Keynote and Content Sessions
We are incredibly excited to bring you an exceptional opening keynote and panel discussion at DesignPoint. This is an opportunity for you to gain valuable insights and be inspired by some of the most respected and accomplished professionals in the industry.
Keynote
Sunday, August 23
Steve Fredlund
EMBRACE THE ADVENTURE | How to Keep Moving Forward When the Path Is Not Clear
In a world where change accelerates and clarity rarely arrives first, momentum can feel elusive. Steve “Safari Dude” Fredlund draws on powerful stories from the African safari to reframe uncertainty as part of the adventure, not a problem to solve. Specifiers will discover how to move forward with intention, surround themselves with the right people, and take the bold action that builds momentum when the path ahead is unclear.
Content Sessions
Monday, August 24
Content Session with Julee Ireland
Personalized Luxury | Blending Beauty, Function, and Timeless Living
Luxury design has moved past aesthetics alone. Today’s clients expect spaces that feel deeply personal, perform flawlessly, and hold their value for decades. In this moderated panel, leading luxury kitchen and bath specifiers discuss how they build custom environments around a client’s lifestyle while balancing craftsmanship, innovation, wellness, sustainability, and long-term value.
Tuesday, August 25
A Brief with NKBA
Prepare for morning remarks during breakfast with NKBA.
Beyond Beautiful | How the Next Generation of Homes Will Support Health, Happiness, and Longevity
This highly interactive discussion will explore how thoughtful design choices, from indoor air quality and lighting to accessibility, wellness technology, biophilic design, and adaptable living, are shaping the homes of the future. Rather than a traditional presentation, the session will encourage specifiers to share their own experiences, challenges, and ideas as the moderators pose thought-provoking questions and facilitate peer-to-peer conversation. Together, participants will examine how designers can create homes that not only look beautiful but also support healthier, happier, and longer lives for generations to come.
Entertainment
Tuesday, August 25
Closing Dinner with Mat O’Neill
Mat O’Neill: Mentalist and Magician
DesignPoint closes with a performance by mentalist and magician, Mat O’Neill. His work moves between feats of memory, mind, and sleight of hand, built around a single idea: connection. You will leave not only entertained, but more attuned to the people beside you.
In February 2024, O’Neill performed at the International Magic Convention in Blackpool, England, sharing a bill with some of the world’s most recognized magicians and drawing standing-room-only crowds of his own. His recent work spans corporate and association stages for organizations including IBM/Taos and WoodCraft Rangers. He has appeared on Masters of Illusion, tours nationally with Jason Latimer’s Impossible Science, headlines the Magical Mystery Show at Maui’s Kea Lani Resort, and has performed more than 1,000 shows at the Hollywood Magic Castle. He also speaks on the power of connectivity as a motivational speaker.