speed, his studio has embraced rapid experimentation—running internal AI sprints, rewriting their design process every few months, and using generative tools to explore entirely new forms of architecture.Andrew and Matthias discuss how AI is reshaping everything from design research to client collaboration, how new technologies can unlock more emotional and human-centered architecture, and why this moment may allow architects to reclaim influence over the future of the built environment.Connect with our host, Andrew Lane, on LinkedInFollow Matthias Hollwich on LinkedInReferences and resourcesHWKN ArchitectureGet in touch with us at [email protected] more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.comThis episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.This season of Barriers to Entry is sponsored by Arktura.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

User-firstIn a special NeoCon edition episode of BTE, Bobby and Andrew are joined by tech and design leader Chris Barton, founder of the renowned music app Shazam and Wednesday’s NeoCon keynote speaker. The trio dives into insights, stories, and observations from Chris’s impressive career in tech, which includes founding Shazam “in the 1900s” nearly a decade before the App Store existed, followed by roles at pre-IPO Google and Dropbox.Alongside a series of fascinating anecdotes and a few teasers (not spoilers!) for Chris’s Wednesday keynote, they also explore thoughts on the future of AI and education, the challenges of designing a user-first experience when no comparable product exists, and how that initial spark of an idea evolves over time.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Chris Barton on LinkedinReferences and resources:ShazamUnsupervised Learning [PODCAST]NeoCon KeynotesGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Making Data ApproachableThis week, Bobby and Andrew welcome a guest whose career arc has been about finding the fusion between art and data. From bringing data-driven experiences to life for everyone from IBM to the Masters to The New York Times, to dedicating time to her own personal and community projects, Mary blends two practices that many struggle to connect in the first place. Now, as an Experiential Creative Director leading emerging practices at Future Colossal, Mary sits down with the guys to dive deeply into her process and how she maintains this delicate balance while creating digital and data-powered experiences for the physical world.This season of Barriers to Entry is presented by Arktura.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Mary Franck on LinkedinReferences and resources:FutureColossalOther BTE Episodes to Reference:David Schwartz, Founder, HUSHKelly Knapp, Experiential Creative Director Rodolfo Agrella, Founder, RADSGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Architect’s Architect Bobby and Andrew once again have their hands full this week with a dynamic duo joining them in the podcave. Arktura’s Steven Ranta and HKS’s Nathan Ferrance sit down with the gang to explore the many challenges of partnering to create innovative work. It’s hard enough to do this on your own, but Arktura has made a name for itself by pushing boundaries. In this exploratory episode, we dive into some of their key collaborations, how they’ve overcome challenges and barriers, and how their respective companies have built a solutions-oriented culture and mindset.This season of Barriers to Entry is presented by Arktura.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Steven Ranta and Nathan Ferrance on LinkedinReferences and resources:AkturaHKSConcept to Completion: Textron SystemGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Humanity-firstFor an unprecedented third time, Bobby and Andrew are joined on the pod by ThinkLab President and Design Nerds Anonymous host, Amanda Schneider. In another of their always forward-looking conversations, the trio discusses the rapid adoption of AI in the design industry, the barriers to further growth, and how people could be the key to unlocking technology in the future. From there, they dive into the exciting experience of Amanda’s recent TEDx talk being promoted to TED.com, chat about Bobby and Andrew’s unrealized future TED talk dreams, explore the wealth of resources available to curious designers, and, of course, find a way to throw in a few SANDOW plugs.This season of Barriers to Entry is presented by Arktura.