Complementary Colors

The Lies We Tell in Green: A Conversation with Jon Strassner

Episode 20: In this episode of we sit down with Jon Strassner, an industry provocateur known as an environmental storyteller, strategic advisor, and co-host of the Break Some Dishes podcast. With nearly three decades of experience in the commercial interiors industry, Jon brings a passionate and unflinching voice to the climate conversation. We talk openly about greenwashing, material transparency, and the uncomfortable truths designers and manufacturers often avoid. Jon shares stories from his time at HumanScale and ASID, why “less is more” might be the industry’s most disruptive idea, and what it really means to be transparent when talking about sustainability. Jon shares his thoughts on toxic chemicals, broken systems, and the power of imperfect progress. This conversation was recorded live at NeoCon 2024 with your hosts, Melissa Pribyl, Cara Rude, and Casey Kee. Links: * Listen to Jon’s podcast: Break Some Dishes [https://www.breaksomedishes.com] * Learn more about MCG Explore Design: https://www.exploredesign.com [https://www.exploredesign.com] * Follow Complementary Colors: https://www.exploredesign.com/ccpod/ [https://www.exploredesign.com/ccpod/] Complementary Colors is a production of MCG Explore Design, an architecture and interior design firm based in Anchorage, Alaska. Film and sound editing by Hybrid Color [https://www.hybridcolor.com]. #ComplementaryColors #InteriorDesign #Sustainability #BreakSomeDishes #RedList #GreenMyths #Neocon2025 #EnvironmentalStorytelling #JonStrassner

Mike Johnson on Sustainability and the Living Product Challenge

Episode 19: Join Cara Rude for a conversation on with Mike Johnson, Senior Director of Materials team at the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Mike is a passionate advocate for sustainability, with a focus on wildlife preservation, ecosystem health, and the development of sustainable building materials. We dig into the groundbreaking standards set by the Living Product Challenge, and why we need to be loud and proud when advocating for change. Links: International Living Future Institute: https://living-future.org/about/ [https://living-future.org/about/] Follow Complementary Colors: ⁠https://www.exploredesign.com/ccpod/⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXdzdjM3NGMxQ3FpWXowNFRuUy00THVmQ0dSUXxBQ3Jtc0trbFlkckxvLVVISjc2WVlpbGp3VHkwcUNBeU1nbWR0ODVCTjRvWEdub3Fyb01wdlRKQ3ZYVC02N20zQ251R3k2RHNWeF9vZm5HdlhqdW1JVkFYV1AyVzlIVGZIZENLRDlIN2xybXBZOUtLTzdoeUtXUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.exploredesign.com%2Fccpod%2F&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8] Complementary Colors is a production of MCG Explore Design (⁠https://www.exploredesign.com⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUFEMWhQZkJyTEFMZUo0djBkTW0zQnpMLUp2QXxBQ3Jtc0ttTUdSWTZ1RTJORDhVQURLZ1p5aVJaTk5aY2pPbmRZbjJCY1gwZmx1MGlEMGZrLTlvRUkxZktHRk9YeE5Sck5KYUNPeWlSRkVVTi1ndV9zeUpvVmRmeG9oRWk2RkNDNWxnY2hvcTBNaTBsZWlDNjM2cw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.exploredesign.com%2F&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8]) an Architecture and Interior Design firm in Anchorage, Alaska. Film and sound editing by Hybrid Color (⁠https://www.hybridcolor.com⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblBHU0Jkc3pRWUdvWVloVEE2RERMZ2FhdjZBQXxBQ3Jtc0trTW9OZ0FSSnp4aFJvV3pjRlRhaF9Nd2NvR1JmMHp1SERPWmVxR2dYSTZYcjJTNFZKWVlwWUtyeVZ2eHV2MGFKaDdLSUhvM01nVURHUzY5cUU3eFNmWkNCSzlJLTF5S3FXZWJiOTJPbGNrRjdCZ0FUQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hybridcolor.com%2F&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8]) ⁠#InteriorDesign⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/interiordesign] ⁠#Sustainability #LivingFutureChallenge #ILFI [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/neurodiversity]⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ajperone] ⁠#ComplimentaryColors⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/complimentarycolors]⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/imagineaproject] ⁠#Neocon2024⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/neocon2024] ⁠#Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast]

