The New Home Office Tips Every Designer Needs

Sophie Donelson

Home Design Expert and Author

Sophie Donelson's work as a speaker, strategist, and author celebrates the connection between people and their homes.

A journalist by training, Sophie speaks and writes about how interior design choices affect our wellbeing. As a guest expert, Sophie has appeared on the TODAY show, Good Morning America, and Open House. She has held editor roles at House Beautiful, Elle Decor and Martha Stewart's Blueprint magazines and written for the New York Times, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and The Globe & Mail. Her book Style Secrets: What Every Room Needs is an international bestseller.

A Boston native and longtime New Yorker, Sophie now lives in Montréal with her husband and children. She's easy to track down on Instagram at @SophieDow.

Samantha Josaphat

Founder & Principal of Studio 397

With 9 years of experience, Samantha Josaphat is the 397 Black Female to achieve licensure in all of US history, part of a mere 0.3% of Architects in the US. She founded the Architecture and Design firm and named it STUDIO 397 to mark that time in history in order to measure the increase of licensed Black Architects in the future. STUDIO 397's work has been published across many of the top Architecture magazines as well broadcasted on major TV networks and streaming platforms.

Samantha is a decisive team leader, providing project members, consultants and vendors with clear direction and guidance to ensure successful outcomes.

Samantha has taught 1st year, 3rd year, and advanced Design studio at CCNY's Spitzer School of Architecture. As the 2019/2020 President of the National Organization of Minority Architects New York Chapter (nycoba|NOMA) where she provided programming to Architects of various experience levels, and led her chapter in a multiple record breaking National conference.

Elizabeth Margles

Chief Marketing Officer of Humanscale

Elizabeth Margles is the Chief Marketing Officer at Humanscale. In this role, Liz oversees the Marketing Division and International Retail Sales, with a focus on promoting the brand's industry–leading designs and commitment to sustainability through on– and off–line platforms across B2B and B2C channels.

Liz has more than twenty years of experience in design, fashion and retail and a background in public relations and advertising.

Prior to joining Humanscale, she was Vice President, Marketing for North America and Latin America at Caesarstone. She has launched, grown, and extended brands across apparel, design, architecture and CPG industries. As the Vice President of Marketing for the Loblaw Companies, she introduced the PC Home décor and Joe Fresh Style fashion and cosmetic brands. Previously, Margles was head of marketing for luxury retailer Holt Renfrew, where she oversaw merchandising, loyalty, and customer segmentation and launched a new website and e–commerce platform.

Originally from Montréal, Liz has an undergraduate degree in Communications and a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies.