About NNG

IT'S AUTHENTIC.

IT'S RELATIONSHIP-DRIVEN.

Real people. Fresh perspectives. Connections that go somewhere.

What started as a community for emerging designers has grown into a national network connecting creative talent at every stage of their careers — from rising professionals to established design leaders.

WHY WE EXIST

Our Mission

Create meaningful opportunities for designers, industry leaders, and brands to connect, collaborate, and grow.

The Disconnect

Designers in their 20s and 30s aren't engaging with Sales Reps or showrooms like they used to. Frequent firm changes make relationship-building difficult. Networking isn't taught—and often isn't done well.

Our Solution

Offer a safe, inclusive space for A&D professionals to connect; help emerging and mid–senior Designers build real-world networking skills; provide brands with strategic, organic opportunities to grow business — without the hard sell.

What we do.

Network Next Gen is a community that supports the Architecture + Interior Design industry through virtual and live experiences.

  • Our signature events, designed for Designers + Reps to have authentic conversation over real life topics they want to discuss from work/ life balance, to how to handle difficult clients, etc.

    The dinner is moderated by a NNG team member and fosters a uniquely intimate and authentic enviroment of relationship building.

  • A format similar to our industry dinners, but geared specifically towards Design Leaders with 10–15+ years of experience. One Design Leader per firm (approximately 13 firms represented). Discuss leadership, design management tactics, hiring, work-life balance, and the unique challenges they face as leaders and managers while growing in their career.

    * Exclusive to one sponsor per lunch

  • The NNG Summit Series bring together Next Gen'ers from all over the country for various themed topics. Think a day full of speakers, panels, breakout sessions, activations, etc. with speakers from the A+D world and other creative fields—built around topics Next Gen'ers bring up at dinners and want to hear more about.

    Locations: March | Dallas, June | Chicago, November | New York City

  • Custom experiences: factory trips, custom social campaigns, virtual or in-person 101 class series, and anything else we can brainstorm.

    We love getting creative with our clients. If you have an idea that doesn't fit neatly into a package, let's build it together.

  • Mom & Dad Design Club was created as a space for Designers, Creatives, Reps, and Industry Leaders to share inspiration and be honest about what it takes to build a beautiful career + family.

  • Monthly education on how to specify / things you should know when specifying a product category.

  • The Focus Groups are based on what your team wants to know —past examples include feedback on marketing campaigns, product devleopment, sales rep performances, overall brand awareness, what a Designer wants in general from manufacturers, etc.

Want to Learn More?

  • I loved it! It was totally unlike any industry event I've been to thus far. Really thought-provoking questions and discussion, and great insights into how different firms operate. The breadth of what you don't know as a new designer can be kind of overwhelming, but it was invaluable to be able to pool together all of our insights.

    NNG Designer, Los Angeles

  • “I cannot stress this enough.....the event was amazing! Informative, fun, eye-opening, it made networking feel easy!”

    NNG DESIGNER, CHICAGO

  • “One of the best networking events I've ever attended.”

    NNG DESIGNER, PORTLAND

  • “This was so beneficial and I feel like the money we spent to do this event was well spent and worth every penny!”

    NNG SPONSOR, NASHVILLE

  • “Very interesting and welcoming event. I had never been to a networking event like this one.”

    NNG DESIGNER, MIAMI

  • As a new designer in the industry, I heard a lot of great advice and feedback from experienced designers. What made this event special was the ability to discuss topics often seen as taboo to discuss with coworkers. It really helped me gain insight on what to expect further down the industry.

    NNG Designer, Seattle

  • AMAZING! Such an intentional curated event that really pushes for togetherness and industry support.

    NNG Sponsor, Detroit

Keep up with the cool kids

@networknextgen

Want to sponsor a dinner?

Connect your brand with the next generation of the design industry through an intimate NNG dinner.

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