IE School of Architecture & Design Newsletter - November 2021

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time to focus on

TRANSFORMING PERCEPTIONS OF DESIGN

Design is an elusive phenomenon that has adopted different meanings in different times and contexts. Yet I believe it has one elemental role: as an agent of change. Design interprets changes of any type – social, political, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, or ecological – to ensure that they will affect us positively.

My book, ‘Design as an Attitude’, describes how a new generation of designers are doing this by deploying digital tools to help us to address complex, intersectional problems - from the climate emergency and refugee crises; to the rise of intolerance and inequality - and identifying constructive applications for new technologies. 

By doing so, they are fulfilling the vision of the great Hungarian artist, László Moholy-Nagy, who described his vision of design in 1947 with: “Designing is not a profession but an attitude.” By demonstrating its potential to defuse the housing crisis and curb the damage caused by global warming, these digitally empowered designers are transforming public and political perceptions of design and ensuring that it will be at the forefront of the reconstruction of our lives post-pandemic.

Alice Rawsthorn

Author of 'Design as an Attitude'

We were honored to welcome Alice Rawshthorn to deliver the first in our new Beyond Scale lecture series, which took place on November 2.

New issue of Prologue magazine - out now

Designed and edited by our students, Prologue magazine explores the intellectual landscape of design and architecture, as well as the hidden banalities of daily life. This thoughtful journal is a platform for discussion and self-expression that goes beyond the knowledge acquired at the university, developing new narratives through personal experience, research and inquiry. The latest issue is titled ‘Gravity for a Muse’, exploring the fields of dreams and possibility, and their relation to the built environment. “The capacity to envision what could be and the tenacity to carve it into being require the assumption that reality is not fixed,” says the magazine team. “We wish to expand on the idea that every project that was ever made began in the material of dreams.”

IE Lab set to build the future pioneers of slow fashion

From February, around 40 IE students will work with three leading Madrid companies to improve the fashion industry’s environmental impact, as part of the IE Slow Fashion Lab. Labs are IE University’s alternative to traditional work placements, providing students with hands-on, professional experience on campus. “Nature is the only sustainable, regenerative global technology we know,” explains Slow Fashion Lab director Manuel Quirós, Adjunct Professor at IE School of Architecture and Design. “Here, we are exploring how nature can work as a key partner in a business strategy.” Work with El Corte Inglés will focus on circularity and innovation in denim; a placement with Pyratex will explore replacing synthetic fabrics with plant-based ones; and clothing rental startup Ecodicta will consider business models that combat the depletion of natural resources.

Congratulations to all our distinguished faculty members

Our educational mission was tested last academic year, with pedagogic modifications responding to the uncertainties of the pandemic. As always, our devoted faculty rose to the occasion, proceeding with teaching every class in new and creative ways. Our faculty are the backbone of the school and more than 30 of them were honored as distinguished professors this month, rated by students on their capacity for innovation, the quality of teaching materials and the learning acquired at the end of the program, among other factors. Each honored faculty member received a personalized digital diploma for their excellent performance and generous contribution to IE University.

Voices of Change: The Women of Architecture and Design

In this video by AutoDesk, Dean of our school Martha Thorne joined three other industry leaders in discussing the challenges faced by women in architecture and design, and how women in leadership roles can allow the field to think more broadly. Alongside Julia Gamolina, Francesca Perani and Brinda Somaya, Thorne argues that to tackle inequality, we need to convince society that talent is not gender-based, but something that we all possess and can cultivate. “For women to take their place in architecture, the structures that exist will have to change,” she says. “Men will have to give up power - but it’s not a loss because the great gain is the freedom to do more, and be more.”

Alumni profile: Nicholas Saye, founder of Tumbao

Bachelor in Design alumni Nicholas Saye is building his name as an entrepreneur with a talent for producing eccentric ideas and making them a reality. Now founder of eco-conscious bioleather brand Tumbao, Saye’s passions lie in seeing a positive impact on the world, with the belief that people can live symbiotically with their natural environments. Studying at IE exposed Saye to multiple different design fields, he says, and taught him the soft skills necessary to succeed in the professional environment. His top tips for other budding designers? Learn to sell yourself, reach higher than you think you can, and always pursue your true passion.

IE Tower's role in regenerating northern Madrid

The 180-metre-tall IE Tower is now the third tallest building in the world used primarily for education - however, the impact it will have on the local community is what makes the university’s expansion to the north of Madrid particularly meaningful. In her interview with South China Morning Post, Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design Martha Thorne explains how the needs of students, staff and faculty will breathe life into the area, allowing the university to play a significant, positive role in regenerating its surrounding spaces and opening dialogue with those nearby. Flexibility, Thorne stresses, is built into the tower, so that it can provide for the local community as well as its own.

Build for Life 2021: Daylight Symposium

November 15-17

Copenhagen and Online

If there’s one thing that can build a brighter future for people and the planet, it’s daylight. This annual Build for Life conference presented by VELUX brings together architects, researchers, engineers and activists to discuss how to leverage buildings to benefit the environment and improve quality of life. Martha Thorne, Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design, co-moderates the discussions taking place on the Daylight Symposium stage, where more than 40 leading experts will gather to explore the crucial role of daylight in architecture, and how it can help to create healthy and resilient buildings.

Smart City Expo World Congress

November 16-18

Barcelona and online

Amidst a global climate crisis, and with 55% of the world population living in urban areas, cities need to lead the way in embracing nature and building a climate-friendly future. IE School of Architecture and Design is delighted to participate in this flagship event that galvanizes urban innovation across the globe to consider ways forward for cities and their citizens. On 16 November, Manuel Pérez Romero, chair of the IE Center for Sustainable Cities, speaks about the pathway to decarbonisation; and on 18 November, Dean of our school Martha Thorne hosts a discussion on revitalising cities to boost local economies. 

Embracing the Next Generation of Architects

November 17, 12.45pm CET

Online

Jerónimo van Schendel, director of our Master in Business for Architecture and Design, hosts a discussion at international construction show The Big 5 about bridging the gap between educational institutions and the professional architecture and design sector. Featuring representatives from leading practices Gensler, TangramGulf and Godwin Austen Johnson, the panel will address topics like the current skills gap, improving academia-industry collaborations and how educators can prepare the next generation to address the design implications of business decisions.

Design and the Environment

November 18 - December 9

Online

The label of sustainability goes far beyond obtaining official certifications. Our new four-part lecture considers how to put environmental issues at the start of the design process. Monika Schulz, a sustainable energy expert and Project Manager at Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH, delivers the first lecture (18 Nov), exploring climate engineering and how successfully sustainable buildings can combine low energy footprint with high user comfort. The second (24 Nov) features architect Marlies Boterman looking at the spatial, historical and geological layers that buildings are grounded in.

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