Profession: Architect
City: Charlotte
Country: United States

What inspired you to want a life in Architecture and the creative industries?:
Architecture and design have always felt like part of who I am. My earliest memories of architecture don’t come from visiting famous buildings or studying drawings, but from reading Richard Scarry’s books as a kid, especially What Do People Do All Day? I loved those playful scenes of animals living and working inside buildings. The little cutaway drawings showed kitchens, workshops, and offices, and I was fascinated by everything happening inside. I didn’t realize it then, but those were actually sections, my first glimpse into the language of architecture. Looking back now, I can see how that book shaped the way I think about buildings, not as static objects, but as living environments full of activity and sensory experience.

Who inspired you in finding your path to Architecture/Film and the creative industries?:
I didn’t have a single mentor or one person who inspired me. My love for designing and drawing started early, and my family, especially my parents, encouraged me to explore it. From middle school onward, I began to pursue it more seriously. At first, I didn’t fully understand what architecture was. I thought it was just about constructing buildings. Over time, I realized it’s so much more than that. It’s about shaping experiences, spaces, and how people interact with the world around them.

How you unlock obstacles and overcome bias in your work?:
Every obstacle feels like a nudge to step back and look at things differently. When I get stuck or notice bias creeping into my thinking, I try to shift my perspective by looking beyond architecture. I find inspiration in art, music, films, or even just being out in nature. New ideas always seem to show up there. It reminds me of the Law of Conservation of Energy. I think creativity works the same way. With a small shift in viewpoint, what once felt like a block can turn into a new direction forward.

What improvements do you feel are required to promote effective change in the academic and working environment?:
Here is a clearer, more compelling, and human version of your answer that preserves your meaning:

I think one of the biggest challenges is the gap between theory and practice. We need to bring these two worlds closer together. Architecture school should absolutely remain a place for creativity, experimentation, and learning how to design meaningful experiences. But I also believe we can introduce more of the realities of professional practice without losing that spirit.

More intentional engagement between firms and schools would help. Students would stay informed about current industry expectations, workflows, and emerging technologies, while firms could benefit from the fresh thinking and new ideas being explored in academia. For example, AI is rapidly changing the way architecture is taught and practiced, and closer collaboration would help both sides learn from one another as the field evolves.

—