Past Forward – AI Design Tech Summit
Second Annual · AI Design Tech Summit · April 2, 2026

Past Forward

Legacy and Innovation: Where History Meets What's Next

Date
Thursday, April 2nd
Time
10 AM – 3:30 PM EST
Format
Live Virtual
Tickets from
$149
5 Hours Live 2nd Annual Live Q&A Resource Pack Session Replays Industry Perspectives AI Ethics & Responsibility 10am–3:30pm EST April 2, 2026 5 Hours Live 2nd Annual Live Q&A Resource Pack Session Replays Industry Perspectives AI Ethics & Responsibility 10am–3:30pm EST April 2, 2026
Who This Is For
Interior Designers
Whether you're solo or part of a firm, this summit meets you where you are, with practical strategies for integrating AI into your existing workflow.
Firm Owners
Lead your team through the transition. Learn how to evaluate tools, set standards, and build a culture that embraces innovation without losing identity.
Design-Adjacent Creatives
Architects, stagers, stylists, and visual professionals who want to understand how AI is reshaping the broader design industry.
Curious but Not Yet Committed
You've been watching from the sidelines. This is your invitation to step in, no prior AI experience required.

Want to go deeper? The AI for Interior Designers™ Certificate Program Q2 Spring Semester is open for enrollment right now — and your summit ticket is included with every seat. Enroll today and get the summit plus access to all open enrollment classes.

The Vision

Where history meets what's next.

The design industry is moving fast, and most of the conversation around AI has been about speed, automation, and output. But the designers who will lead the next era aren't just adopting new tools. They're grounding their work in something deeper.

Now in its second year, Past Forward is a one-day virtual summit built for interior designers who want to lead with both knowledge and innovation. You'll hear from historians, cultural forecasters, business strategists, and AI practitioners, all focused on the same question: how do we move forward without losing what matters?

"The future of design isn't about replacing your instincts with algorithms. It's about protecting your voice while leveraging intelligent systems to do what you do, better, faster, and with more confidence."

Why This Year Matters
01
Live & Interactive
This isn't a webinar replay. It's a live, moderated experience with real-time Q&A, chat rooms, and direct access to every speaker.
02
Expert Voices
Industry leaders across history, AI, business, and design, each bringing a distinct perspective on where the profession is headed.
03
Implementation-Ready
You'll encounter new perspectives, open questions, and frameworks worth sitting with, some to apply immediately, others to let shape how you move forward.
04
Ethics & Responsibility
As AI becomes embedded in how we design, source, and communicate, our responsibility to use these tools with intention has never mattered more. This summit takes that seriously.
Inside the Conversation

Topics shaping the conversation.

Vendor & Trade Relationships
Client Experience & Presentation
Marketing & Brand Authority
Sustainability & Longevity
Trend Forecasting
Studio Operations
Visual Intelligence & Image AI
Pricing & Value Communication
What You Will Walk Away With

What You Will Learn

+How to use AI without losing your design voice
+Where historical knowledge becomes your unfair advantage
+Practical workflows for sourcing, rendering, and presentations
+Business strategies that protect your margins
+How to lead teams through technology transitions
+What the next generation of designers actually needs
+How to position yourself as a forward-thinking professional

What You Will Get

✓Full-day live virtual summit (10am–3:30pm EST)
✓Session replays within 24 hours
✓Downloadable resource pack
✓Access to session chat rooms
✓Personal notes workspace
Access
Streaming Link Sent Before the Event
We'll email it to you, no day-of scramble.
Speakers
Host & Keynote

Jenna Gaidusek

AI for Interior Designers™ · Founder
"How legacy thinking and intelligent systems make you more, not less, yourself."
▸Opening & closing keynotes on the Past Forward framework
▸Live demos of AI tools built for interior designers
▸Moderated panels on the future of the profession
▸Practical workflows you can implement immediately
Julia Reinert
Historian & Author · The Lifestyle Historian / Director of Marketing · AI for Interior Designers™
Jaye Anna Mize
Cultural Forecaster · Future Snoops
Sharon Sherman
Principal Designer · Thyme & Place Design
Laurie Laizure
Founder · Interior Design Community
John McClain
Design Coach · The McClain Method
Lezlie Swink
Founder & Social Media Strategist · Swink Social Co.
Dixie Willard
Founder & Chief Project Strategist · Poised & Plumb / Director of App Intelligence · AI for Interior Designers™
Additional Voices
More guests joining the conversation.
Additional industry voices contributing their perspectives on the future of design, AI, and creative business will be announced in the lead-up to the event.
The Future of the Profession

A conversation that can't wait.

We close the day with a live panel that puts the next generation at the center of the conversation. Emerging designers, recent graduates, and established industry leaders, a candid, unscripted conversation about where the profession is headed and what it owes the people entering it.

Register

Choose your path.

Most Popular
Individual
$149
Save Your Seat →
Up to 10 Seats
Team
$399
Get Team Access →
Q2 Spring Semester
Certificate Members
Included
Q2 Spring enrollment is open now. Enroll in the Certificate Program and your summit ticket is included — plus access to all open enrollment classes.

Streaming link sent via email before the event.

