From Pitch to Podcast
Meet the Team Behind The Designer Monologues
There’s a whole team behind the making of The Designer Monologues. From scheduling, to conducting outreach and hosting engaging podcast conversations — it’s a true collaborative effort.
They say “it takes a village,” and in our case, it takes the three of us working closely together to build this platform. Our goal is simple: to give design firms across New England a space to share the stories behind their work and connect with the broader design community in a meaningful way.
Meet Julia Donahue--
I actually got into IIDA as a graduate student at BAC, with all of the Buzz about Fashion show I wanted to see what other kind of events they had. It actually led to me joining the NCIDQ study group and making a lot of new friends.
I became a volunteer once I passed NCIDQ and started helping with the study group and participated in the Emerging Leaders Program. After that I started volunteering for the Social Media committee, that I discovered you guessed it - through an Instagram Post. As the VP of Communications I now oversee not only social media, but email, analytics, and our wonderful publications such as this one and The Wire. I love that I am able to help connect and celebrate our IIDA NE community through Communications.
Julia Donahue - IIDA NE VP of Communications
Meet Kristina DeAndrade--
Just over three years ago, I was brand new to the industry, a bit like a fish out of water. I quickly realized that the design world is built on relationships, but I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. So, I started attending events to meet new people. The conversations I had were welcoming, insightful, and full of encouragement on how to get more involved.
That’s when I first heard about IIDA, and I knew right away I wanted to be part of this vibrant community. After making a few connections, I learned about an open position on the IIDA NE Communications Committee. The role involved reaching out to design firms and introducing them to a unique opportunity; the chance to feature one of their projects on the Designer Monologues platform.
I was immediately drawn to this role. It gave me the chance to support the design community by helping showcase the incredible work they do; work that often goes unseen beyond the finished product. I loved being even a small part of telling those stories and helping others understand the thought, effort, and collaboration that goes into every project.
For over two years now, I’ve had the privilege of handling outreach and preparing the email and web content for each Designer Monologues feature. This role has not only connected me with amazing people, but also deepened my appreciation for just how much heart and dedication the design community brings to the table.
Kristina DeAndrade - IIDA NE Designer Monologues Content Creator
Meet Brett Berry--
I was new to the AEC industry back when I started in 2012. After spending 2 years as an inside sales rep for a regional flooring distributor, I was given the opportunity to relocate to New England and call on Architecture and Design firms in Connecticut and Western Mass. Without knowing much about the industry and its players, I wanted to immerse myself into the community by getting involved with organizations that offered me the opportunity to grow my network. I quickly found myself attending IIDA events in Connecticut and was making great connections.
It wasn’t until the annual IIDA Hartford City Center Gala that I figured out that being involved in IIDA was more than just attending the events and rubbing elbows. I made a connection with the then HCC President and asked how I could get involved and two weeks later I was attending a volunteer meeting and helping develop new events and ideas to improve our City Center.
After starting my volunteer efforts in Hartford with the sole purpose of building my network, I started to fall in love with event planning and coordinating. My first contribution was the HCC Baggos & Brews, which started out as a small gathering at Stony Creek Brewing. There were only about 25 attendees, and it was in the middle of October. Not the greatest time of year to host an evening baggo tournament. It was literally dark out and people were throwing the bags into the night sky with reckless abandonment. Despite the small turnout, the event was a huge success and has become a staple for HCC. The subsequent years saw our attendance numbers grow significantly and a venue change. I had no idea that this was just the beginning of my journey with IIDA.
Since then, my involvement with IIDA has grown to more committees and a second chapter. I have served on the committee for IIDA NE Sponsorship, the IIDA NE Fashion Show, where I got to live out my dream and emcee the event two years in a row, and now, the social media team, where I host the Designer Monologues Podcast.
I never knew this small community of designers, architects and reps would be such an important part of my career and life. I have forged lasting friendships and bonds with my peers and feel a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that our efforts have made IIDA what is has become and will continue to do for the AEC industry in New England.
Brett Berry - IIDA NE Designer Monologues Podcast Chair & Host
We work hard to spotlight both big and small projects — because if you’re passionate about it, we want to help you share it. One of the beautiful things about The Designer Monologues platform is that it’s completely free. There’s no cost to be featured, and we showcase your project in the way that best reflects your vision and voice.
At the heart of it all, we’re part of the same community. And there’s nothing we love more than celebrating the incredible work being done across New England — one story at a time.
Interested in being featured?
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at kristina.deandrade@mckearneyassociates.com
Designer Monologues the Podcast from IIDA New England with your host Brett Berry is officially LIVE!! On this show, we’ll share the stories behind the design of repurposing, developing and reshaping our communities. Incubated from the minds and skills of New England’s talented design community, you’ll hear how visual inspiration can come from nature, our history, current trends and more as we take you on a story-telling journey behind design.
Check out the latest episode here!
Company Name: Modern Design Materials, LLC
Company Establishment Date: December 2022
Company Description: New England Representative for unique flooring, textiles, furniture, and lighting brands.
Leading designers to specify best in class, sustainable and beautiful architectural and interior products
Company Products / Services: At Modern Design Materials, our foundation is design. With deep expertise and discerning taste, we offer thoughtful solutions, prompt support, and a curated selection of premium brands—trusted tools for bringing elevated visions to life. We represent brands in furniture, flooring, textiles/finishes, and acoustics.
Meet the Brands: for an overview of our brand partners, click the link here.
Furniture:
Alea- Italian manufacturer of workplace desking, architectural walls, storage & ancillary seating
Billiani - Exceptionally crafted Italian furniture suited for contract and hospitality use
Mater - the pioneering Danish green-tech design brand featuring timeless furniture & lighting made from waste
Oasiq - Outdoor furniture
Isomi - Award-winning reception & public space furniture showcases original British design coupled with unrivalled manufacturing capability.
Verges - Vergés collaborates with top designers to create high-quality, functional, comfortable, and durable furniture for hotels, restaurants, and workspaces.
Flooring:
Siena - Curated flooring collections of broadloom, carpet tile, and area rugs alongside resilient flooring including cork, rubber, wood and LVT designed to work together.
ege - Sustainably designed and produced carpeting available in broadloom, carpet tile, plank and area rugs for contract and hospitality projects
Textiles:
Camira - Maker of high quality sustainable textiles for contract and hospitality use
LUNA - Uniquely bold and equally beautiful textiles for uses in upholstery, panel, drapery, and wall covering applications.
Acoustics:
Autex Acoustics - Leading designer & manufacturer of sustainable PET Acoustic products for walls & ceilings.
New England Locations: You can find us on the road, working from our Seaport Storage unit dropping off the latest furniture and flooring samples or in your studio updating your resource library. Available for remote or in-person consultations in New England.
New England Contacts:
Kristin Albrizio, IIDA Industry, NEWH
Principal & Brand Representative
kristin@moderndesignmaterials.com
978-502-9789
Allison Jones
Associate & Brand Representative
allison@moderndesignmaterials.com
781-632-0892
What is the best part of being an IIDA NE Chapter Sponsor?
I love supporting the fantastic programing, continuing education and networking that IIDA and our local chapter is focused on. As a former co-chair for the Emerging Leader's Network, it makes me proud to know my financial support during the year helps develop the future of New England's design leadership as well as supporting other fantastic advocacy projects that our chapter is involved in.
