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Add Texture to GoogleOn Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the skyscraper-lined skyline of Manhattan served as the backdrop for a gathering of a special kind. Inside One World Trade Center, Condé Nast’s global headquarters, leading figures in interior architecture and design gathered for a day of intensive discussions under the auspices of AD PRO. This inaugural summit, titled Design Dialogues, transformed the magazine’s offices into a think tank where technical foresight mingled with behind-the-scenes studio insights. Within the glass walls overlooking the city, the elite of the AD100 network and professionals from the AD PRO directory sketched out the contours of an industry in the midst of transformation, driven by the challenges of sustainability and technological innovation.
Kelly Wearstler: The Balance Between Algorithms and Craftsmanship
The day kicked off with a conversation between Amy Astley, global editorial director of Architectural Digest, and Kelly Wearstler, a leading figure in American design. Wearstler, whose name is inextricably linked to an aesthetic that blends boldness with organic luxury, shared her vision for growing a global brand. Beyond large-scale residential projects, the designer emphasized the importance of diversification, citing in particular her foray into collectible craftsmanship through her Side Hustle gallery. This creative extension allows her to explore more radical forms, often featured in her newsletter, Wearstlerworld.
One of the highlights of this discussion concerned the emergence of generative artificial intelligence in the creative process. Far from rejecting the tool, Kelly Wearstler detailed how she integrates these technologies to stimulate her firm’s imagination, while ensuring that the designer’s signature is never diluted by the algorithm. For her, AI acts as a catalyst for concepts, but the final decision and material sensibility remain the creator’s domain.
Renovation and Resilience: The Relationship with Time
The panel on residential renovations unveiled the findings of the AD PRO Home Renovation Report 2026. Moderated by Catherine Hong, architects Elizabeth Graziolo (founder of Yellow House Architects) and Michael K. Chen discussed homeowners’ new priorities. Elizabeth Graziolo, who attended despite a broken knee and crutches, highlighted a growing demand for historic preservation, contrasting with the past trend of a clean slate.
The discussion highlighted themes that were once peripheral but are now central: the selection of healthy materials, adapting structures to climate change, and preventive design for aging in place. Briana Ryan, a representative from the manufacturer Miele, provided an industry perspective on these issues, explaining how home appliances now fit into the quest for longevity in living spaces, where technology must be discreet and sustainable.
The Color Strategy Against the Dogma of Beige
The topic of color was the focus of a session moderated by Corey Damen Jenkins, whose work is renowned for its vibrant use of color. Joined by Sam Cochran and Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams, Jenkins advocated for a definitive break from the dominance of neutral palettes, often described as “beige” or “greige.”
The issue is not merely aesthetic, but psychological. The speakers explored how color influences the emotional well-being of occupants. Corey Damen Jenkins shared his strategies for convincing even the most reluctant clients to embrace bold choices—not by imposing rigid rules, but by applying compositional principles tailored to each individual’s temperament. The key takeaway from this discussion was that color serves as a true calling card, capable of defining a space’s identity far more effectively than standardized furniture.
Agency Governance and Remote Work Methods
San Francisco-based designer Heidi Caillier offered a more pragmatic perspective on managing an interior design firm. In an interview with Alison Levasseur, she detailed how her six-person firm operates entirely remotely. This flexible structure does not prevent her from taking on prestigious projects, such as those completed for Kendall Jenner, but it requires ironclad discipline in communication.
Heidi Caillier specifically mentioned her strict boundaries with clients, categorically refusing to communicate via text message to preserve her team’s quality of life and ensure clarity in professional instructions. Stylistically, she reaffirmed her rejection of aesthetic standardization, avoiding being confined to what some call the “Heidi house” in favor of constant renewal, tailored to each architectural context.
Image Analysis and Editorial Selection
The visual dimension—the lifeblood of any specialized publication—was addressed during a masterclass featuring photographer Stephen Kent Johnson and the editorial team consisting of Mayer Rus, Bebe Howorth, and Michael Shome. The discussion focused on the mechanisms for selecting residential projects. For an architect, knowing how to present their work to the press goes beyond simply sending beautiful photos; it involves understanding the narrative of a space.
The speakers shared practical advice on photography, emphasizing that a photograph must capture the soul of a space rather than merely cataloging its features. This session helped the professionals in attendance better understand the criteria for photographic excellence required to have a chance of being published in the industry’s leading publications.
A Members-Only Ecosystem
The AD PRO Design Dialogues summit was designed as an exclusive event, accessible by invitation only to members of the AD PRO Directory network and to designers featured on the AD100 list. This approach underscores the commitment to building a strong professional community centered around dedicated services. As such, a membership offer was promoted at US$1.50 per month (approximately €1.35) for the first year, compared to the standard rate of US$4.50 (approximately €4.05), including full access to digital resources and archives.
The day, captured by photographer Sean Sime, concluded far from the heights of the World Trade Center. Participants gathered in the evening on Bowery Street for a celebratory cocktail party hosted by Studio Andrée Putman. This informal gathering provided an opportunity to continue the discussions begun during the panel sessions, thereby cementing the sense of community at this inaugural event, which places New York, more than ever, at the center of global discourse on contemporary living.