Is There a Responsibility to Be Your True Self?

Now more than ever there’s an opportunity to design with purpose, and with a goal of equity so that spaces are built for everyone. But in order to do that, we need to do two things: keep the new generation of young designers engaged and supported, and involve our clients and communities in the design process. In this Best Practice interview, Black Architects + Interior Designers Association Canada (BAIDA) co-founder Farida Abu-Bakare and Director of Advocacy Ian Rolston explain how  two-way mentorship, developing a voice, and learning from the communities you build in can transform the architecture industry.

Interview Takeaways

• Be your authentic self
• Collaborate at every level
• Understand local building methods and environments
• Share information in a mentorship
• Keep the younger generation in design
• Develop your voice
• Look for a place where you’ll fit
• Leaders should transform, not transact 
• Set out to achieve community impact
• Bring clients into your process
• Spend time in communities
• Pursue equity in design

Show Links

• Check out BAIDA
• Connect with Farida Abu-Bakare on LinkedIn
• Connect with Ian Rolston on LinkedIn 
• Connect with George Valdes on LinkedIn or Twitter
• Connect with Chris Morgan on LinkedIn 
• Check out Monograph
• Follow Monograph on LinkedIn or Instagram
• Listen and read more about Monograph