But instead of that stuff you get relationships with people and neighbors that you would never get in a city. People in small towns are a lot more open.

I think taking design out of the studio and really having a relationship with the people that you're making it for really convinced me of how powerful a thing design is. It's not just an aesthetic decoration.

The Deep South has a completely different history, both good and bad, that is fascinating for everybody. It makes people work together who usually don't, and that sounds like a cliche in so many ways, but it actually happened... and it happened because of a beautiful idea.

I think we typically, as Northerners, stereotype what the South is in so many negative ways. We kind of forget all the beautiful things that they contribute to make this country a country.

That's my job. To imagine harder than you can.

Design can have such a positive impact on the way people live and on their relationships and moods.

I'm so used to talk-show hosts just giving you a sound bite and not really being interested.