Design Discord

Laura Young of The Future Perfect joins Fernando Mastrangelo on Design Discord for a wide-ranging conversation covering her full career path, the evolution of one of design’s most respected galleries, and what’s actually in or out right now.

From RISD and chaotic auction-house days to co-leading The Future Perfect across New York, LA, Miami, and San Francisco, Laura opens up about building a business that balances commerce and culture, their signature showroom/gallery approach, the deep collaboration with artists like Chris Wolston, and the realities of gatekeeping.

Timestamps
0:00 – Intro
0:01:08 – RISD & early career
0:05:12 – Auction house years
0:13:22 – Meeting David & joining The Future Perfect
0:22:15 – The Future Perfect model explained
0:23:27 – Residentializing the gallery experience
0:31:18 – Chris Wolston deep dive
0:42:04 – Gatekeeping in design
0:47:15 – Discovering new designers & open call
0:53:35 – Future Perfect as cultural institution
0:56:12 – In or Out design trends
1:01:10 – Outro

A must-listen for designers, collectors, and anyone obsessed with the business and culture of contemporary design.

#TheFuturePerfect #DesignPodcast #InteriorDesign #CollectibleFurniture #DesignTrends #ChrisWolston

Join Fernando Mastrangelo on Design Discord for an in-depth conversation with Ashlee Harrison, powerhouse in collectible design. From helping establish Carpenters Workshop Gallery in the US to launching her own private salon Thirty8East in a historic Upper East Side brownstone, Ashlee brings unparalleled insight into the world of functional sculpture, curation, and cultural storytelling.

Topics include the maturing collectible design market, working with legendary designers, the power of intimacy over scale, fair experiences, and practical advice for collectors and creatives.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:01 – State of Collectible Design Today
02:43 – Advisors vs. Interior Designers
03:36 – Joining Carpenters Workshop Young
05:25 – Early Responsibilities & Building the Business
06:35 – Market Expansions to LA, SF & Aspen
09:21 – Defining Collectible vs. Fine Furniture
11:35 – Collaborating with Artists like Campana Brothers & Studio Drift
18:33 – Transition to Thirty8East Salon
20:20 – The Salon Experience: By Appointment, Storytelling & Coffee
29:48 – Value of Design Fairs & Relationships
34:29 – Market Cycles, COVID Impact & Slow Growth
39:56 – Future of Her Career & Excitement Ahead
48:10 – Advice for Young Designers

Perfect for anyone interested in design, art, collecting, or building a meaningful creative career.

Follow Design Discord on Spotify for more. Support the show and share with a fellow design lover!

#CollectibleDesign #DesignPodcast #Thirty8East #AshleeHarrison

Zesty Meyers (co-founder of R & Company) joins Fernando Mastrangelo for a raw, inspiring conversation about his incredible 30+ year journey in the design world.
From performing with molten glass as part of the legendary B Team, to starting what later became R & Company with just $200 at the Chelsea Flea Market, to shaping the modern collectible design market — this episode is packed with philosophy, hard-earned lessons, and optimism for the future of craft and design.

Topics covered:
- The dying craft scene of the late ’80s and why they had to create their own path
- Turning a hobby into one of the most influential design galleries in the world
- Why most creatives only have one great idea, and why that’s worth celebrating
- The future of handmade objects in the age of AI and billionaires
- Longevity in creative careers, failure, and building real partnerships with artists

Notable Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Welcome
01:10 – Pilchuck Glass School & the Birth of the B Team
14:02 – Starting R & Company in 1997: The Flea Market Days
28:23 – Most People Only Have One Great Idea
32:02 – Bringing in Contemporary Artists (Jeff Zimmerman & Beyond)
43:48 – The Haas Brothers & Building Long Careers
50:36 – Year 11 Struggles: What No One Tells You About Creative Careers
53:06 – Why Handmade Objects Will Define New Wealth in the AI Age
61:02 – Brazilian Design Discovery & Building a Secondary Market
72:07 – Tribeca Space, Fairs & Refocusing the Gallery Program
82:53 – Final Thoughts: Raising Our Voice as a Design Community

If you’re a designer, artist, collector, or someone who loves stories of grit and creativity, this one will move you.

Subscribe for more deep dives into the design world!Leave a comment: What’s one lesson you’re taking from Zesty?

#CollectibleDesign #RAndCompany #designnews #designbusiness #designmotivation #designinspiration #businesspodcast #artpodcast #artmotivation #creativepodcast #CraftAndArt #CreativeJourney #ZestyMeyers #fernandomastrangelo #nydesignscene

In this episode of Design Discord, hosts Fernando Mastrangelo and Alyssa Gerasimoff celebrate the end of the year with the first annual Design Discord Awards. They discuss their selections for various categories, including best fair, booth, interior designers, and galleries, while reflecting on the challenges of making these choices. They also highlight designers to watch in 2026 and discuss their plans for the upcoming season two of the podcast, reflecting on their journey and the insights gained throughout the year.

05:26 Best Fair
10:30 Best Booth
14:02 Best Interior Designer/Architect
18:31 Best Gallery
25:55 Best Showroom
32:19 Best Breakout Star
34:51 Best New Collection
38:56 Most Innovative Use of Materials
46:34 Best Chair
49:45 Best Lighting
56:45 Best Side Table
59:30 Best Fine Furniture
01:03:10 Best Ceramic Furniture
01:12:46 Best Collectible Design
01:18:35 Best Photography
01:24:40 Favorite Design Discord Episode
01:28:10 Designers to Watch in 2026

Should you hire a PR firm… or are you just paying someone to spam editors?
Rebecca Goldberg — co-founder of Dada Goldberg, the most dialed-in design PR agency in New York — finally pulls back the curtain.

We ask every question designers are dying to ask about PR:
- What does real PR actually cost these days?
- When is the right moment to pull the trigger?
- Does PR actually move the needle on sales and collabs or is it just ego?
- Can you get overexposed and ruin your brand?
- Big agency vs boutique: which one is best?
- Do legacy magazines (AD, Elle Decor, Vogue) still matter or is it all Instagram now?
- Why dinners, press releases?

Plus: what is the one thing every emerging designer needs before they even think about hiring PR? (hint: it’s not a finished website).

If you’ve ever googled “design PR firms” at 2 a.m., this episode will save you six figures and a lot of heartbreak.

Hosted by Alyssa Gerasimoff & Fernando Mastrangelo
Guest: Rebecca Goldberg (Dada Goldberg)
https://dadagoldberg.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dadagoldberg/

Timestamps & full takeaway list in the show notes.
01:20 How much does design PR really cost in 2025?
06:45 When should you actually hire PR (the exact moment)
12:10 Does press = sales? The honest ROI breakdown
18:30 Can you get overexposed and kill your brand?
23:15 Legacy media vs Instagram: what actually moves the needle
29:40 Big agency vs boutique: pros, cons, and horror stories
35:20 Why dinners are the new press release
41:50 The personal toll no one talks about
48:30 How PR unlocks collaborations and bigger opportunities
54:10 The future of design PR in a cooked economy
1:01:00 Rebecca’s one piece of advice for every emerging designer

This episode is pure fire for anyone trying to figure out how to go from “talented” to “known.”