The Design Pod

We're thrilled to welcome Mariana Wehbe, founder of We Design Beirut. Known for championing creativity and cultural preservation, Mariana shares her journey from the world of communications to leading one of Beirut's most ambitious design initiatives.

Join us as we discuss resilience, creative leadership, preserving craft, and the power of design to bring people together and inspire hope for the future.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts. We'd love to hear what resonates with you.

We're thrilled to welcome Joey Ghazal, founder of The MAINE, Canary Club, and Fighter Brands. Known for creating some of the region's most celebrated hospitality concepts, Joey shares his journey from launching independent ventures to building brands defined by authenticity, character, and lasting appeal.

Join us as we discuss taste, instinct, creating memorable experiences, and why simplicity remains one of the greatest challenges in design and hospitality.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts. We'd love to hear what resonates with you.

We're thrilled to welcome Werner Bronkhorst as our first guest of Season 3. From building a global audience through authentic storytelling to developing a distinctive artistic practice inspired by curiosity, wonder, and human connection, Werner shares the experiences that continue to shape his work today.

Join us as we discuss creativity, reinvention, and the importance of seeing the world through fresh eyes.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts. We'd love to hear what resonates with you.

A new season of conversations with designers, architects, and creative minds exploring the ideas, processes, challenges, and stories behind meaningful work.

The first episode premieres this Sunday.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to be the first to listen. We look forward to having you with us for another season.

Welcome to the season finale of The Design Pod. In Episode 13, we sit down with Tristan du Plessis, one of the most dynamic voices in contemporary hospitality and interior architecture. Known for his bold, atmospheric storytelling and signature aesthetic — moody, tactile, and effortlessly cool — Tristan’s work has shaped some of the world’s most celebrated venues across Dubai, Miami, Shanghai, and Cape Town.

From acclaimed collaborations with visionary chefs and hoteliers to his globally recognized studio, Tristan shares his creative philosophy, the evolution of hospitality design, and what it truly takes to craft spaces that leave a lasting emotional imprint.
In this conversation, we explore the intelligence behind his design narratives — spaces with a concept, a pulse, and a point of view.

Resources:
Follow us here: @DesignPodDXB
Follow Valeria: @ValeriaNushka
Follow Chad: @ChadAskari
Find Tristan here: @TristanDuPlessis_studio