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Why Are Education Projects So Hard to Move Forward Right Now?
In the final episode of Season 9, Design Nerds Anonymous heads to EDspaces for a live experiential research event focused on one of the most complex environments in the built world: education.
Hosted by Amanda Schneider, Founder & President of ThinkLab, this episode captures candid conversations with education end users, designers, architects, manufacturers, and builders navigating unforgiving timelines, rising bureaucracy, and growing pressure to justify every decision. Featured voices include AJ Paron, Dusty Lake of DLR Group, and T. Alex Trevino, Director of Capital Improvements at Columbus City Schools.
From a packed room of more than 50 education leaders and partners, one signal was clear: in education, trust in the brand often outweighs familiarity with the team—and without shared clarity, even the best-intentioned projects stall. That insight is brought to life through real-world perspectives from Allison Erwin of AECOM, Will Anderson in K–12 operations leadership, Adrian Leal of Claris, Kelsey Jordan of Legat Architects, and Stephanie Maddox, a capital projects specialist serving one of the nation’s largest school districts.
After listening, you will be able to:
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Understand why education projects stall—and how academic calendars, bureaucracy, and risk aversion compound delays
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Identify what education end users actually need from design, construction, and product partners to move faster with confidence
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Apply practical strategies to build trust earlier, reduce rework, and keep diverse stakeholders aligned
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See how data, documentation, and post-occupancy insights help justify decisions and defend investments
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Reframe collaboration in education around shared clarity, not just more voices in the room
How it Works
If this is your first audio-CEU experience you might have some questions – like, "Can I really get CEU credit for listening to a podcast?" and "How exactly does this whole CEU podcast thing work?" And the answer is yes, you CAN earn CEU credits for tuning in and the process is quick and easy.
Here's how to complete your entire CEU podcast process in 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Listen to the episode.
Step 2: Visit this link to take a short, 5 question quiz,
*Scoring an 80% or above on the quiz will earn you 0.5 CEU/0.5 LU.
Step 3: Upon passing the quiz, receive your certificate of completion from the CEU provider.
Special thanks to our CEU episode sponsors, Shaw and Haworth, for partnering with us to provide valuable insights on compelling topics for the design industry.
- Download the Podcast Discussion Guide.
- Take the QUIZ, get CEU credits.
- Learn more about End-User Decision Making.
- Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to keep up with industry trends.
- Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more workplace insights.
- Join ThinkLab's Research and get paid for your perspective.
Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore.
Special thanks to our podcast sponsors, Shaw and Haworth– companies doing big things to move the design industry forward.
Want to sponsor an episode?
Design Nerds Anonymous is the only podcast of its kind – holding an engaged audience of architects, designers, CRE leaders, and end users – and delivering the most insights per minute on the forces shaping the built environment. With over 100K+ downloads, the show features industry powerhouses from brands like Chik-fil-A, Hilton, and StoryBrand, having bold conversations on what’s next in business and design—market shifts, process innovation, and the hidden dynamics driving change.
Learn more about becoming a sponsor.
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