Neocon Workshop Updates

Recaps, takeaways, learnings
Programa
Programa
Updated: 10 June 2025

Day 1: Time, profits & creative vision

 

Time, profits, and a little bit of chaos

We kicked off Day 1 of Neocon with a packed workshop in partnership with ASID. What started as a session on internal systems quickly turned into a bigger conversation about what it means to run a creative practice in 2025.

Designers talked about feeling pulled in every direction - emails, client edits, spreadsheets, back-and-forth approvals - and how hard it can be to maintain clarity (and margins) once projects get busy.

But there was momentum, too.

The Client Dashboard caught attention fast - especially the idea of letting clients in just enough to stay informed, without handing over the whole kitchen sink. There were lots of questions about access levels, and even more about live-sharing selections, images, and documents in a way that’s professional, not messy.

The Add from URL feature was another hit. It clicked immediately: “Oh wow, you mean I don’t have to copy-paste specs from product pages anymore?” Designers saw it as a practical fix for something they’d just accepted as a time suck.

And the Canva integration? Total win. Live syncing between platforms just makes sense, especially when moodboards and visuals are changing on the fly.

More tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Day 1 Takeaway

Designers want tools that respect their process, not flatten it. They want automation that stays behind the scenes - and systems that give back time without diluting the work.

Day 2: Accuracy, visibility & staying out of your client’s inbox

 

If Day 1 was about saving time behind the scenes, Day 2 was about what happens when you don’t - when a spec’s out of date, the contractor’s working off an old version, and no one’s quite sure what was approved or when.

Melissa kicked things off with a conversation on specification accuracy and operational communication. It resonated fast. Everyone had a story - the spreadsheet that got out of sync, the quote that disappeared into someone’s inbox, the approval that was “definitely” sent but never tracked.

The core message? Misalignment costs money - and trust.

Vanessa built on that with a walkthrough of how to set up reusable project templates across key design phases. It wasn’t just about working faster - it was about building a backbone for a studio’s entire process. One that protects time, margins, and energy.

Standout features today:

  • Live specs + approvals: Clients can view and approve products directly from the shared dashboard, with time stamps, comment history, and a running log that finally settles the “but I thought we agreed…” moments.
  • Flagging for contractors: Designers loved the ability to flag items for contractors with notes - like “pricing changed” - that show up live and eliminate constant back-and-forth.
  • QR codes on site: Contractors scan a code at the job site and access the live schedule — no PDFs, no outdated folders in the garage, no lost emails.
  • Web Clipper + Add from URL: Scrape product data, then refine it manually if needed. Fast, flexible, and a clear upgrade from dragging info into spreadsheets.

The biggest shift? People started to see that operational clarity isn’t just admin hygiene - it unlocks more trust, capacity, and control.

Day 2 Takeaway

Clean specs aren’t just for show. They’re how studios scale, stay sane, and stop bleeding time into the void of “Didn’t I already send that?”
Table of contents
  1. The Importance of Project Management in Interior Design
  2. Tips for Becoming a Better Interior Designer
  3. Real-World Examples of Successful Project Management in Interior Design
  4. Key Benefits:
  5. Interior Design & Architecture Software For Professional Interior Designers & Architects
  6. Interior Design Software For Professional Interior Designers
  7. 14 May 2025
  8. 07 May 2025
  9. 01 May 2025
  10. 23 April 2025
  11. 12 April 2025
  12. 9 April 2025
  13. 7 April 2025
  14. 3 April 2025
  15. 1 April 2025
  16. 28 March 2025
  17. 25 March 2025
  18. 20 March 2025
  19. 18 March 2025
  20. Welcome Back!
  21. 06 January 2025
  22. It's that time of year!
  23. 19 December 2024
  24. 17 December 2024
  25. 10 December 2024
  26. 09 December 2024
  27. 03 December 2024
  28. 28 November 2024
  29. 27 November 2024
  30. 26 November 2024
  31. 20 November 2024
  32. 19 November 2024
  33. 13 November 2024
  34. 08 November 2024
  35. 31 October 2024
  36. 30 October 2024
  37. 29 October 2024
  38. 24 October 2024
  39. 23 October 2024
  40. 22 October 2024
  41. 17 October 2024
  42. 15 October 2024
  43. 11 October 2024
  44. 10 October 2024
  45. 07 October 2024
  46. 03 October 2024
  47. 02 October 2024
  48. 30 September 2024
  49. 25 September 2024
  50. 20 September 2024
  51. 19 September 2024
  52. 17 September 2024
  53. 13 September 2024
  54. 11 September 2024
  55. 06 September 2024
  56. 05 September 2024
  57. 02 September 2024
  58. 30 August 2024
  59. 27 August 2024
  60. 22 August 2024
  61. 21 August 2024
  62. 20 August 2024
  63. 19 August 2024
  64. 16 August 2024
  65. 15 August 2024
  66. 14 August 2024
  67. 12 August 2024
  68. 13 August 2024
  69. 07 August 2024
  70. 08 August 2024
  71. 09 August 2024
  72. 05 August 2024
  73. 01 August 2024
  74. 31 July 2024
  75. 30 July 2024
  76. 29 July 2024
  77. 26 July 2024
  78. 23 July 2024
  79. 18 July 2024
  80. 12 July 2024
  81. 09 July 2024
  82. 05 July 2024
  83. 04 July 2024
  84. 02 July 2024
  85. 01 July 2024
  86. 26 June 2024
  87. 19 June 2024
  88. 18 June 2024
  89. 17 June 2024
  90. 13 June 2024
  91. 07 June 2024
  92. 06 June 2024
  93. 04 June 2024
  94. 30 May 2024
  95. 27 May 2024
  96. 24 May 2024
  97. 23 May 2024
  98. 16 May 2024
  99. 14 May 2024
  100. 09 May 2024
  101. 03 May 2024
  102. 02 May 2024
  103. 29 April 2024
  104. 24 April 2024
  105. 22 April 2024
  106. April 16 2024
  107. 15 April 2024
  108. Other updates
  109. 11 April 2024
  110. <strong>09 April 2024</strong>
    1. Simplify Your FF&E Selection Process
    2. Effortless Updates and Revisions
    3. Collaboration Made Easy
    4. Optimized Finishes Schedule Management
    5. The Future Of FF&E With Programa
    6. How are you using Programa?
    7. What challenges did the platform help overcome in a recent project?
    8. Day 1: Time, profits & creative vision
    9. Day 1 Takeaway
    10. Day 2: Accuracy, visibility & staying out of your client’s inbox
    11. Day 2 Takeaway
  • Interior Design
Reading: Neocon Workshop Updates, Recaps, takeaways, learnings
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