Through digital design and 3D printing technology, ICON’s work has increased the efficiency of the home construction process, while decreasing costs. With major involvement and input from the community, they built the world’s first 3D printed neighborhood in Tabasco, Mexico. In our conversation with Dmitri Julius, we explore how ICON’s projects with NASA and their projects in vulnerable communities intersect through their designs for an idyllic future that addresses current environmental concerns. The conversation weaves through topics of education and representation as ways to promote diverse futures in space. We engage in questions like: Is identity tied to land? How do we address issues of colonialism or decolonization in space? How do we create new infrastructures for novel communities and cultures in space?

Full Transcript

Dmitri Julius is the Chief People Officer of ICON, the construction technologies company leading the way into the future of human shelter and homebuilding using 3D printing and other scientific and technological breakthroughs. In his role, Julius is building and cultivating an elite, adaptive and diverse team to support ICON’s mission and strategic vision.

Prior to joining ICON, Julius was the sales manager and store director for TreeHouse, the Home Upgrade Company, where he managed the retail store staff, led the sales teams and oversaw the sale and installation of sold projects. Prior to his work at TreeHouse, Julius served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years as an operations and logistics troop staff, non-commissioned officer.

Julius has a bachelor of science in biology and military science from St. Edward’s University and is currently completing his masters of education in sports management and a PhD in clinical psychology at Texas A&M University.

Julius resides in Austin, Texas and is a marathon runner, dog enthusiast and has a passion for international travel.

You can listen to all available episodes and find program notes here on our website, or subscribe to the series via one of these providers: iTunes, Google, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher.

Developed by the African American Design Nexus at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, The Nexus is a podcast that explores the intersection of design, identity, and practice through conversations with Black designers, writers and educators. The Nexus is produced in conjunction with a commitment by the Frances Loeb Library to acquire and create an open-access bibliography of various media suggested by the GSD community on the intersection between race and design.

The Nexus Season 2 is hosted by Tara Oluwafemi and Darien Carr, students in the Master of Architecture program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. The show is recorded and edited by Maggie Janik, and the theme music is produced by DJ Eway.

For all inquiries, please email [email protected].

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