To commemorate Women’s History Month, in this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen speaks with Studio RYS principals Lisa Haude and Bhavini Hardev about what women’s leadership looks like in today’s AEC industry—and what still needs to change.

Lisa and Bhavini discuss progress worth celebrating, including more women stepping into leadership and reshaping collaboration, while also naming persistent gaps: credibility and visibility challenges, mentorship access, toxic “always-on” expectations, and the stark reality of pay inequity. The conversation explores what “principal-level leadership” means beyond hierarchy, such as showing up with empathy, building psychological safety, mentoring with intention, and learning through real project context.

The guests also share how their complementary backgrounds in interior design and architecture help break down discipline silos, and how Studio RYS’s recent rebrand reflects an evolution toward a fully integrated practice rooted in storytelling through design. The episode closes with practical advice for emerging and mid-career women aiming for leadership roles in the next phase of their careers.

The Anatomy of a Spec-Worthy Product dives into what really makes a product worthy of specification—beyond surface-level aesthetics and marketing claims. Host Lauren Brant breaks down the essential elements designers and architects need to evaluate today’s products, from certifications and documentation to material transparency, digital spec tools, and embodied carbon.

Drawing on reporting from interiors+sources, this episode explores how tools from Mohawk Group, Fitwel, and sustainability leadership from MillerKnoll are helping specifiers make smarter, lower-impact decisions. You’ll also hear insights on carbon reduction from Rutgers University, learn how manufacturers like Shaw Industries are approaching circularity, and unpack why certifications from organizations such as Forest Stewardship Council and GREENGUARD can be both helpful—and complicated.

Plus, Lauren shares practical red flags designers shouldn’t ignore, and why “not a molecule more than needed” has become a powerful lens for purposeful product design.

Whether you’re specifying furniture, finishes, or fixtures, this episode is your guide to choosing products that support performance, transparency, and planetary health—because great design doesn’t stop at aesthetics. It lives in the details.

In this ICYMI article-read episode of I Hear Design, we explore Radford University’s Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, an interdisciplinary, student-centered hub that brings the health sciences and the arts under one roof based on a recent article published by interiors+sources. Designed by Hord Coplan Macht in collaboration with William Rawn Associates, the 178,000-square-foot facility replaces siloed departmental space with shared, multipurpose environments—from studios and maker spaces to tech-enabled collaboration zones—helping reduce redundancies and deliver a more efficient footprint.

You’ll also hear how the building’s campus-connector strategy turns the facility into both a destination and a thoroughfare, while universal design solutions address a challenging 60-foot grade change to support barrier-free access, belonging, and wellbeing.