For those who share a passion for all things home and design, The Design Network can easily serve as one’s digital vision board. But it also caters to those aiming to elevate their overall quality of life. The channel not only focuses on how to improve your home, but your day-to-day approach to health, entertainment, wellness and more. Because at the end of the day, all of these categories are intertwined through better design.

“We’ve managed to turn our content into a 24/7 channel, and it’s now the fastest-growing network in the lifestyle genre,” says Jason Harris, founder of The Design Network. From programs like Farm to Table to Dream Room in a Day, each show presents content that is aspirational as much as it is accessible, with practical tips for design aficionados and rookies alike.

The channel is currently distributed in 17 of the top streaming services, most notably Samsung TV+, The Roku Channel, Fubo TV and Pluto TV.

But Harris, surprisingly, was never an interior designer, nor was he ever a media executive. Instead, he grew up working for his family’s furniture business. He and his brother are the second-generation owners of Furnitureland South, the largest furniture store in the world based in High Point, North Carolina. His parents started the company more than 50 years ago and today it boasts a showroom spanning 1.3 million square feet. The company partners with hundreds of high-quality manufacturers and operates a business model that aims to create a world-class shopping experience for quality home furnishings with great value and service.

The idea of TDN came to Harris in 2012, during a meeting with furniture executives. At the time, everyone in the room was lamenting over supply chain issues and its effect on the market. “It dawned on me that no one in our industry was doing much to connect with the consumer,” says Harris. He then thought to himself, “There’s not a lot of design-oriented television out there, and there’s no better way to connect with consumers than through TV, especially when they’re in the comfort of their own homes.” Harris also happened to also be passionate about storytelling through premium video production.

With thousands of channels out there, Harris wanted to create a destination with a unique selling point. At the time, HGTV was the only channel producing shows centered on home and design. But instead of focusing on flipping houses and the hunt for real estate, Harris’ network would focus more on the experience of home through interior design, landscaping, home organization, and entertaining. Most importantly, his content would lean into formats that people would find authentic and engaging. “What I had grown up with in the furniture capital of the world-the great artisans, the great designers and the great brands-I was not seeing on TV. I felt like we needed a home on the most powerful screen in the home and I knew the TV industry would eventually give way to the internet like so many other industries.”

Harris whipped up a business plan then spent three months meeting with consultants from the ad and media industries. From building an audience, to producing and monetizing high quality content on a budget, there were many moving parts. But none of it could’ve been possible without first creating a website presence for his network. “It’s a great startup story, and when I tell it, I always reference GoDaddy as the first place I went,” says Harris.

The name, The Design Network, popped in his head. “Literally during the meeting in 2012 with the industry leaders, I went to GoDaddy to search the URL and the .com version was available, www.thedesignnetwork.com. I was floored that no one had taken it,” recalls Harris. “It was the confirmation I needed to start my business.”

But being an entrepreneur means being nimble and agile. For Harris, it meant having the mindset to evolve. “We originally started with thedesignnetwork.com but it's a bit long.” In 2018, he researched snappier and more memorable options, starting with TDN.tv. “We're a TV network, so it was perfect!” says Harris. He snagged the domain and set it as the default domain for The Design Network website. It was the perfect platform for sharing creativity with the world, as it lets viewers know they can tap design inspiration from their smartphones, tablets, laptops, and, of course, home television screens as well. Harris says that TDN’s biggest break came in 2019, when it went live on Samsung TV+, and subsequently TDN launched on 17 of the top free TV platforms across the globe.

Unlike other lifestyle networks, TDN’s lineup of talent relies less on stars and hosts looking for fame, and more on top interior designers and hands-on experts with a genuine ardor for knowledge-sharing. With style authorities like Carson Kressley and Atlanta-based stylist Leah Taylor, the channel is indeed still packed with entertainment. Its content also centers on sought-after interior designers like Anne Marie-Barton, one of the hosts of The Reveal, which not only presents a stunning portfolio of luxurious homes across the country, but explains the design principles behind each room. “I love The Reveal because it’s endlessly watchable and truly eye candy for design lovers,” says Harris.

TDN’s most notable talent to-date is arguably multi-platinum music star, Darius Rucker. Best known as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, the artist shares his love for renovation as the host of Rucker’s Reno, which follows his journey of restoring a historical mansion with a checkered past in downtown Charleston.

Surprisingly, one of Harris’ personal favorites has nothing to do with luxury or opulent design. Instead, it highlights emotional and human resiliency and the healing power of helping others. The idea came to him while producing an episode of Dream Room in a Day. Harris met the owners of a local paint company who shared their personal story of overcoming substance abuse and their journey through rehab to ultimately start a paint and construction business that focused on helping other recovering addicts get meaningful jobs. The owners shared this story with Harris, along with their idea to profile various members of their team. The show title “Rehabbed” would have a double meaning of rehabbing lives along with rehabbing spaces. “I shared the idea with our lead producer, Adam Clayton, and he immediately became passionate about producing it,” says Harris. “Each episode is very moving emotionally, and the room transformations are also beautiful. We have had countless emails and letters written to TDN and the paint company, Of The Essence Designs, from those who have been touched by the show!”

While Harris and team continue to brainstorm new formats, TDN’s goal remains clear: “To be the number one TV network for all things Home and Design,” says Harris. While design content can bring about tons of ideas, Harris continues to follow his North Star of empowering artists, designers, and the US furniture industry.

March 14, 2021

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The Founder of TDN.TV is on a Deeper Mission to Empower the Design Industry