Piper is first and foremost about the audience experience. Thus, every piece of content, whether article, podcast or video, must either educate, inform, inspire, encourage…you get the idea. Please no self-promotional, content marketing-esque or advertorial pitches.

Good content for Piper…

• delivers value. Will our audience––the A&D community, which includes interior designers, architects, makers, and manufacturers––derive education, inspiration, connections, or ideas from it? How will it help readers advance in their practice?
• is novel. Whether a design project, material or product innovation, a changemaker, or concept, it must be something that hasn’t already received massive media coverage. While it doesn’t necessarily have to be an exclusive or something brand new, it should be a fresh concept or story that hasn’t already been told elsewhere.
• digs deep. Piper goes beyond the surface. Whether it’s a project or product, we want to reveal the who, what, how, and why behind it. If it’s a product, why was it created? How was it created (from cradle to gate)? Who was involved? If it’s a project, what materials and trades were used? Where were they sourced? Why were they specified? We’re after substance and showing the path to healthier and regenerative design. 
• favors transparency. Digging deep requires transparency. We’re not asking contributors to reveal trade secrets, but rather provide a level of transparency that allows readers to learn, discover and grow. 
• is legit. We’re not here to publish false, misleading or vague content. There must be substance behind the “healthy”, “sustainable” or “regenerative” claim. 

With that out of the way, onto the fun stuff! 

Piper isn’t too keen on doing things by the book (most of the time!). While we do have a running list of themes, departments and topics, we are open to ideas. Our North Star is the reader experience. If it will provide value, we want to know about it. However, to give you an idea of our direction, here are some of the departments
we explore:

• ReUse & Circularity –– These stories feature building projects and materials that have been creatively reimagined into other purposes. This might include former “brownfield” areas adapted into thriving community spaces, scrap or discarded materials repurposed into other uses, waste turned into new products, etc.
• Eco+logical Design –– How does design impact the connection between living organisms and our environment? How are biophilic, organic and regenerative design being used to create a healthier future? What strategies are A&D professionals using to better understand the interconnectedness?
• Bio-Based –– Makers and designers who are using natural materials to create building and design products or construct habitats. Straw, hemp, bamboo, clay…any regenerative material provided by Mother Nature. 
• Material Health –– Discover people, places and products that are intentionally designed around human and environmental health––stripping away the “chemicals of concern” and incorporating features and functions that benefit humans and the environment. 
• Tools of the Trade –– How are designers putting industry tools to work and making the process of healthy and regenerative design more streamlined? This feature will explore material libraries, approaches to vetting and sourcing materials, various tools such as HPDs, mindfulMATERIALS or Pharos, or labels like Cradle to Cradle, BIFMA, Declare, etc.
• Material Breakdown –– A deep dive into a specific material such as cork, wool, hemp, rubber, etc. This feature explores the full lifecycle of a material from sourcing the raw ingredients to manufacturing, transportation, installation to end-of-life. 
• In Kodachrome –– The eye candy section! Here we feature beautiful photos of healthy and regenerative projects and materials.

We also seek a variety of story types, including:

• Articles
• Infographics
• Q&As
• Photo essays
• Guides
• Podcast interviews
• Video stories

Finally, before submitting, consider the Piper voice and tone. 

Piper’s voice is…warm, approachable, and authoritative, balancing a slightly cheeky playfulness with a commitment to producing insightful, well-researched content. Think of Piper as that trusted mentor or insightful friend who speaks with candor, provides clarity, sparks curiosity, and inspires greatness. Piper communicates complex ideas in a simple, engaging way, and reflects a sense of authenticity, passion, and belief in the power of design to create a better future for people and the planet.

Piper’s tone is…welcoming, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. It’s professional without being stuffy, informative without being overwhelming, clever, and, at times, jovial without losing credibility. It’s positive and evokes a sense of optimism and curiosity. Above all, a commitment to transparency and objectivity shines through, reassuring that Piper prioritizes trust, honesty and quality.

For written materials, we love smart, polished writing that strikes a good balance between research- or data-backed information and witty, relatable anecdotes. We don’t love over-the-top jargon or broad assertions.