• Pruning the Tree: Where Design Solutions Arise

    Where do our ideas come from? What motivates us to innovate? Listen in as Eric MacDonald, OM Seating product design manger, and furniture designer and engineer Francisco Romero chat about the design process where ideas come from, and the stories we tell along the way. The insight they bring forth will resonate with any of us interested in developing an enduring design process, whether as an independent designer or part of an in-house team.

    Nov. 22, 2021
    2 min read
    1652361042325 I Hear Design Logo 0

    Where do our ideas come from? What motivates us to innovate? Listen in as Eric MacDonald, OM Seating product design manger, and furniture designer and engineer Francisco Romero chat about the design process where ideas come from, and the stories we tell along the way. The insight they bring forth will resonate with any of us interested in developing an enduring design process, whether as an independent designer or part of an in-house team.

    Meet Our Guests:

    Eric MacDonald, product design and development manager, OM Seating

    Eric MacDonald is the product design and development manager at OM, helping to bring thoughtful functionality, style, safety, and originality into the contract furniture design market. Based in Ontario, California, OM designs and manufactures award winning seating solutions with an extensive portfolio of chair families that fit nearly every work mode and work space. OM always strives to show some personality, while encouraging the influence of architects, designers and ergonomists. Eric graduated with an industrial design degree from California State University Long Beach in 2009. While in the design program, he won the Wilsonart Challenges design competition, displaying at his first furniture tradeshow, ICFF in New York. He was also awarded a Cortona Design Retreat Scholarship, founded by Joe Ricchio and Michael Kammermeyer, which took him to the Milan Furniture Fair. Since graduation, Eric has designed and developed products for companies like Apple, Belkin, and Peter Pepper Products. His current role at OM has taken him to Europe, Asia, and all over the US, working with development partners and introducing new product designs. 

    Francisco Romero, designer and owner, Phidesign

    Phidesign, founded in 2004, is a furniture design studio that specializes in high performance task, executive, and guest seating for the commercial market. Led by industrial designer and engineer Francisco Romero, and graphic designer Nadine Bosshard Romero, they have carved a niche in value driven markets by designing innovative products in a socially and economically responsible way.

    Francisco received his Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and then went on to a receive his Masters degree in Architecture, both from UCLA. Nadine studied at the famed Art Center College of Design in both Switzerland and Pasadena.

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    About the Author

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    Robert Nieminen

    Chief Content Director

    Chief Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources

    Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.

    He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.

    Known for his sharp editorial vision and data-informed strategies, Robert focuses on audience growth, engagement, and content monetization, leveraging AI tools and SEO-driven insights to future-proof B2B publishing.

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