Justin Garrett Moore shares the history of Urban Patch and its origins in Flanner House, a locus for self-help services started by his grandfather, Albert Allen Moore, for Black people in 1940s Indianapolis. Through this project, we explore the importance of expanding the archive of Architectural history to include the records of marginalized communities.

In this episode, we talk to Isabel Strauss, a Master of Architecture student at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in her thesis year. Strauss discusses her thesis project which takes the shape of a Request for Proposals to address paths to reparati...

In this episode, we talk to designer and organizer Bryan Lee, Jr., continuing our earlier conversation with De Nichols on the #DesignAsProtest collective and delving more deeply into the history of the broader design justice movement. We also talk about unlearning extractive frameworks in the design process, the work of Dark Matter University to restructure pedagogy toward antiracism and liberation, and the gaps in current sustainability discourse around conditions of economic and aesthetic scarcity in Black communities as they relate to environmental scarcity.

Aisha Densmore-Bey is an architect, designer, filmmaker and artist based in the Boston area. Aisha is also a Doctor of Design candidate at the GSD focusing on issues around how artists can combat gentrification and build up communities. She is a 2012 recipient of the American Institute of Architects Associates Award, author and illustrator of the children’s book Who Made My Stuff? Miles Learns About Design, and writer, producer and director of the award-winning film short ROOM. Her professional practice specializes in architecture, interiors, lighting design, graphic design, film, and art.

Educators and curators Mpho Matsipa and Antawan Byrd delve into Pan-Africanism, counternarratives, and the transformative power of art and archives. Matsipa’s “African Mobilities” challenges conventional representation, while Byrd explores diaspora narratives. They discuss the impact of mobility and knowledge, innovative archiving, and the broader implications of Pan-Africanism in shaping diverse voices within the art and architectural archive. 

Mpho Matsipa, an educator, researcher, and curator, and Antawan Byrd, an Assistant Professor of Art History and Associate Curator of Photography and Media, delve into the complexities of Pan-Africanism, identity, and the power of counternarratives within art and archives. Matsipa’s “African Mobilities” project challenges conventional socio-spatial norms and representation, while Byrd explores themes of diaspora, connection, and narrative in his curatorial work. They examine the impact of mobility, voices, and knowledge on counter-cartographies, highlighting innovative archiving and cataloging approaches, with a reflection on the broader implications of Pan-Africanism, particularly its role in embracing diverse voices and identities within the art and architectural archive. 

The practices of Akil and Seth Scafe Smith from RESOLVE Collective and filmmaker Ama Gisèle explore the fascinating realm where design transcends boundaries, drawing inspiration from a myriad of artistic disciplines and visual cultures. As they redefine ‘local’ in architecture, they engage with profound questions of identity and representation. Through Gisèle’s experimental documentary, “Convergence,” and Akil and Seth’s distinctive approach to community engagement, their creative processes place a strong emphasis on inclusivity and representation, pushing designers to engage the intricacies of labor organization and adaptability within their work.

Kennedy Yanko, a sculptor, and installation artist and Camille Bacon, a Chicago-based writer, explore the intersections of art, spirituality, and abstraction. Kennedy’s innovative use of found metal and paint skin pushes the boundaries of visual perception, while Camille’s writing delves deep into the world of Black feminist practices and their connection to aesthetics. Join them They discuss the transformative power of abstraction in art and design pushing artists and designers to explore the complex relationship between creative process, cultural heritage and spirituality within the Black diaspora. 

Today’s episode is going to take the shape of a slightly different format. It will be a conversation between myself, Amir Hall, and Dr. Marisa Parham. We discuss identity as expressed through our engagement with various digital media. The conversation takes a look at how digital technology has allowed us to transcend time and space and reinvent ourselves in virtual worlds.

In this episode, we talk to urbanist, architect, and GSD professor Toni L. Griffin about different modes of authorship at the intersection of plan-making, place-making, and publication. Professor Griffin also shares some insights on her career trajectory, from architecture to urban design to working in the public sector, recent research and publications from the Just City Lab, and the necessity for designers to forge interdisciplinary partnerships in order to dismantle injustice.

For this month's episode, we talk to urban designer and GSD professor Stephen Gray about bridging between academia and real-world projects, looking at the current moment of racial reckoning as an opportunity for innovation, and recent projects that critically examine the racialized history of the design disciplines. We also get into the parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the longer pandemic of structural racism, as well as how discourse around post-war or post-crisis city-building often falls short of committing to racial justice.

In this month's episode, we talk to Dr. Michelle Joan Wilkinson, curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Together, we take a deep dive into Terry Boddie’s Blueprint (2001) as a lens into systems of power embedded in architectural design and the historical ties between visual representation and histories of subjugation. Along the way we discuss Dr. Wilkinson’s earliest encounters with art and art history, her personal experiences documenting diasporic architectural heritage, and the importance of recording and preserving Black oral histories. We also get an exciting behind-the-scenes look at Dr. Wilkinson’s process of curating collections around Black architects and architectural history at the Smithsonian and beyond.