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Amanda Schneider on LinkedinReferences and resources:ThinkLabPerplexity (AI model)Claude (AI model)Amanda’s TEDx Talk (Video)Design Nerds Anonymous (Podcast)ThinkLab 2025 US Design Industry Benchmark Study (Download)Everyday AI PodcastRelated and referred BTE Episodes:Amanda’s First Visit to BTEAmanda’s Second Visit to BTEGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where art meets innovationBobby and Andrew sit down with a leader who’s made his career on the cutting edge of technology, art and design while working with some of the world’s biggest brands and businesses. As the CEO of the experimental ‘new media’ company, Volvox Labs, Michael leads an interdisciplinary team of designers, technologists, artists and creatives who strive to create meaningful and memorable experiences for people in physical spaces. Along the way, we learn about their hands on approach to solving problems through rapid prototyping, what technologies and practices are pushing their practice of ‘new media art’ forward, how to identify a lunchtime gang of technologists in Brooklyn, and much more.  This season of Barriers to Entry is presented by Arktura.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Michael Luck Schneider on LinkedinReferences and resources:Volvox LabsKuka ArmsISE EuropeRelated and referred BTE Episodes:Leading a studio on the edge of design and innovation with David Schwartz, Founder at HUSHBuilding experiential design at scale with (Michael’s former colleague at Gensler), Sarah DiLeoThinking at the intersection of design and technology with Rodolfo Agrella, Founder at RADS StudioGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“That’s the job”This week, Bobby and Andrew have the pleasure of welcoming a leader who’s made his way up through the ranks of one of the world’s most prestigious architecture firms by doing it all. Eli Hoisington rose up at HOK working in nearly every facet of the design business, which today gives him a bold and informed take as Co-CEO. Peering into Eli’s data-driven lens on the future, they dive into what’s on the mind of a CEO of a global firm during a time of unprecedented disruption discussing everything from making big bets on expansion, carving out a financially responsible approach to investing in innovation, and staying focused on talent through it all.This season of Barriers to Entry is presented by Arktura.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Eli Hoisington on LinkedinReferences and resources:HOKRelated and referred BTE Episodes:Bill Mandara, CEO at Mancini DuffyLionel Ohayon, CEO at iCrave, COO at JourneyJohn Edelman, CEO at Heller (from 2023)Get in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Innovation RoadmapTo kick Season 3 off with a bang, Bobby and Andrew welcome not one, but two guests to the pod to get into the meat of how AI and human-centric feedback are driving innovation at one of the largest architecture design firms in the country, CannonDesign. CIO, Brooke Grammier and Director of Digital Products, Joel Yow, take the guys through a roadmap to remove barriers to their teams to pave the way for efficiency and creative thinking at scale, all with innovation at the core. Tune in for an inside look at the thought process behind their work as well as insight into the conversations happening at the Innovation Design Consortium’s roundtable.This season of Barriers to Entry is presented by Arktura.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Brooke Grammier and Joel Yow on LinkedinReferences and resources:CannonDesignInnovation Design ConsortiumDeepSeekRelated and referred BTE Episodes:Bill Mandera, Mancini Duffy and Lionel Ohayon, iCrave on how innovation is infused into the ways of working at large and growing firms.Fellow Innovation Design Consortium member, Keith Fine from S/L/A/M CollaborativeGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All great end-of-year specials feature two parts. And that’s why we’re back with Part 2 of Barriers to Entry’s 2024 “Best-of” Clip Show. Andrew and Bobby are back together - and in the holiday spirit - revisiting some of the most memorable moments from the BTE universe in 2024. Hear from Federico Negro (Founder, Canoa), Amanda Schneider (President, ThinkLab), and Lionel Ohayon (Founder and CEO, iCRAVE, and co-Founder and CCO, Journey). The guys start off by exploring AI’s role in design; take a quick detour to evaluate the importance of human experience and design; and wrap it up, where else, with a return to the Sphere project. Plus - it’s everyone’s favorite BTE annual segment, 2025 predictions!Find Federico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/federiconegro/Find Amanda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajeanschneider/Find Lionel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lionelohayon/Listen back to the full episodes:Federico: https://surroundpodcasts.com/episodes/federico-negro-ceo-canoa/Amanda: