America's most well-connected and helpful commercial interior design community
We’re trying to paint a picture of what happens at Arc Interiors: When America's most in-demand commercial Interior Designers and Architects leave it all behind to spend some quality time together and to see what some of the industry's top suppliers are working on.
What makes this gathering unmissable for ambitious suppliers 'in the know' is:
1. The firms these designers represent.
2. The scale and variety of commercial interior projects on their books.
3. Their influence over who gets specified.
Arc Interiors connects North America’s most in-demand commercial interior designers with the people they need to bring their projects to life. In a business built firmly on relationships, it is three of the most productive days possible. It's also a whole lot of fun.
Get the attendee list
68 of North America's most influential Interior Designers and Interior Architects headed out to JW Marriott, Anaheim on September 17-20, 2026, each chosen on the strength of their commercial interior project portfolios and for their firm-wide influence over who gets specified.
Here’s a small sample from the confirmed attendee list. Please note the firms and job titles, and think about the effort and expense typically involved in getting a meeting with just one of them…
Attending Interior Designers and Interior Architects
Eileen Goodman
Partner, Interior Design Director
Moody Nolan
Ryan Byrnes
Principal, Managing Director
IA Interior Architects
Brent Capron
Design Director
Corgan
Jeany Kim
Senior Associate Vice President
Arcadis
Alexis Dennis-Huether
Associate Principal
The SLAM Collaborative
Amy Shavelson
Associate Principal
Perkins Eastman
The Projects
Yes, this is about projects – but without developing the right relationships, those projects cannot materialise. Arc Interiors gives manufacturers unprecedented access to the people driving the projects they want in on.
Every Architect and Designer invited to Arc Interiors must evidence a portfolio of live, confirmed commercial interior projects and be of suitable seniority to influence the specification process, often across the whole firm.
Make the right impression here and you will win powerful allies who will fight your corner come specification time. And, if you deliver what a time-pressured project leader needs, where and when they need it, you will have a friend for life.
Magic Moments
Arc Interiors is so much more than the sum of its parts.
Every one of BOND's architect and designer networking events is made up of countless little magic moments – incidental meetings and introductions off-stage that add up to a uniquely fruitful and fun experience that is impossible to convey.
The only way to untap the true potential of what’s on offer here is to turn up with passion and faith in your product and with a genuine curiosity in who’s here and what they’re working on.
Do that and things can get very interesting surprisingly quickly.
Our experience at Arc Interiors was exactly what we'd hoped it would be - an invaluable opportunity to connect professionally and personally with some of the top architects and designers in the field.
Colleen Wilson | Oat Foundry | Senior Sales Representative
The conversations at breakfast, lunch, dinner, at the bar, over coffee, or as you find your dancing feet wearing the most ‘70s thing you could lay your hands on.
Those moments when you’ve put the sales pitch aside and are simply enjoying the company around you. You strike up a conversation with someone doing exactly the same, who just happens to be one of the most influential and well-connected people in commercial interior design.
And, whatever you end up talking about, they’ll remember you and be happy to take things up where you left off when you follow up after the event.
The biggest highlight for me was the opportunity for surprise moments of connection in between meetings.
An architect whose work I admire had a 1-on-1 meeting scheduled, but by the time we sat down to talk, we'd run into each other in the hallway of the hotel about 10 times - enough that we already had an inside joke when it was time to talk business!
Colleen Wilson | Oat Foundry | Senior Sales Representative
Pre-Event Tour
BONDing started early with the pre-event tour to Mission Escape Room, Anaheim. With competitive instincts kicking in, teams raced to get out of there first, putting collaboration, creative thinking and problem-solving to the test. The energy continued on the short walk back to the hotel, with animated conversations and laughter along the way.
This fun, interactive ice-breaking experience was rated a solid 5/5 by all who took part, getting Arc Interiors 2026 off to the best start possible.
Welcome!
All BOND events officially start with the Welcome Reception Dinner and a mercifully short, always warm welcome from BOND’s founder, Oliver ‘Olly’ Needs who hasn’t missed a single event since he started the whole thing 22 years ago! (see BOND: Origins)
The setting at JW Marriott, Anaheim naturally suggested an evening of relaxed Southern Californian hospitality with drinks, live violin music and easy conversation getting the BONDing in full flow.
This is where those taking the plunge with their first BOND event are often relieved and delighted to discover that the people BOND promised would be here are, indeed, here.
Furthermore, these highly sought-after decision-makers (who are usually too busy to talk) are savouring time away from daily pressures and distractions, taking the opportunity to absorb information and deepen industry connections before returning to their busy schedules.
Being here is one thing. Being present, open and available means conversations are less rushed, more meaningful and a lot more productive than at other industry events.
Wonderfully hosted conference with amazing opportunity to connect with peers and vendors in the Design Industry.
Sarah Ferguson, Denton House Design Studio, Interior Design Director
Amerca's most in-demand Interior Designers make time for BOND
For America's leading Interior Designers to take three days out of their busy schedules is extremely rare – but they do so because they are able to condense months’ worth of information gathering and product research into just a few days.
And this is what makes Arc Interiors so compelling for manufacturers looking to build meaningful, lasting relationships with North America’s most influential commercial interior design decision-makers.
Be Inspired
After a highly sociable evening, BOND eased delegates into the first business day with the first of four AIA-accredited seminars, exploring the balance between culinary function and design vision. Food for thought...
The seminar program at Arc Interiors merits a special mention here. Thoughtfully timed to punctuate each meetings session, each presentation is a joint effort between four subject experts and our in-house industry veterans. Thought-provoking, inspirational, entertaining and often challenging, it brings added gravitas to the event experience and gives attending architects their continuing education credits.
Check out the full program here.
The seminars and knowledge share were great parts of the event. The connections and deeper understanding of product and applications will be very useful for future projects.
Steven Stroman, HKS, Principal, Studio Practice Leader, Health Interiors
1037 1-on-1 meetings
A month before the event, confirmed delegates gained access to the event dashboard, where they could explore who was attending, learn about their projects and select their top 20 people to meet.
These preferences were then fed into BOND’s matching system to create the fairest and most effective meeting schedules possible, with adjustments made where needed.
Countless unplanned conversations
Regular attendees know that the scheduled meetings are only part of the experience. With a little effort, support from the BOND team and a touch of serendipity, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with everyone they want to meet. And often, it's the unexpected conversations that lead to some of the most valuable opportunities.
Affectionately known as the 'BOND effect', it's what happens when North America’s most connected and collaborative commercial interior design community comes together.
Lunch offered another opportunity for spontaneous conversations, with open seating encouraging delegates to connect over shared interests, exchange stories and build relationships beyond the meeting room.
After lunch, Lisa Bartlett brought her infectious enthusiasm to the second seminar of the day, exploring the power of lighting to transform interiors and promote wellbeing. Read more about her session here in the second edition of BOND's Be Inspired series.
Relax!
Delegates returned for the afternoon's 1-on-1 meetings with a noticeably different energy.
Initial nerves now settled, conversations flowed more naturally and delegates were finding their rhythm. With everything carefully organised, they could simply relax, focus on the people in front of them and let the connections unfold.
These seasoned professionals aren’t looking for a sales pitch. Product knowledge matters, but these 30-minute meetings are just as much about building rapport, finding common ground and making genuine connections.
The best approach? Be yourself, ask questions and let the conversation flow. Whether it happens during a scheduled meeting, over coffee, at the bar or on the dancefloor, it’s these connections that often last long after the event ends.
Well orchestrated. I liked the staff working to make sure the meetings happened on time and with the clients selected.
George Bosson, LIGHTGLASS, Chief Spiritual Officer
Jolene!
With the first full business day behind them, delegates had a chance to unwind and enjoy an evening of live music, relaxed conversation and a little California nostalgia.
Inspired by the legendary Laurel Canyon era of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the evening brought out the flares, collars and laid-back vibes for a night of music and BONDing.
We hope we made Dolly proud.
Exciting new life in your sales pipeline!
After a memorable evening, day three followed a similar format but with many more familiar faces, shared nods, smiles and laughter and a palpable change in atmosphere.
First-day nerves had melted away, delegates now relishing the prospect of another day of 1-on-1 meetings with some of the industry's biggest hitters, many of whom have already been met along the way.
More connections made and deepened over lunch, the final seminar and another afternoon getting to know the Principals and practice leaders from the firms you've been chasing for years. And you're done!
The 'BOND Effect'
Having arrived with a belly full of nerves and a healthy dose of cynicism, you are now 'good' tired and satisfied to your bones after two of the most intensely productive days of your career. You've done it!
And, as you grab a well earned cold one from the tray that's just arrived, you look around the room of sales pros and lingering designers and spot the lady from The S/L/A/M Collaborative who beckons you over.
"I have this project and a supplier's let me down..."
The BOND effect strikes once again. And will continue to do so when you send that email or make that call to someone else who was part of this uniquely memorable gathering.
Arc Interiors 2027 is happening on September 16-19, East Coast, luxury venue tbc.
If you want to fast track your relationship-building with the people who influence spec. at the firms that matter, we suggest you give it a try.
The following stats and comments were taken from the on-site survey that all attendees were asked to complete, and from comments made on LinkedIn around the event.
Interior Designers and Interior Architects
How do you rate Arc Interiors 2026 overall? 4.7/5
Wonderfully hosted conference with amazing opportunity to connect with peers and vendors in the Design Industry.
Sarah Ferguson, Denton House Design, Studio Interior Design Director
How would you rate the customer service you received prior to the event? 4.9/5
How would you rate the management and coordination from the BOND team whilst on-site? 4.9/5
How would you rate the relevance, quality, and variety of the suppliers you met with? 4.7/5
Great group of suppliers with great knowledge and application for potential project work.
Steven Stroman, HKS, Principal, Studio Practice Leader, Health Interiors
Suppliers
How do you rate Arc Interiors 2026 overall? 4.7/5
How do you rate the management and coordination from the BOND team whilst on-site? 4.85/5
How would you rate the quality and variety of the architects and designers in attendance? 4.6/5
BOND strive to offer a high-end experience, from start to finish. On a scale of 1 to 5, how well has your BOND experience aligned with that of a premium brand? 4.85/5
