When “Not In Scope” and humor become a design superpower | Morgan Maples of IA Interior Architects

This episode features Morgan Maples, a Chicago-based Senior Project Manager, who brings a real and refreshingly honest perspective to the realities of working in the design industry. The conversation explores themes of setting boundaries, managing expectations, and navigating the balance between saying yes and protecting your time. Morgan shares reflections on collaboration, emphasizing how creativity often thrives through shared ideas and team energy rather than working in isolation.

The episode also touches on career growth and perspective, including the value of understanding different paths within the industry and how designers can better communicate with clients. With humor and authenticity throughout, this conversation offers a relatable and refreshing look at the challenges and opportunities that shape a successful and sustainable design career.

Key Insights

1. Clear project boundaries help interior designers prevent burnout, protect team capacity, and ensure out-of-scope client requests receive appropriate timelines and fees.
2. Saying “no” does not require an external obligation or lengthy explanation; protecting your personal time is a valid reason on its own.
3. Creative collaboration allows designers to exchange ideas, build on one another’s energy, and elevate work beyond what they might create independently.
4. Humor and strong industry friendships can provide perspective, reminding designers that demanding work can be both important and enjoyable.
5. Interior design careers extend beyond traditional firms, offering opportunities across different organizations, specialties, and client-side roles.
6. Understanding the client’s perspective helps designers simplify presentations, avoid industry jargon, and communicate the information that matters most.

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 Morgan Maples
Morgan Maples is an interior designer at IA Interior Architects, where she helps create thoughtful, people-centered environments that balance creativity with the practical realities of a project. Known for bringing humor and honesty to the design process, Morgan is also the creator of “Not In Scope,” a social media platform that highlights the relatable—and often unexpected—moments behind life in the architecture and design industry. Through her work and storytelling, she encourages designers to embrace challenges, find creativity within constraints, and build stronger connections through shared experiences. Connect with Morgan 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.

Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

Read More about Maria in the Imagine a Place Journal

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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