https://surroundpodcasts.com/episodes/amanda-schneider-president-thinklab/Lionel: https://surroundpodcasts.com/episodes/lionel-ohayon-founder-ceo-icrave-co-founder-and-cco-journey/Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgflane/Connect with Bobby on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybonett/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Part 1 of Barriers to Entry’s 2024 “Best-of” Clip Show! Andrew Lane and Bobby Bonett revisit the year that was in the BTE universe. Listen in to the year’s most memorable soundbites and topics, featuring appearances from Kelly Knapp (Creative Director, ex-Sphere), Mathieu Lehanneur (Designer) and Eran Chen (Founder and Executive Director, ODA). Andrew and Bobby explore themes of creativity, outside-the-box thinking, and a return to analog design.Find Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellycknapp/Find Eran on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eran-chen-465b446/Listen back to the full episodes:Kelly: https://surroundpodcasts.com/episodes/kelly-knapp-creative-director-experiential-ex-sphere/Mathieu: https://surroundpodcasts.com/episodes/designer-mathieu-lehanneur/Eran: https://surroundpodcasts.com/episodes/eran-chen-founder-and-principal-oda/Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgflane/Connect with Bobby on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybonett/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Enjoy Sense of Space by Turf now available on all podcast platforms. An architect and designer are on a journey to help their community understand the nuances of designing for the built environment. Join Ella Hazard and Faraz Shah through questions and conversations while they explore all the stuff we interact with as designers, architects, and people.Please enjoy the following episode: What are the elements of a vibe?Is “vibe” something we can curate, or is it best when it occurs organically? Faraz and Ella unpack some SAT words to describe how our bodies respond to spaces and ways to design for all senses. By better understanding ourselves and our senses, can we learn how to integrate this approach into the creation of a “vibe”?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Bobby and Andrew get into their flow state with an enlightening conversation about the intersection of technology and creativity with Magic Leap’s Joel Krieger. In a conversation that ranges from the benefits of stretching outside of your comfort zone, to the differences of the impacts of AR and VR in a creative process, to leaving the world a better place than we found it, we go deep with a pro who’s been on the bleeding edge of designing experiences across the physical and digital world since before the creator of the term ‘phygital’ coined their first portmanteau. Ok, we can’t verify that last statement, but you won’t want to miss this one.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Joel Krieger on LinkedinReferences and resources:Magic LeapMagic Leap Assist [VIDEO]Magic Leap Workshop [VIDEO]Second Story Outside In Podcast Royal Society of Arts AR vs VR - what’s the difference? (PC Mag)Related and referred BTE Episodes:Greg Lindsay on blending the physical and digital realities David Schwartz of HUSH!, Joel’s collaborator at Magic LeapFederico Negro - Bobby’s Season 2 “Pick”Bill Mandera - Andrew’s Season 2 “Pick”Get in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Launch and learnIn our third in a series of pods recorded live at NeoCon 2024, Andrew and Bobby actually don’t outnumber the guest as they’re joined by both Annie Ming of HBF and Cosmo Kramer of Bitreel to talk about how visualization technology is helping HBF re-imagine how to launch their latest product line, the Firma Collection. The conversation dives deeply into the journey of both sales reps and designers to trace how this pair collaborated to define a new way to introduce and hopefully endear a product to its core audiences. Along the way, we steam up the NeoCon Podcast Studio with five bodies, over-plug SANDOW (just a little) and of course have a word or two on the state of ‘the metaverse’ in the worlds of furniture and design.This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Studio Powered by SURROUND and Sponsored by SnapCab.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Annie Ming and Cosmo Kramer on LinkedInReferences and resources:Firma Table ConfiguratorHBFBitreelKubi by Barbara Berry NeoCon Design Scene by SANDOWRelated and referred BTE Episodes:Josh Rubin and Evan Orensten from Cool Hunting - the only other double guest episode in pod historyLisbeth Jimenez, Designer at MKDA, on the potential for 3D visualizationGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Bobby and Andrew welcome a leader who’s obsessed with the intersection of architecture and technology and the evolution of the practice as a whole.  