Less Friction, More Flow — Evolving Design Materials Evaluation & Communication
From Once Upon a Planet by Jon Strassner
September 24, 2025 · 38 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the challenges of specifying sustainable materials in design and how Ecomedes is transforming the process.
Live from the NeoCon show floor in Chicago, Verda and Jon sit down with Kathleen Egan and Paul Shahriari, co-founders of Ecomedes. If you’ve ever struggled to specify sustainable materials, this episode is a must-listen. Ecomedes is changing the game for the architecture and design industry by streamlining product data, certifications, and comparisons into one comprehensive and easy-to-use platform. We explore why the process has been so hard for both designers and manufacturers, challenge ideas about product data, and explore how Ecomedes is making the path to sustainable design more efficient and impactful. This episode was produced in partnership with Ecomedes and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf. References & Resources Ecomedes Platform: ecomedes.com Summit at Neocon mentioned: metropolismag.com/viewpoints/insights-metropolis-leadership-summit-neocon/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
People in this episode
Host: Jon Strassner
Guests: Verda, Kathleen Egan, Paul Shahriari
Topics covered
- sustainable design
- material evaluation
- architecture
- design industry
- product data
- Ecomedes
Keywords
- sustainable materials
- design communication
- Ecomedes platform
- NeoCon
- architecture
- product certifications
Sponsors
Material Bank
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Ecomedes, HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, Turf
Books & works: metropolismag.com/viewpoints/insights-metropolis-leadership-summit-neocon/
Places: Chicago
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