Perspective matters. And when a publication returns with a clearer point of view, it usually means the market is ready for a smarter conversation.
Sometimes the return of a publication tells you just as much about the market as the publication itself. That feels especially true with Connected Design.
In the latest episode of AV Trade Talk, KMB Communications’ Katye McGregor Bennett and Bob Archer sit down with Rob Stott to talk about the debut of the new Connected Design magazine, the trends shaping the industry, and the bigger role media still plays in helping this business communicate with clarity.
Rob has had a front-row seat to the evolution of the custom integration world for years. He has watched the category move through the post-housing-crash rebuild, the rise of the modern smart home conversation, the disruption of the pandemic era, and now this next phase, where technology, design, architecture, and construction are no longer separate lanes pretending not to notice each other.
That is a big reason this conversation works. It is not nostalgia. It is perspective. Rob is relaunching Connected Design at a moment when the market is maturing and the audience needs something sharper, more relevant, and more in step with how projects actually come together today.
And let us be honest: those project conversations do not begin and end with product specs anymore. The old boundaries between design and technology did not just blur. They packed up and left. The people shaping homes and spaces today need better communication across disciplines, and they need media platforms that understand that shift.
That is part of what makes the new Connected Design so interesting. In this episode, Rob shares what inspired the relaunch, what he sees happening across the industry, and where he believes the publication can add real value. It is a fun and friendly conversation, but it is also a thoughtful one. There is substance here. There is strategy here. And there is a clear understanding that the market has changed, even if not everyone has adjusted their language or their expectations yet.
Another important thread in the episode is one Rob has helped keep in the conversation for years: The need for manufacturers to support media outlets and publishers. That point can make some people squirm, but it should not. Strong trade media helps an industry think more clearly, share ideas more effectively, and create better dialogue around real issues. If brands want thoughtful coverage, stronger storytelling, and healthier communication across the channel, they cannot keep treating the media as an afterthought and expect great results.
At KMB, that message lands. We work every day at the intersection of content, communication, visibility, and relationship-building. We know good stories do not travel on hope alone. They need strategy, consistency, and the right platforms. That is why this episode is not just a podcast announcement. It is a timely conversation about how the industry tells its story, who helps shape that narrative, and why that work still matters.
So yes, this episode is about the new Connected Design magazine. But it is also about where this industry is headed next. It is about the continuing convergence of design and technology. It is about market maturity. And it is about the voices helping move the conversation forward.
Give the episode a listen and spend a little time with Rob’s perspective. If you work anywhere near the overlap of AV, design, media, manufacturing, or integration, there is a good chance you will come away with a few smart reminders and at least one fresh thought about where the conversation needs to go from here.
Listen to the latest AV Trade Talk episode featuring Rob Stott to hear more about the return of Connected Design, the trends shaping the market, and why media relationships still matter.