The founder of established firm, ICRAVE and more recently co-founder of innovative customer experience firm, Journey, Lionel Ohayon joins to share some powerful ideas on how everything is shifting.  Discussing everything how digital twinning can become the backbone of an architectural practice, to how talent needs to solve for ‘why’, to AI’s emerging role and even why he’s called his firm a “fish dog”, it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Lionel Ohayon on LinkedinReferences and resources:iCRAVEJourneySphereSquint/OperaRelated and referred BTE Episodes:Sarah DiLeo, Gensler on immersive designBill Mandara, Mancini Duffy on the evolving practice of architecture Yehia Madkour, Perkins & Will on innovation at scale inside firmsGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Technology meets sustainabilityThis week, we’re back at the NeoCon SURROUND podcast studio with friend of the pod and two-time guest, Karli Slocum for the second of our 3part (see what we did there?) NeoCon ‘live’ broadcast specials. Bobby and Andrew hear an update from Karli on a range of exciting processes that 3form is implementing to make production more sustainable and how they’re pushing the conversation through both innovation as well as education. As Bobby points out, Sesame Street can be a great place to start in understanding the exciting advancements happening in the space, so you won’t need to be a full-fledged scientist to tune in and enjoy.This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Studio Powered by SURROUND and Sponsored by SnapCab.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Karli Slocum on LinkedinReferences and resources:3formVariaMolecular Recycling at 3formMechanical Recycling explained [Video]3form Virtual ShowroomSANDOW Design Scene at NeoConSesame Street Recycling Short [Video]Related and referred BTE Episodes:Karli Slocum’s first visit to the pod at NeoCon 2023 talking about 3form’s Virtual ShowroomAvi Rajagopal, Editor-in-Chief, METROPOLIS, on the intersection of technology and sustainabilityPatti Carpenter, Trend Ambassador, on the importance of sustainability in designGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re keeping it in the (SANDOW) family this week as we welcome the Editor-in-Chief of Metropolis Magazine, and leading thinker on industry sustainability, Avi Rajagopal. Buckle up as the team nerds out with Avi on everything from how blockchain technology can impact supply chain, to judging the first Interior Design Metaverse Architecture & Design Awards, to what Indigenous culture is teaching us about how how to use AI. If you’ve ever thought that your Alexa might need a hug from time to time, it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss. Connect with Avi Rajagopal on LinkedIn! Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn Bobby Bonett Tessa Bain Andrew Lane References and resources: Metropolis Magazine Ronald Rael on Instagram Interior Design Metaverse Architecture & Design Awards finalists and winners Seven Generation Sustainability Metropolis Deep Green Podcast Metropolis Climate Toolkit Chat GPT Indigenous Artificial Intelligence Working Group Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Designer and Product come together This week, Bobby and Andrew are live from NeoCon with a guest who’s lived the majority of last two decades at the intersection of design and technology, Canoa CEO and Co-founder, Federico Negro. A world-class storyteller, Fed takes the guys through his early startup ethos of “buildings equal data”, his time leading design through the explosive growth of WeWork and how a chair sitting beside a freeway changed everything and eventually led to the creation of Canoa.  This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Studio Powered by SURROUND and Sponsored by SnapCab.Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn: Bobby BonettAndrew LaneFollow Federico Negro on LinkedinReferences and resources:CanoaCanoa Circle Student CohortWeWorkRelated and referred BTE Episodes:Amanda Schneider, President of ThinkLab, on the impacts of technology on the design industry looking forwardGreg Lindsay, Urban Tech Fellow at Cornell University on the intersections of technology with urban designGet in touch with us with your questions on emerging technology, innovation and more at [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at the BTE Hotline at 1-917-934-2812.Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Barriers to Entry was produced by Rob Schulte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.