Innovation by Design

Innovation by Design is the podcast where architecture meets innovation in the built environment. Hosted by Evan Troxel — architect, educator, and veteran AEC podcast host — and Candace Kitchen of Total Door Systems, each episode features short, story-driven conversations with the practitioners, designers, engineers, and innovators shaping the future of architecture, engineering, and construction. From design equity and healthcare mega-projects to AI in architecture, computational design, and construction specifications, Innovation by Design explores how everyday design decisions impact safety, sustainability, and human experience in buildings and cities. Whether it's a $2.2 billion hospital expansion redefining an urban neighborhood or a small firm rethinking how architects create value, the show bridges the gap between big ideas and real-world building practice. Topics you'll hear about include: - Artificial intelligence and machine learning in architecture - Generative and computational design tools - Building information modeling (BIM) and digital transformation - Construction technology (ConTech) and prefabrication - Sustainability, electrification, and net-zero building design - Architectural specifications and quality control - Design equity, stakeholder engagement, and community-centered design - Smart buildings, IoT, and digital twins - Career development, mentorship, and leadership in AEC - Historic preservation and adaptive reuse - Experience design and evidence-based planning - Construction management, project delivery, and risk Who this show is for: Architects, engineers, designers, construction professionals, building product manufacturers, specifications writers, design technologists, AEC firm leaders, and anyone curious about how innovation is transforming the way we design, build, and inhabit the built environment. New episodes drop regularly. Follow Innovation by Design on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss a conversation. Visit us online for full show notes, guest links, and episode transcripts. Innovation by Design is a Total Door Systems and TRXL Media production.

Innovation by Design is a arts podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 12 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Innovation by Design, a arts show with 12 episodes published.

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  Episode #11

  The Performance Mindset: How SmithGroup Approaches Sustainable Design

  Aug 3, 202642 minS1

  In this episode of Innovation By Design , Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with Chris Heine, an architect and strategist at SmithGroup, about how sustainability has shifted from an optional add-on to a core design requirement. Chris explains how early, passive design decisions (orientation, envelope performance, solar control) reduce the need for oversized active systems later, and why building performance depends on more than modeling, including commissioning, operations training, and ongoing monitoring. The conversation also dives into product transparency (EPDs and HPDs), how teams evaluate tradeoffs with clients, and why firms need robust internal knowledge systems and feedback loops (sensors, surveys, post-occupancy evaluation) to continuously improve future projects. About the Guest Chris Heine is an architect and strategist at SmithGroup in Detroit, focused on sustainable, healthy design and building performance. Chris works across scales — from building to campus — helping teams and clients integrate resilience, decarbonization, and data-informed decision-making into project delivery. Links Chris on LinkedIn SmithGroup

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  Episode #10

  Designing with Immersion: Storytelling, Training, and Spatial Understanding

  Jul 20, 202651 minS1

  Description In this episode of Innovation By Design , Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with architect and educator Ming Tang, director of the XR Lab at the University of Cincinnati, about extended reality and the rapidly changing tools that make immersive experiences more accessible than ever. Ming breaks down the differences between VR, AR, and mixed reality, shares the origin story of their own journey from early CAD and 3D rendering to immersive media, and explains why embodied, interactive experiences can communicate spatial intent in ways 2D drawings and screens cannot. The conversation also introduces the D‑I‑C‑E framework (Dangerous, Impossible, Counterproductive, Expensive) for deciding when digital simulation is the right tool. Ming shares examples ranging from VR egress training and safety scenarios to historical reconstruction and storytelling in immersive environments, plus practical guidance around motion sickness, session length, and using physical locomotion to improve comfort. Key Topics Defining XR: VR vs AR vs mixed reality, and why the boundaries often blur in practice Why immersion changes how people understand space (and why 2D is often not enough) D‑I‑C‑E (Dangerous, Impossible, Counterproductive, Expensive): when simulation creates real value VR for egress, fire/smoke, and safety training (and how behavior can differ from the real world) Motion sickness and comfort: session length, latency, sensory mismatch, and physical locomotion Creation workflows: 3D modeling → Unity/Unreal → deploy to headsets AR/MR on site: overlays for construction, manufacturing, and medical contexts Storytelling, memory, and historic reconstruction in immersive media (including generative AI support) About the guest Ming Tang is an architect, educator, and director of the XR (Extended Reality) Lab at the University of Cincinnati. His work explores the intersection of architecture, digital media, game design, and immersive technologies, including VR/AR/MR applications for design communication, simulation, training, and storytelling. Links Ming’s website: Ming3d University of Cincinnati (DAAP): https://daap.uc.edu/

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  Episode #9

  Solving for E — How Framework-E Is Rewriting the Rules of Practice

  Jul 6, 202644 minS1

  <h3>Description</h3><p>In this episode, hosts Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen sit down with Jerry Attia and Pierre Roberson of Framework-E to unpack what it looks like to intentionally design a practice, not just projects.</p><p>Jerry and Pierre walk through Framework-E’s origin story, including the relationships and early projects that helped them launch quickly, and how their “Design Framework Report” mindset shaped the firm’s name and mission.</p><p>They dig into what “equity” means in their work, including stakeholder engagement as a practical strategy that can make buildings better, more beautiful, and more profitable...

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  Episode #8

  Architecture's Technical Foundation: Why Every Designer Needs to Understand Specifications

  Jun 22, 202652 minS1

  <p>Specifications are where design intent becomes buildable reality. In this episode, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with Sherry Harbaugh, FCSI, CCS, RA, SCIP, about the overlooked craft of architectural specifications and why it is central to quality control, risk management, and successful project delivery.</p><p>Sherry recounts how early career experiences and a strong community through CSI helped them find a path in specifications, and why mentorship is essential for emerging professionals who are trying to understand the many roles available in the construction industry. The conversation also explores common spec pitfalls, how manufacturer representatives can support...

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  Episode #7

  Design as Decision: Dustin Schafer on Risk, Value, and Outcome-Based Services

  Jun 8, 202647 minS1

  <p>Dustin Schafer is Head of Research at Henderson Engineers, where he focuses on translating emerging technology into organizational strategy. In this episode, Dustin shares the career path that took him from architectural engineering and mechanical design into project management, commissioning, quality, standards, and ultimately technology leadership — including a recent shift from CTO into a role dedicated to the intersection of operations and technology.</p><p>The conversation centers on a core argument: as AI advances, it will dramatically reduce the cost of production work (routing, sizing, checking, documentation), but it won’t automatically create “good” design. Codes set a floor, n...

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