About this Event
Get Down to Business: A Deeper Dive
Your design business is your business. Is it working for you?
Need more visibility? Better systems? A clear path to scale? New avenues for growth? A first look at what’s next?
Get Down to Business brings the business of design into focus—in one day.
On October 28, six industry leaders come together at ADAC for a full day of actionable insights and practical strategies to help you strengthen your firm, improve profitability, and plan for growth.
5 sessions. 6 industry leaders. Up to 5 CEU credits. Just 75 seats.
With attendance capped at 75 design professionals, this intimate experience combines expert-led presentations, real-world case studies, interactive lunch roundtables, and opportunities to connect directly with industry leaders.
The Day
10:15–11:15 a.m. | The Business of Being Seen
Ericka Saurit of Saurit Creative shares how to position your firm, communicate your value, and stand out in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace.
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | The Business Framework
Gail Doby and Erin Weir of Pearl Collective explore the operational, financial, and leadership systems behind profitable, sustainable firms.
12:45–1:45 p.m. | Lunch + Roundtables
Continue the conversation over lunch with industry speakers in participating ADAC showrooms.
2–3 p.m. | Case Study in Growth
Margaret Donaldson of MDI Luxury Design joins Gail Doby and Erin Weir to share insights from her firm’s growth journey after more than three decades in business.
3:30–4:30 p.m. | Scaling a Design Business
Dwayne Bergmann explores diversifying services, expanding revenue streams, and building a multifaceted design brand.
4:45–5:45 p.m. | Sherwin-Williams Colormix® Forecast 2027
Kamilah Morgan of Sherwin-Williams explores the color, material, and finish trends shaping the year ahead.
5:45–6 p.m. | Networking Reception
Connect with fellow design professionals in the ADAC Designer Lounge.
Make the Business of Design Work for You
Whether you’re looking to attract new clients, strengthen your business systems, improve profitability, or explore new opportunities for growth, this day is designed to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Expect practical business strategies, meaningful conversations, peer-to-peer learning, and fresh inspiration you can bring back to your firm.
Spend one day working on the business of your business.
Event Details:
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
ADAC, 351 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA
Tickets: $150 | Trade-only event
Attendees may earn 1.0 CEU per session attended, for up to five CEUs. CEU credit information will be provided at the event.
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Welcome + Meet the Speakers
🕑: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
The Business of Being Seen | Positioning Your Firm for the Market Ahead
Host: Ericka Saurit of Saurit Creative
Info: Being good at design is no longer enough to ensure the right clients find you. In a crowded, rapidly changing market, visibility, relevance, and perceived value are business advantages—and how your firm shows up matters as much as the work you produce.
In her session, brand strategist Ericka Saurit of Saurit Creative explores what it takes to build a firm that gets noticed, remembered, and chosen. She’ll unpack the strategic decisions that shape perception, from defining what sets your firm apart to communicating your value in ways that resonate with your ideal clients. You’ll examine how changing client expectations and an increasingly AI-driven landscape are reshaping visibility, then identify opportunities to sharpen your positioning, stand out, and stay relevant in the market ahead.
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Networking Break
Info: Connect with the speakers + refresh and reset for the next session
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The Business Framework | Operations, Mindset, and the Structure Behind Succes
Host: Gail Doby of Pearl Collective
Info: Join Gail Doby and Erin Weir of Pearl Collective as they share the proven systems that help successful interior design firms thrive. Having coached hundreds of design professionals across the country, Gail and Erin understand what separates firms that simply stay busy from those that build sustainable, profitable businesses.
This session explores the operational framework behind high-performing firms—from leadership and team structure to financial management, strategic planning, and creating systems that support long-term growth. Attendees will gain practical insights into building a business that is not only creatively fulfilling but also scalable and financially resilient.
🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Lunch + Roundtable Discussions with Speakers
Info: Sponsored by: Edgar-Reeves Lighting, Ernest Gaspard, Kravet, Made Goods, and Schumacher
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
From Established to Exponential: Inside a Transformative Partnership
Host: Margaret Donaldson of MDI Luxury Design
Info: A candid conversation between Margaret Donaldson of MDI Luxury Design, Gail Doby and Erin Weir of Pearl Collective on what it actually looks like to evolve and scale an already successful firm.
With over three decades in business, Margaret will share how working with the Pearl Collective team helped double her firm’s growth through shifts in mindset, structure, and strategy. Together, they’ll discuss operational changes, leadership decisions, and the disciplined focus required to move from steady success to significant expansion.
This is not theory—it’s a real-world case study in growth.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Coffee Break with Speakers
Info: Enjoy coffee and informal conversation with speakers while connecting with fellow attendees.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Scaling Your Business | Growth, Diversification & Building Multi-Faceted Brand
Host: Dwayne Bergmann of Dwayne Bergmann Interiors
Info: Featuring Dwayne Bergmann of Dwayne Bergmann Interiors, this session dives into what it really takes to scale—from increasing revenue to launching new ventures and expanding beyond traditional design services. A candid look at growth that is both ambitious and strategic.
🕑: 04:45 PM - 05:45 PM
Sherwin-Williams Colormix® Forecast 2027
Host: Kamilah Morgan of Sherwin-Williams
Info: Presented by Kamilah Morgan, MBA, Designer Account Executive for Sherwin-Williams
Led by Kamilah Morgan, Sherwin-Williams’ Designer Account Executive, this directional color journey and CEU course explores the future of color through a global trend lens, examining the cultural, technological and environmental forces shaping design for 2027. Participants will explore a curated palette of 48 colors alongside key macro drivers influencing color, material and finish directions across interiors, architecture and product design. We will explore three overarching design stories for 2027—Revive, Reignite and Reconnect—which highlight themes of heritage and craftsmanship, expressive creativity, and human connection to nature. Through these narratives, the course examines how emerging social behaviors, sensory experiences and sustainability considerations translate into actionable design strategies and forward-looking color concepts that create spaces that are meaningful, adaptable and aligned
🕑: 05:45 PM - 06:15 PM
Sherwin-Williams Sponsored Networking Reception
Host: Sherwin-Williams
Info: Enjoy prosecco, light bites, and continued conversation after the Colormix® 2027 CEU presentation.
Event venue & nearby stays
Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, 351 Peachtree Hills Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.