Welcome to the Layers of Design Podcast where we uncover the personalities behind the architecture that impacts our communities! I’m your host Ebehi. Thank you for tuning in and I hope you get inspired!

It’s a new year, we turned 4 last week and this is the 60th episode on the podcast! Before we dive in, unfiltered honesty - being the 60th episode, I was looking for a guest to mark the occasion. I enjoy interviewing designers and architects so it only made sense to search far and wide for that one guest who would tie 60 episodes of storytelling together. But, a friend encouraged me to do a solo episode going down memory lane about the last few years. At first, I was hesitant because it’s been a hot minute since I recorded a solo episode but then I realized how good an idea it was as I believe reflecting on where we’ve been is as important as planning for what’s to come. So here we are! This episode is a mini recap of previous episodes, lessons learned, and a sneak peak into what to expect from LoD this year.

Thank you for listening! I hope you enjoyed the episode. Check out the show notes for links to information referenced. I’d appreciate it if you could share this episode, subscribe, follow, leave a review or do all of the above. I’m also curious to know the guests or topics you’d like me to put on my list?! Thank you again!

Most listened to episode: https://www.layersofdesign.online/podcast-episodes/episode/325132b1/episode-052-drawing-designing-and-equitable-architecture

Episode that impacted Ebehi the most: https://www.layersofdesign.online/podcast-episodes/episode/1d4e559a/episode-033-engaging-public-spaces

Check out our updated website: https://www.layersofdesign.online/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/layersofdesign_/

Connect with and Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lod-creative-studio/

Hey everyone, welcome back to the layers of design podcast. I’m your host Ebehi. Thank you returning and new listeners for tuning in! This will be our last episode for the year. Although we didn’t release a lot of episodes this year, the goal was to get back into the podcasting space - which we did and I’m proud of that! So a big big thank you to all our listeners and supporters. I truly hope you’ve enjoyed the few episodes we released this year! Well, I’m glad to be closing out this year with a conversation with my co-communications director - Elizabeth Carroll Glass who is an Interior Designer and Architect at Rardin and Carroll Architects. Spanning over the southeast, Elizabeth has a diverse portfolio of projects including worship facilities, schools, offices, and historic preservation. She is a second-generation architect building on the legacy her father started in 1980 with Rardin & Carroll Architects. The mission-directed focus of the firm inspired Elizabeth to pursue her career in design. She holds a passion for helping clients flourish in their facilities so they can better serve the community. Elizabeth is currently serving on University of Tennessee Chattanooga Interior Architecture & Design’s Advisory Board where she mentors interior architecture students and actively assists the department. She is a graduate of AIA Georgia’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program and currently is serving on AIA Atlanta’s Board as Communications Director.

Elizabeth works from Atlanta covering the local and Georgia market while enjoying traveling, the outdoors, and local flair with her family.

In this episode, we get to learn about Elizabeth's journey in the profession as she shares great insights to being a leader at a small firm, how they get and retain clients and so much more! Enjoy!

Hey everyone, welcome back to the layers of design podcast. I’m your host Ebehi. Thank you returning and new listeners for tuning in! I had hoped to release this episode back in August but life happened and I finally got around to editing a few weeks later than anticipated. As always, I am excited to share this episode with you all! My guest today is making waves in the profession and community as a whole…

It is my pleasure to introduce you all to Desmond Johnson. He is a registered architect in Atlanta, currently working as Design Manager for Middle Street Partners, a southeast-based real estate development organization. Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, he is a 2013 alum of Florida A&M University, where he received his Bachelors of Science in Architectural Studies; and a 2015 alum of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received his Master of Architecture degree. Professionally, he has a broad range of design and project management experience in both the public and private sectors. Desmond is an active member of the National Organization of Minority Architects, volunteers his time as an Architect Licensing Advisor for NCARB and has served on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects since 2017 as both the Emerging Professionals Director and as Treasurer. He also formerly served as the planning co-chair for Atlanta’s chapter of the Young Architects Forum.

Desmond’s commitment to community enrichment efforts, his passion to create change, and his passion for great design led to his appointment by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council to the Atlanta Urban Design Commission in November 2018. A short one year later, he was elevated to Chair of the Commission, where he presides over all public meetings. During his tenure on the Commission so far, he has reviewed over 800 projects, ranging from single-family homes in historic districts to the city’s largest planned recreational greenspace in history. His efforts within the architectural industry have led to his recognition by AIA Georgia as the recipient of the 2017 Emerging Professional of the Year Award, by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the metropolitan’s area “People on the Move,” and by AIA National as one of 20 awardees of the 2021 Young Architect Award.

So dare I say, Desmond is a trail blazer and an inspiration to many. In this episode, we get to know a bit more about his journey within the industry as he shares - amongst others - his experience with licensure, the different skills he’s learned along the way, and if you listen till the end, you’ll find out his most impactful project.

Welcome to the Layers of Design Podcast! I'm your host, Ebehi. Thank you for tuning in and if this is your first time, welcome!

After over a year of inactivity on this side of the design world, we’re back with more stories and projects to share!

Our first guest back is someone I’d say is a thoughtful and inspiring leader. I'd like to introduce you to Emily Schickner, AIA. Emily is a licensed architect and the first female Principal Architect at Harrison Design Studio in Atlanta, Georgia. She has led over 2 million square feet of design and construction, from cottage style homes to over 450K square feet of mixed-use, multi-family, and senior living developments. Prior to joining Harrison Design, Emily spent a decade in commercial architecture focused on private education, country & golf clubhouse and hospitality design.

Emily currently serves a three-year term on AIA Atlanta’s Board of Directors as 2023 President, which is where we connected. She has also served as the AIA South Atlantic Young Architect Regional Director, graduated from the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program, and this year, was honored by receiving Georgia’s Emerging Professional Award. Emily Schickner enjoys balancing work and volunteer with time with her family, long runs outdoors, hiking, cooking and travelling to experience different areas of the world.

In this episode, we dive into different areas of the architecture profession in relation to mental health, being a female leader, taking the AREs and so much more. I enjoyed working on this episode because we shared personal and professional aspects of working as a designer and an architect on a daily basis. Enjoy!

General Podcast Update: In addition to each audio episode, we’ll be creating short video interviews where we’ll ask our guests a few questions in a space they resonate with. We’re hoping this gives you more insight to our guest. So, If you haven't watched Emily’s video interview on our Instagram page, head over to @layersofdesign_ to watch it!

Background Music: Instrumental Beat (Prod. by MJrtist)