This Is DesignIntelligence

As a leader, it’s important to be aware that others depend on you for direction, confidence, self-discipline, and genuine care.  When your demeanor communicates these things, people are more apt to embrace your authenticity.

Ella Hazard is the Managing Director of Arktura Ventures, a venture studio wholly backed by Armstrong World Industries that focuses on accelerating and incubating advancements in architecture, engineering and materials science in building and construction. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, she talks about the trial and error of her nonlinear career path, how the stumbles she’s made along the way have perfectly positioned for her current job, and why applying the practices of venture design to the delivery of architecture might be key in changing its value proposition.

How much time, effort, and money are you investing in your growth? The people that follow you as their leader depend on you bettering yourself on a regular basis.

Make no mistake about it, 2024 will be replete with challenges. DesignIntelligence is committed to staying focused on our community of built environment professionals and firms to support you with insight empowered foresight, pragmatic and strategic advice to weather whatever comes, and provisioning the perspectives you need for the decisions that matter.

How are you spending or investing the precious asset of time you have? 

Rick Archer is a founding partner at Overland Partners Architecture + Urban Design and served as Overland’s CEO from 2016 to 2023. He is an active leader in community initiatives around the globe, with a focus on education, sustainability, social equity and design that inspires human flourishing. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about what he learned from his time at the American Academy in Rome, what he learned about leadership from his time as CEO of Overland, and what he believes is the bedrock of any organization.

You might recall the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald who said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

Randy Deutsch is an educator, author, international keynote speaker, AI researcher, and licensed architect. He is a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council and currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about the benefits and opportunities of AI, the risks inherent in AI, and the skills that will continue to be important even as AI changes the way students prepare for a career in architecture.

Transformation is no longer an option, but rather, a mandate for resilience. Few will count the costs or pay the price to authentically transform, but they will be the vanguard of the new built environment over the next few years.

Evelyn Lee is head of workplace strategy and innovation at Slack Technologies. With a background in both architecture and business, she is a widely published columnist and featured speaker at national design and architecture conferences. She served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021 and will serve as the AIA National President in 2025. On this edition of this is DesignIntelligence, she talks about her role at Slack, how we should rethink the business model of architecture and design, and why architects should not be afraid to step out of their lane and talk about more than just buildings