Student & Educator Access

Special Rates for Students & Educators

Are you a design student, professor, or college administrator? We believe the next generation of designers deserves a seat at this conversation. Special rates are available, just reach out and we'll get you taken care of.

✓Students, email us from your .edu address to receive your student rate
✓Professors & college admins, email us and mention your institution to discuss group or classroom access
✓Full recording included, ideal for coursework and classroom follow-up
Email Us for Student Access →
Or email us directly: [email protected]
How It Works
1
Send us an email
Students: email from your .edu address. Educators: include your institution name and role.
2
We'll reply with your rate
We'll send you a personalized link to register at your special price.
3
Join us April 2nd
Your streaming link arrives before the event. Show up ready to learn.
Professional Organizations & Associations
Partner With Us

Bring Past Forward to your members.

Are you a professional design association, industry organization, or trade group? We offer exclusive member rates you can share directly with your community, and in return, your logo is featured as a partnered organization on this page and in our event materials.

✓A private discount code or direct link your members use to register at their exclusive rate
✓Your organization's logo featured as a partnered organization on the summit page and in email communications
✓Promotional graphics and copy you can send directly to your members or newsletter
✓No cost to the organization, this is a member benefit, not a sponsorship fee
Contact Us to Partner →
Or email us directly: [email protected]
Great fit for organizations like
ASID chapters
IDS members
NKBA chapters
Colleges & Design Programs
Trade publications
Design schools
Industry communities
Trade associations
Partnered organizations get their logo here
Reach out to be included in pre-event promotions and featured on this page.

Streaming link sent before the event.

The future belongs to those who lead with intention.

Join us April 2nd.

10:00 AM – 3:30 PM EST · Live Virtual

Save Your Seat → Explore the Certificate Program ↗
Full Schedule

Summit Agenda

10:00am – 3:30pm EST · Live Virtual

10:00 – 10:30 AM

Welcome & Setting the Stage

Host: Jenna Gaidusek (AI for Interior Designers™)

  • Past Forward: legacy thinking, intelligent systems, and what today is designed to unlock
  • How to get the most from the summit (chat, Q&A, implementation notes, recording access)
10:30 – 11:00 AM

Session 1: History, Nostalgia & Cultural Patterns

Speakers: Julia Reinert (The Lifestyle Historian™) & Jaye Anna Mize (Future Snoops)

  • Why certain aesthetics keep resurfacing and what that tells you about your clients
  • Nostalgia as a forecasting signal, not a mood board theme
  • How to turn cultural memory into positioning and visual direction
11:00 – 11:15 AM Quick 15 min Break
11:15 – 12:00 PM

Session 2: The Power of Connection & Community IRL

Speakers: Laurie Laizure (Interior Design Community) & Jenna Gaidusek (AI for Interior Designers™)

The power of getting out and meeting and connecting. Understanding how to network at national events and markets. This is the power of human connection!

12:00 – 12:30 PM

Session 3: Basics—Choose your AI Tool Workshop

Instructor: Jenna Gaidusek (AI for Interior Designers™)

Locate the right tools to get started. Learn what the core AI tools do, determine tech stack and ethics, and how to sign up. Includes homework for deeper implementation.

12:30 – 1:00 PM Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:15 PM

Past Forward 01: Research & Inspiration

Jenna Gaidusek (AI for Interior Designers™)

  • Before: Hours of pinning and tearsheets
  • Now: AI-powered concept research and inspirational imagery in minutes
  • Decoding client language into clear visual briefs
1:15 – 1:35 PM

Past Forward 02: Proposals & SOPs

Dixie Willard (Poised & Plumb)

  • Templated, AI-supported workflows that protect your brand voice
  • Prompt Demo: Proposal + SOP workflow using AI App Studio tools
1:35 – 1:55 PM

Past Forward 03: Business, Pricing & Profitability

John McCLain (The McClain Method)

  • Turning time savings into higher fees and premium services
  • Packaging AI-supported deliverables without discounting expertise
  • Where to start if systems are still "in your head"
1:55 – 2:00 PM Quick Break
2:00 – 2:20 PM

Past Forward 04: Content & Marketing

Lezlie Swink (Swink Social Co.)

  • AI-assisted content planning that protects your brand voice
  • Workflow: Turning one project into multi-platform content
2:20 – 2:45 PM

Past Forward 05: Website & SEO

Jenna Gaidusek (AI for Interior Designers™)

  • AI-enhanced research and search-friendly copy
  • Quick-hit ideas to make your site a lead-ready sales asset
2:45 – 3:15 PM

Session 4: The Future of the Profession – Live Panel

  • Moderator: Jenna Gaidusek (AI for Interior Designers™) | Panelists: Emerging designers & industry pros
  • What firms need to change and day-one literacy as a baseline skill
3:15 – 3:30 PM

Closing & Implementation

Jenna Gaidusek (AI for Interior Designers™)

Guided recap on prioritization and next steps inside the Certificate Program and AI App Studio.

Partners – Past Forward Summit
Partnered Organizations

Organizations supporting the conversation.

We're grateful to the industry organizations who believe in bringing this conversation to their members and to the broader design community.

IDS – Interior Design Society
DSA
WithIt