Samina Raja (University at Buffalo)

As a globalized society, our identities and origins are often complicated and dynamic. The ideas of ‘from’ and ‘for’ directly probe this complexity. One may be removed or distanced from where one originated, one may return after years of being away, or one may have never left in the first place.

In response to these relationships, the Public Programs speakers for the 2023-24 academic year will address the significance of origin to the architecture and planning disciplines. Whether these relationships are natural, adopted, forced, planned, or unexpected, the standpoints will afford a critical reflection on what it is to think, teach, and practice design for the place, culture, people, and/or species from which the designer originates.