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If Day 1 was about saving time behind the scenes, Day 2 was about what happens when you don’t - when a spec’s out of date, the contractor’s working off an old version, and no one’s quite sure what was approved or when.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. 2022
  2. 2023
  3. Purchase Orders
  4. Client Dashboard
  5. What’s next?
  6. Data Encryption in Transit and at Rest
  7. Security Controls
  8. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  9. Monitoring and Breach Protocols
  10. Your IP is Yours, Forever
  11. The impracticalities of using generic software
  12. Enter Programa.
  13. Remove unnecessary stress and double handling with Programa:
  14. Why Don’t Spreadsheets Suit The Needs Of Interior Designers?
  15. Clear and Precise Presentations
  16. Easier Management of Data
  17. Exports That Work The Way You Do
  18. How AI is revolutionising interior design workflows
  19. Real benefits for real interior design studios using AI
  20. AI in Interior design: From Concept to Implementation
  21. How Programa is Shaping the Future of Interior Design AI
  22. AI revolutionising interior design: The competitive advantage
  23. Interior designers, start embracing the future of AI now
    1. 13 June 2024
    2. 07 June 2024
    3. 06 June 2024
    4. 04 June 2024
    5. Challenges Faced by Designers in Procurement
    6. How designers can use Procurement Hub
    7. Built by and for designers
    8. Programa and ASID empower interior designers with cutting-edge project management tools
  24. Enhancing the Design Process with Programa and ASID
  25. Exclusive Webinar for ASID Members
  26. Key Benefits of the Programa and ASID Partnership
    1. About Programa
    2. About the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
    3. Take advantage of the Programa and ASID Partnership now
    4. 1. Schedules
    5. 2. Project Management
    6. 3. Client Dashboard
    7. 4. Pinboards
    8. 5. Financials View
    9. Traditional Quality with Modern Efficiency
    10. Collaboration: Orchestrating a Seamless Symphony
    11. Precision is crucial: Mitigating Errors
    12. All-encompassing Project Management
    13. A Library at Your Fingertips
    14. Conclusion: The Renaissance of Design
    15. Addressing the Need for Flexible Project Management in a Global Context
    16. The Solution
    17. The Result
    18. Interior Design & Architecture Software For Professional Interior Designers & Architects
    19. Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2025
  27. Support for ASID (American Society for Interior Design) members
    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. ⼻ From concept to final delivery
  28. Managing your interior design business with clarity—and profit
    1. Ideal for:
  29. Programa’s design studio workshop—Live with ASID Illinois at NeoCon
  30. Are you managing your interior design projects—or are they managing you?
  31. 1. Audit your services and workflows
  32. 2. Create custom templates inside Programa
  33. 3. Package your services like products
  34. 4. Centralise your product information
  35. 5. Use your software to manage interior design clients
  36. Key takeaways from “Profitability by Design”
  37. Programa is the operating system for your design studio
  38. About March Twice Interiors
  39. Comprehensive Guide to Client Communication Software for Interior Designers
    1. Why Time Tracking is Essential for Interior Designers
    2. How to Use Programa for Effective Time Tracking
    3. Tips for Maximizing Your Time Tracking Efforts
    4. 1. Don’t Light Everything
    5. 2. Design with Layers
    6. 3. Design for Looks
    7. 4. Design for Activity
    8. 5. Design with Control
    9. 26 June 2024
    10. 19 June 2024
    11. 18 June 2024
    12. 17 June 2024
    13. Day 1: Time, profits & creative vision
    14. Day 1 Takeaway
    15. Day 2: Accuracy, visibility & staying out of your client’s inbox
    16. Day 2 Takeaway
  • Interior Design
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