From Inspiration to Implementation with Design Futurist, AJ Paron

Episode 18: In this episode of Complimentary Colors we sit down with Design Futurist, AJ Paron. AJ is the Executive Vice President at Sandow Design Group and is responsible for the B2B brands of Interior Design Magazine [https://interiordesign.net/], Metropolis Magazine [https://metropolismag.com/] and ThinkLab [https://thinklab.design/]. She is an accomplished interior designer, a published author, and a strong advocate for neurodiverse design. During the episode she shares her insights on designing spaces for individuals with autism, the importance of creating restorative environments, and the future of interior design. This episode was recorded live at NeoCon 2024 in Chicago with Cara Rude, Melissa Pribyl, and Casey Kee. Links: Once Upon A Project Podcast: https://surroundpodcasts.com/once-upo... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFdUT29YT3JkWDNlVmRNT241VkhoWU81SFYxUXxBQ3Jtc0tsQTZ4bWhWcG51UzBwNkZ4SWxnNE1mSTRUd0E4MzZaVzIwejVERjJrY2dWUDQ1X1N0YVJORWVuRkE2ZTJFMVVxRVFORWRlNWFUYmxLOEdjLXNYeFVSeDFncjMtZWJBQ2NBUVpBNTNJX0tsbXFZOXNaNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsurroundpodcasts.com%2Fonce-upon-a-project&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8] Sandow Design Group: https://sandow.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjZNaGJQVUpKWm1iLWZEZVNSNnJCY3NNdVJKd3xBQ3Jtc0ttQ1c0c21pRmhsMjF1NXFxcUtRRWYwMHM4QURPUzI1Q1RfT2ZHVW9zeFZFT0hYcHQwcjNnN2tkcXA2QWJ5M2dMNFBrd1lDX0tReTZFTHEyeUUwOWpPWjhNb1kyV1Rnc181cmlGbkxrN0x4U1QwQnhfOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsandow.com%2F&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8] Interior Design for Autism from Childhood to Adolescence: https://a.co/d/0huYhJGk [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXNDZlZZLUdZYkRQOUJXWFNMdVU0S1FySkxyQXxBQ3Jtc0ttWlFoWHhrYmdibVYzVHFWZGlQenZxWWF3UXVaOW1zc09ueUNFYXRBUTJJM3NJTkhLN1hBOHE4ZTR2T0h5T1pBR2wyeFY1WGc2bldCWTRTeS1jZmJkMWpsV2hBQUg4TWZmQWx2bDZfLTNxSkNpSnpjWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2F0huYhJGk&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8] Follow Complementary Colors: https://www.exploredesign.com/ccpod/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXdzdjM3NGMxQ3FpWXowNFRuUy00THVmQ0dSUXxBQ3Jtc0trbFlkckxvLVVISjc2WVlpbGp3VHkwcUNBeU1nbWR0ODVCTjRvWEdub3Fyb01wdlRKQ3ZYVC02N20zQ251R3k2RHNWeF9vZm5HdlhqdW1JVkFYV1AyVzlIVGZIZENLRDlIN2xybXBZOUtLTzdoeUtXUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.exploredesign.com%2Fccpod%2F&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8] Complementary Colors is a production of MCG Explore Design (https://www.exploredesign.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUFEMWhQZkJyTEFMZUo0djBkTW0zQnpMLUp2QXxBQ3Jtc0ttTUdSWTZ1RTJORDhVQURLZ1p5aVJaTk5aY2pPbmRZbjJCY1gwZmx1MGlEMGZrLTlvRUkxZktHRk9YeE5Sck5KYUNPeWlSRkVVTi1ndV9zeUpvVmRmeG9oRWk2RkNDNWxnY2hvcTBNaTBsZWlDNjM2cw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.exploredesign.com%2F&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8]) an Architecture and Interior Design firm in Anchorage, Alaska. Film and sound editing by Hybrid Color (https://www.hybridcolor.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblBHU0Jkc3pRWUdvWVloVEE2RERMZ2FhdjZBQXxBQ3Jtc0trTW9OZ0FSSnp4aFJvV3pjRlRhaF9Nd2NvR1JmMHp1SERPWmVxR2dYSTZYcjJTNFZKWVlwWUtyeVZ2eHV2MGFKaDdLSUhvM01nVURHUzY5cUU3eFNmWkNCSzlJLTF5S3FXZWJiOTJPbGNrRjdCZ0FUQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hybridcolor.com%2F&v=dLaiA-3Tsp8]) #InteriorDesign [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/interiordesign] #Neurodiversity [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/neurodiversity] #DesignFuturist [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/designfuturist] #AJPerone [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ajperone] #ComplimentaryColors [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/complimentarycolors] #SandowDesignGroup [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sandowdesigngroup] #ImagineAProject [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/imagineaproject] #Neocon2024 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/neocon2024] #Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast]

Exploring the Power of Place with Doug Shapiro from OFS

Episode 17: Live from NeoCon in Chicago! Join your hosts, Cara Rude, Melissa Pribyl, and Casey Kee for a very special conversation with Doug Shapiro from OFS. Doug is the Vice President of Research & Insights at OFS [https://ofs.com/], and hosts the Imagine a Place [https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/podcast⁠] podcast. He shares his personal journey and some fascinating insights behind the places and materials that shape our world. Links: Listen to the Imagine a Place podcast: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/podcast [https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/podcast] Watch video from this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TU-dYrJOPZ8 [https://youtu.be/TU-dYrJOPZ8] Complementary Colors is a production of MCG Explore Design [https://www.exploredesign.com] an Architecture and Interior Design firm in Anchorage, Alaska. Film and sound editing by Hybrid Color [https://www.hybridcolor.com]. Follow Complementary Colors for future episodes. #DesignPodcast #InteriorDesign #ImagineAPlace #DougShapiro #OFS #Neocon #Sustainability #StorytellingInDesign #ComplementaryColors #MCGExploreDesign

Public Art & Cultural Storytelling with Crystal Worl

Episode 16: In this episode Melissa Pribyl is sitting down with special guest, Crystal Worl to talk about the importance and impact of public art. Crystal is a talented and multi-faceted artist based in Juneau, Alaska. She shares her experiences working on large scale public art installations, including her stunning new livery design for Alaska Airlines. We talk about Crystal's cultural heritage and her journey as an artist and storyteller. You'll learn about how she integrates traditional forms and modern techniques to create pieces that resonate with both the past and the future. Crystal also offers valuable insights into working with clients, blending branding guidelines with indigenous art, and the challenges and rewards of creating large-scale public art. This episode is packed with inspiration and knowledge! Links: See more from Crystal Worl at: https://crystalworl.com/ [https://crystalworl.com/] Follow her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/trickstercompany [https://www.instagram.com/trickstercompany] Check out her amazing design for Alaska Airlines, Xáat Kwáani (Salmon People) here: https://youtu.be/s2wLoebydIw [https://youtu.be/s2wLoebydIw] Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/_WAUdT2CTcc [https://youtu.be/_WAUdT2CTcc] #ComplementaryColors #Podcast #PublicArt #CrystalWorl #TlingitHeritage #CultrualStorytelling #ArtAndCulture