Why the Rep-Designer Relationship Feels Different And What to Do About It

Subscribe here:

The rep-designer relationship has changed. Hour-long lunch presentations and spontaneous drop-ins are becoming rare, and digital demands are reshaping how reps connect with designers. Today, reps must redefine their roles to remain indispensable, while designers who engage with the right reps can gain a competitive advantage. In this episode, we discuss what’s behind this shift, the biggest challenges reps and designers face, and the strategies that are working in today’s evolving industry landscape. 

After listening, you will be able to:  

• Learn new strategies for building deeper, more impactful connections with reps 
• Understand how reps are evolving from product pushers to trusted advisors 
• Gain insights into how Gen Z designers perceive industry relationships 
• Discover digital tools and engagement tactics that are strengthening rep and designer partnerships
  
• Recognize how rep-designer relationships are shifting and why it matters 

• Ashley Delano
• April Ibarra
• Julia Friedman

Links Mentioned: 

• Learn about ThinkLab’s Gen Z Cohort, a next-gen advisory group.  
  
• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more workplace insights.  
  

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 season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART and NEOCON – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward. 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? 

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.