At this year’s LA Design Weekends, Programa gathered two leading voices from the local design scene — Paul, an LA-based architect and designer, and Anton Yipanko, Director of Projects at Kelly Wearstler — for an honest conversation on what it takes to keep a creative practice not just afloat, but energised.
The panel, part of Programa’s Worst Case, Best Fix series, didn’t dwell on glossy visuals or finished projects. It focused instead on the day-to-day tension between creativity and delivery — the pressures, the burnout, and the ways design professionals are finding smarter ways to work.
Anton was upfront about the pace:
“It’s the kind of job where you’re making a lot of decisions quickly. Problems happen. You’ve got to stay clear-headed.”
He spoke about the importance of staying sharp — not by overworking, but by protecting mental clarity. Taking Friday afternoons to reset meant returning on Monday with clarity and capacity to make better decisions.
Paul, in parallel, spoke to the power of external creative influence — turning to art, film, and other disciplines for perspective:
“I get energised looking at work outside of architecture. Artists dealing with similar feelings in different mediums — that keeps me inspired.”
The conversation then turned to how technology fits in — not as a solution to creativity, but as a support for it. Both speakers highlighted how tools like Programa are being used in their studios to take pressure off the admin load and give designers more time to design.
Anton explained:
“You can grab a vendor’s link, drop it into Programa, and it auto-ingests all the spec info. No manual entry. It’s just there — done.”
This kind of automation doesn’t just save hours; it reduces stress. With less time spent formatting schedules or updating product specs, teams gain something harder to quantify: peace of mind.
“It’s not just saving time — it’s the mental load it removes. I can see everything in one place. That’s huge.”
The heart of the conversation was clear: creativity requires space — time to think, recharge, get inspired. And to protect that space, studios are turning to better systems, clearer processes, and shared wisdom from peers.
The event closed with a question: what will you do with the time you get back?
Take on more clients? Do better work? Or give yourself the space and grace to focus on what really matters?
Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: tools like Programa aren’t just making studios more efficient — they’re giving designers room to breathe again.
Real conversations from LA Design Weekends.
At a converted studio space on Lexington Ave, Days of Being, two seasoned voices in the LA design scene came together to talk about the realities of creative practice.
Paul Chan, an architect-designer based in LA, and Anton Yupangco, Director of Projects at Kelly Wearstler, joined Programa for a direct, practice-led conversation on design, burnout, creative renewal - and the systems that keep it all moving.
The pace is the pressure
Anton opened with a truth that resonated with everyone in the room. The job doesn’t slow down. So neither can you.
We’re in a job where you have to make a lot of decisions quickly. Problems come up, things go wrong. You need to be well-rested, focused, and ready to go.
Anton Yupangco, Director of projectsKelly Wearstler
The conversation explored how creative leaders sustain momentum — not by running faster, but by building systems around them that give space to rest, think, and reset.
Give me 80% of the time, and I’ll try to get 90% of the work done. That way I can come in fresh on a Monday, ready to go.
Anton Yupangco, Director of ProjectsKelly Wearstler
Creativity needs space
For Paul Chan, staying creative meant looking outside the walls of architecture.
I get energised by looking at other artists - painters, filmmakers, gallery shows. How are they expressing the same feelings we’re dealing with in design? That feeds back into my work.
Paul Chan, FounderPaul Chan
Carving time outside the project pipeline wasn’t just helpful. It was necessary. Especially in a field where perfectionism and pressure go hand-in-hand.
Technology That Buys Back Time
Anton was clear on the kind of help technology should offer.
You can go to the vendor’s website, grab the URL, drop it into Programa — and it automatically pulls the product info into your schedule.
Zoe Lowres, Co-founderPrograma
No manual entry. No formatting drama. Just clean data, structured in a way the team - and client - can follow.
It’s not about just saving time. It’s the peace of mind knowing your project’s in order.
Zoe Lowres, Co-founderPrograma
Choose where you struggle
Every practice involves effort. The question is where to spend it.
We’re so detail-focused. It’s just part of the craft. But do I really need to be manually updating a spreadsheet every day? Or should I be spending that time sourcing the perfect tile?
Zoe Lowres, Co-founderPrograma
As the discussion wrapped, the most important takeaway wasn’t about process, tools, or even outcomes - it was about protecting creative energy.
What are you going to do with the time you get back? Take on more work, more clients… or give yourself a bit more space and grace?
Zoe Lowres, Co-founderPrograma
The Takeaway
This wasn’t a panel of perfect answers. It was a working conversation between practitioners figuring things out — together.
The value of systems like Programa wasn’t just about efficiency. It was about protecting the headspace that makes great design possible.
Just having it all there under one umbrella… It gives me a sense of calm.
Paul Chan, FounderPaul Chan