Q&A with Kitchen & Bath Leader Veronika Miller: What’s Next for M2 Connect, DesignHounds and PERSPECTIVES:UK
By Diana Mosher
I recently had the opportunity to interview kitchen and bath leader Veronika Miller. We talked about her early career (which I had always wanted to hear more about), the impact of AI on the industry, why she’s launching PERSPECTIVES:UK this fall and much more.
I heard you started in the industry in Germany as a kitchen & bath designer? What were your favorite aspects of being a designer? How does that background inform your work at Modenus and Designhounds Bootcamps?
Actually, I didn’t begin my design career in Germany. I grew up there and worked in advertising for one of Germany’s largest agencies, which is where I first fell in love with branding, storytelling and understanding what makes people connect with products and ideas. Years later, after moving to Florida, I trained in interior and kitchen & bath design. Looking back, I’ve spent my career bringing those two worlds together: design and marketing.
What I loved most about being a designer wasn’t choosing finishes or following trends. It was solving problems. Every project was a puzzle involving creativity, engineering, budgets, timelines, tradespeople and, of course, clients. Great design happens when all of those pieces come together.
That experience has shaped everything I’ve done since.
Modenus, which we launched in 2010, began as a digital platform connecting designers with manufacturers. Over time, it evolved into something much broader, and today it lives under our parent company, M2 Connect, alongside Designhounds and several other initiatives focused on education and industry collaboration.
Designhounds originally became known for immersive experiences, international trips, conferences and events around major trade shows. We loved creating those experiences, but in 2025 we deliberately paused and asked ourselves a difficult question: What does the industry truly need today?
The answer wasn’t another networking event or another presentation full of marketing slides. We feel that Designers need practical knowledge they can immediately apply to their projects.
That’s how Designhounds Bootcamps were born.
Bootcamps are intensive one-day learning experiences hosted in markets around the country with respected local design professionals. Rather than listening to product pitches, attendees get hands-on experience and real conversations with manufacturers. We focus on how products are made, how they work, how they’re installed, common specification mistakes and what designers should know before they ever place an order.
The goal isn’t simply education. It’s helping designers become more confident, avoid costly mistakes, create better projects for their clients and ultimately build more profitable businesses.
Tell us about Modenus and how that intersects with Bootcamps. You’re the face of the brands. What is your superpower that comes through in all your business endeavors?
Today, M2 Connect is the company behind everything we do, with Designhounds serving as one of our flagship platforms. While Modenus introduced many people to our work, our focus has expanded far beyond media into education, community building and helping manufacturers create more meaningful relationships with design professionals.
Being “the face” of the brands has never been something I actively pursued. I’m actually much happier behind the scenes building ideas than standing in front of a camera. But over the years I’ve realized that people connect with authenticity more than polish.
What makes my perspective a little different is that I’ve sat on nearly every side of the table. I’ve been a designer. I’ve worked in marketing. I’ve partnered with and represented manufacturers. I’ve organized international events and collaborated with trade shows around the world. That gives me the ability to understand the priorities and frustrations of each group and find solutions that benefit everyone.
If I had to describe my superpower, it’s seeing patterns before they’re obvious. I enjoy connecting people, ideas and opportunities that don’t naturally find each other. I’m also unapologetically practical. I have very little patience for smoke and mirrors or doing something simply because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” I’m always asking one question:
How do we make this genuinely more valuable for the people we’re trying to serve?
What are three trends you’ve been following?
The first is AI, but probably not in the way people expect. I don’t believe AI replaces good designers. Design is deeply human. What AI will do is remove repetitive work, help designers visualize ideas faster, improve communication with clients and free up more time for creativity and problem-solving. The real value isn’t artificial intelligence replacing designers. It’s giving great designers better tools.
The second trend is the growing demand for meaningful design. Consumers are becoming more thoughtful about where products come from, how they’re made, how long they’ll last and whether they’re worth investing in. Quality, craftsmanship and sustainability are no longer niche conversations. They’re becoming mainstream expectations.
Finally, I’m excited to see a renewed appreciation for technical knowledge. For a while, our industry became very image-driven through social media. Beautiful photography is important, but a beautiful project also has to function flawlessly. Designers increasingly want to understand construction, materials and installation in greater depth, which is exactly why educational programs like Bootcamps are resonating so strongly.
You’re in a unique position to know about trends already in global markets that are probably on their way here to the US. Why is it important for American designers to stay connected globally? And tell us about your London trip this fall.
Design has become a truly global conversation. Inspiration no longer stays within national borders, and some of the most interesting ideas emerge when we compare how different countries solve similar design challenges.
Travel isn’t simply about discovering new products. It’s about understanding different ways of thinking.
German design often emphasizes precision, engineering and functionality. Italian design celebrates craftsmanship and emotion. British interiors have an incredible ability to layer history, personality and comfort. Every culture approaches design differently, and there’s something valuable to learn from each.
That’s why we’re launching PERSPECTIVES:UK this fall.
Rather than organizing another shopping tour or conference, we’re creating an exchange between design communities. Participants will spend a week exploring London through the eyes of local designers and industry professionals, with experiences that include Decorex, the Chelsea Antique & Vintage Textile Fair, private events, showroom visits, conversations with British designers and several behind-the-scenes experiences we’re currently finalizing.
The trip is only the beginning. PERSPECTIVES continues through virtual discussions and future in-person gatherings, creating lasting relationships rather than a single event. I believe that’s where our industry is headed: less transactional networking and more meaningful, ongoing collaboration across borders.
Our first edition of PERSPECTIVES will conclude in a US/UK designer meetup at High Point Market in April of 2027 and along the way we will capture ideas, coaching moments, resources and create a beautiful publication of the things designers have shared with each other during those six months.
Tell us about Designhounds Bootcamps. How did you come up with the concept? Why is it a win-win for sponsors and attendees? What’s next after New York?
Bootcamps grew out of a simple observation.
For years, I watched manufacturers invest enormous amounts of money exhibiting at trade shows and hosting events, yet many designers still left without truly understanding how their products worked or why they should specify them.
At the same time, designers told us they were overwhelmed. They didn’t need more brochures or PowerPoint presentations. They wanted honest conversations, hands-on learning and practical information they could use on Monday morning.
Bootcamps bring those two needs together.
Manufacturers have the opportunity to spend meaningful time with a small group of highly engaged design professionals, demonstrating not only what their products look like but how they’re built, installed and supported. Instead of a five-minute trade show conversation, they have nearly ninety minutes to build genuine relationships.
For designers, it’s an opportunity to ask the questions they rarely get to ask in a traditional setting, handle products firsthand, learn from experts and leave with knowledge that helps them specify more confidently and avoid costly mistakes.
After our successful launch in New York, we’re excited to bring Bootcamps to High Point on October 16, Pasadena on October 28 and San Antonio on November 5, with many more cities planned for 2027.
Anyone interested in attending or learning more can visit Designhounds.com or follow Designhounds on social media for upcoming locations, participating brands and registration information.