The Design Matters Conference in Chicago, organised by the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO), brought together museum leaders, educators, and practitioners to discuss how architecture is communicated to the public. The annual forum addressed the role of institutions in shaping public understanding of the built environment and how new media and formats can make architectural ideas more accessible.

Representing the Museum of Architecture, London, I participated in the session on future frameworks for practice and public engagement. My presentation, Alternative Practice. Alternative Future., outlined how the architectural profession must evolve to meet changing cultural, economic, and technological conditions. The talk introduced a model of practice that values collaboration across disciplines and situates architecture within networks of education, research, and digital culture.

The conference highlighted a shared focus among institutions: how architecture can remain visible and relevant by communicating process rather than product. This perspective aligns closely with the studio’s own approach, treating design as a system of enquiry and exchange. Events like this reaffirm the importance of clarity and authorship in architectural communication, both within the profession and to the public.

‍