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What if the technologies and innovations that we have deemed as low-tech, primitive, and unsophisticated could actually hold the keys to solving climate change? In Episode 6, we look at radical indigenism as a movement that seeks to explore indigenous philosophies in relation to design and harness that wisdom to build a more resilient world. We talk with designer, activist, academic, and author Julia Watson who just released her bestselling book, Lo-Tek: Design by Radical Indigenism. We also speak with Sam Olbekson, Principal and Director of Native American Design and Planning at Cunningham. Culture is tied to place and Sam brings insight on how to support culture with community building and design practices that are rooted in authentically listening.

Further Reading:

Check out the Alternative Design blog.

https://commonedge.org/the-power-of-lo-tek-a-design-movement-to-rebuild-understanding-of-indigeous-philosophy-and-vernacular-architecture/

https://www.fastcompany.com/90651986/extreme-heat-is-becoming-more-frequent-and-our-infrastructure-is-going-to-need-to-adapt?cid=eem524:524:s00:07/02/2021_fc&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Compass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:07/02/2021_fc

https://sustainablebrands.com/read/product-service-design-innovation/the-shift-from-sustainable-to-regenerative-design

Al Tahla Islands Video

Julia's Book Lo-Tek: Design by Radical Indigenism

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We go beyond the current exploration of space to unveil the first potential settlement on Mars. We chat with Alfredo Munoz, architect and owner of ABIBOO studio, and Miquel Sureda, Master Coordinator of the Space and Aeronautical Engineering program at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya. Alfredo, Miquel, and their team of scientists have brought their creative dream into reality by proposing a vertical city that is innovative, inclusive, and will be stunning to look at. We discuss the newest technologies that will be implemented and the challenges that citizens will face to survive. You'll also hear their thoughts on why pioneering a new planet is both relevant and inspirational to our design initiatives on Earth. And, we are introducing our first ever "docu-drama-pod"! Get ready to be immersed into the future through the eyes of an aerospace architect travelling to Mars for the first time. Now, back to how this relates to us Earthlings…as designers, we encounter challenges and limitations on virtually every project. What if I told you that those constraints actually create opportunities to unlock some of the greatest solutions? And, that self-imposing those restrictions could leverage our imaginations in ways we never thought possible! Now, that’s outta this world.

Check out the Alternative Design blog. 

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We look at a Meditation Chamber, a Museum of Ice Cream, and a Sensory Cocoon to understand the value of experiential design that immerses the user into the narrative of the built environment. These case studies will shed light on the intersection of technology and architecture, revealing how the right mix of both can engage the physical senses and create deeper emotional connections to spaces we inhabit on a daily basis. We chat with Lane Rick and Katie Stranix from the Office of Things, Arik Lubkin from the Museum of Ice Cream, and Adelia Schleusz from HKS on how to incorporate experiential design strategies into various markets and how to safely implement them post-pandemic.

Check out the Alternative Design blog.

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Join us as we reveal some key learnings from Motown and compare their creative songwriting process to our industry's building design process. We're taking our listeners back to the days you could be "Dancing In the Streets" before you had to "Stop In the Name of Love". It's no secret that Motown had repeatable success in creating some of America's top hits. We speak with Allen Rawls, Board of Trustees member of Motown Museum and the legendary Funk Brother Dennis Coffey.

Read the blog, Lessons from Motown for Innovative Design. 
 
Further Reading:

https://www.brazen.com/blog/archive/job-search/6-tips-for-incorporating-multiple-interests-into-one-career
https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/when-did-design-stop-being-multidisciplinary/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-be-happy-work-1000-different-interests
https://www.sxswedu.com/news/2017/what-we-can-learn-from-motown/

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From the impact of limited exposure to architecture at a young age, to not celebrating minority architects and designers more, guests Maya Bird-Murphy from Chicago Mobile Makers and Jake Heffington and Edwin Harris from Diversify Architecture help bring light to the often-unseen challenges for people of color. We go beyond what you don't see to discuss a range of leaks that occur along our profession's pipeline and highlight those taking action to plug them.

Read the blog, What You Don’t See - Addressing the Leaks in the Pipeline.

Further Reading:

https://www.chicagomobilemakers.org/
https://www.diversifyarchitecture.com/
https://notesoncredibility.cargo.site/
https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2015/01/beyond-eurocentrism/
https://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/perkins-will-and-aia-release-a-how-to-guide-for-increasing-diversity-in-architecture_o
https://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/increasing-diversity-in-architecture-barriers-to-entry_o

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We discuss a concept that perhaps isn’t familiar in the design industry, but is thriving in the health and wellness community. A "microbiome" is simply the collection of micro-organisms in a particular environment, whether they be inside your gut, on your skin, or even the chair you're sitting on. We talk to Jack Gilbert, a microbiology professor from USCD on how the microbiome in the built environment can be manipulated and help to win the war for the "good bacteria". We also chat with Rosie Broadhead, a sportswear clothing designer in the U.K. who is pioneering the ability to weave probiotics into textiles. In addition, she's taking it a step further by incorporating vitamins and supplements into upholstery and studying how we could receive these nutrients just by sitting in a chair.

Read the blog, Give the Buildings Yogurt—Microbiomes in Design. 

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