This is a special Industry Spotlight episode of Design Biz Survival Guide. This supplemental format is designed to share brands and partners that support designers both creatively and professionally. This is our way of sharing valuable information and resources for your business with you, our loyal listeners.

Today, we’re speaking with Jason Voorhees, founder and president of Cantara – a full-service home technology integration agency based in Costa Mesa, California. In this episode, Jason shares the history of the brand, his passion for home technology, and how his team of experts collaborates with designers, builders, and architects to enhance the beauty and function of extraordinary homes throughout Southern California and beyond.

Show Highlights:

• The meaning behind the name Cantara and the history of the brand

• Jason’s role as the founder and president of Cantara 

• Working with Cantara from a designer’s perspective and the importance of integrating technology early in the design process

• How the home technology industry has grown beyond just audio and video systems

• Different departments in Cantara – lighting design, window treatments, audio/video systems, home automation, etc

• How Cantara maintain long-term relationships with clients even after the project is complete

• Jason’s involvement in the Dream World documentary and its impact on the industry

• The potential of AI in home technology and how it can make homes smarter and more beautiful

Notable Quotes:

• “Our industry is unique in that we need to be great at designing and be world-class at building, installing, and finishing the job.” - Jason Voorhees
• “It’s important that we do a good job as an industry to start reframing and redefining what it is that we do so that people realize, ‘Oh yeah, there’s so much more driven by technology in these houses these days.’” - Jason Voorhees
• “We hope that our clients stop time, remove themselves from the moment, just for a second, and look around and think, ‘Wow, this is the perfect evening. My home is singing for me right now.’” - Jason Voorhees

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Supporting Resources:

Cantara Website: https://www.cantaradesign.com/

Cantaradesign on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cantaradesign/ 

Guild Integrators Alliance: https://www.guildintegratorsalliance.org/

Dream World Documentary: https://www.dreamworldfilm.com/