The designer’s secret superpower: Listening, empathy, and client-centered design | Melissa Borrmann of Niles Bolton Associates

In this episode, Maria sits down with Melissa Borman, Interior Design Director at Niles Bolton Associates in Atlanta, to talk about leadership, listening, and designing with intention. Melissa shares how seeing projects through a client’s business lens reshaped her approach to design. Along the way, she discovered that her greatest superpower isn’t just creativity, but listening.

Together, they explore the shift from designing for clients to designing with them, and why empathy, curiosity, and asking better questions lead to stronger outcomes. Melissa reflects on stepping into executive leadership, succeeding a long-standing mentor, and learning to move from working “in the weeds” to leading the forest. This conversation is about growth, mentorship, and what modern design leadership truly requires.

If you care about client-centered design, meaningful leadership, and building spaces with purpose, this episode is for you.

Key Insights

1. Listening is a designer’s greatest strength because successful spaces respond to a client’s business needs rather than the designer’s personal preferences.
2. Observing a client’s daily workflow helps designers uncover challenges and opportunities that may not surface through conversation alone.
3. Asking thoughtful questions helps clients clarify what they need and recognize possibilities they may not have considered.
4. Great design does not require an extravagant budget; skilled designers can elevate a client’s aesthetic and translate it into a beautiful, effective space.
5. Meaningful objects, artwork, and accessories give a space personality when they are selected with intention rather than added simply to follow trends.

6. Strong leadership means stepping out of the details, trusting talented team members, and giving them room to grow independently.

    

Recorded at the Designing for People, Place, and Purpose Retreat

Held over two days at OFS headquarters in Huntingburg, Indiana, this gathering brought together design leaders from across the country. Through immersive activities, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturing and innovation, and candid conversations with host Maria VanDeman, guests explored how people, place, and purpose shape their work, careers, creativity, and the future of design.
 

Learn more about Melissa Borrmann
Melissa Borrmann, NCIDQ, is a principal and director of interior design at Niles Bolton Associates, where she leads with a collaborative, client-centered approach grounded in listening and empathy. With nearly three decades of experience, Melissa has designed and managed projects across the corporate, multifamily, hospitality, education, retail, and residential sectors. Her creativity is supported by deep technical knowledge of building codes and construction, allowing her to translate clients’ needs into thoughtful, functional spaces. A graduate of Florida State University and a multiple ASID Design Excellence Award winner, Melissa is also passionate about mentoring emerging designers and has helped develop internal training opportunities for her firm’s interior design team. Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn

Learn more about Maria VanDeman
Maria VanDeman is the Director of Design Strategy at OFS, where she brings together design, strategy, and storytelling to create spaces that support people and inspire connection. With more than 17 years of experience in the commercial design industry, Maria has built a career spanning interior design, strategic sales, thought leadership, and advocacy for equity in the workplace. As the host of the Imagine a Place Podcast and the author of Design Your World, she is passionate about elevating the design profession and inspiring the next generation of creatives. Recognized with the 2022 HiP Leadership Award from Interior Design magazine, Maria is known for her thoughtful leadership, commitment to mentorship, and belief in the power of design to positively shape the human experience. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

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Learn more about Imagine a Place
Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

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