Becoming the Builder's Designer Presented by Business of Home

While designers and builders often approach projects from different perspectives, both are ultimately working toward the same goal: bringing the client’s vision for their home to life. Yet the designer–builder relationship is often marked by tension and misalignment. The good news? It doesn't have to be that way. Business of Home editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen moderates a discussion with designers Corey Damen Jenkins, Alison Giese and Erin Sander on how to work more effectively alongside contractors. Drawing on their collective experience, they unpack how builders think, where friction tends to arise and how to anticipate and navigate those moments with greater clarity and confidence. Attendees will also gain practical strategies for improving communication, aligning expectations and timelines, identifying common challenges before they escalate, and making more confident, informed decisions in real time—so both sides can collaborate more seamlessly in service of a stronger final outcome.

 

-Alison Giese, Owner & Creative Director, Alison Giese Interiors

-Corey Damen Jenkins, Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates, LLC

-Erin Sander, Owner & Principal, Erin Sander Design

 

-Kaitlin Petersen, Editor in Chief, Business of Home