Why I'm an architect that designs for social impact, not buildings | Liz Ogbu | TEDxMidAtlantic

Summary

In this insightful talk, architect Liz shares her unconventional journey in design, emphasizing her role as an 'expert citizen,' storyteller, and translator. Rather than simply designing buildings, she focuses on creating opportunities for impact within communities. Through stories of women like Mama Sama and day laborers like Roberto, Liz highlights the importance of understanding community needs and fostering empowerment. She urges audiences to rethink architecture's potential, combining technical skills with humanity, and encourages everyone to harness these soft skills in their own endeavors.

Takeaways

• 😀 Liz, an architect, often faces questions about her profession, including the common inquiry about 'The Fountainhead', which she does not favor.
• 😀 She emphasizes that her work goes beyond traditional building design, focusing instead on creating opportunities for impact within communities.
• 😀 The concept of the 'Expert Citizen' highlights the importance of community members as knowledgeable contributors to the design process.
• 😀 Liz's work with communities, such as those in San Francisco and Nairobi, demonstrates the need to listen to local expertise to understand their challenges and aspirations.
• 😀 The story of Mama Sama illustrates the difficulties faced by women in low-income communities regarding traditional cooking methods and the adoption of improved cookstoves.
• 😀 Many women are aware of the benefits of cookstoves but find them insufficient due to cost and cooking needs, indicating that the focus should be on the users rather than just the technology.
• 😀 Liz's role as a storyteller aims to elevate the narratives of marginalized individuals, like day laborers, to foster understanding and dignity.
• 😀 The Day Labor Station project was developed through collaboration with day laborers, treating them as co-designers to address their needs in informal hiring sites.
• 😀 Despite challenges, such as the economic collapse affecting the project's implementation, Liz emphasizes the value of changing perceptions about the spaces day laborers occupy.
• 😀 Liz encourages a shift in perspective about architecture and design, advocating for a balance of technical skills and human-centered approaches to foster social impact.

Q & A

What common question do people ask architects when they meet them?

People often ask architects whether they have read or seen 'The Fountainhead.'

What does the speaker think about 'The Fountainhead'?

The speaker has read the book and seen the movie but did not like either of them.

How does the speaker typically answer when asked what kind of buildings they design?

The speaker usually says they design community centers, as it’s relatable for most people, despite not actually designing them.

What does the speaker mean by 'designing opportunities for impact'?

The speaker focuses on creating solutions that foster positive change within communities rather than designing traditional buildings.

What is an 'expert citizen' according to the speaker?

An expert citizen is someone trained in a specific field, like design, but who also values human emotions and community needs.

Who is Mama Sama, and what problem does she represent?

Mama Sama is a woman in the global South who faces challenges with traditional cooking methods, highlighting issues of health and safety linked to cooking on three-stone fires.

What was the primary finding of the speaker's research on cookstoves in Tanzania?

The research revealed that many women owned cookstoves but could not afford to use them regularly, which limited the benefits they could provide.

What innovative approach did the speaker and their team take regarding cookstoves?

They shifted the focus from improving the cookstove itself to designing solutions that catered to the cooks' needs, such as ease of use and fuel-saving initiatives.

What is the Day Labour Station, and why was it created?

The Day Labour Station is a prototype designed to provide basic necessities and support for day laborers at informal hiring sites, enhancing their dignity and working conditions.

What does the speaker identify as the power of storytelling in their work?

The speaker believes storytelling helps raise awareness and acknowledge the experiences of marginalized individuals, transforming how society views their circumstances.