Shedding light on issues impacting how we design.
What began in 2021 as an effort to celebrate local black creators and design innovators from a diverse set of industries, the campaign has expanded to explore a different topic or issue facing the design industry.
We care about the impact we have on the world around us, from our projects to our engagements. As architects and designers, we have a massive impact on the built world and our communities. Initiative like Shine the Light afford us the opportunity to harness this impact and our platform to enact positive change in the world around us.
With the Shine the Light program, our firm is committed to education, mentorship, and change. We hope to: change the script, spark important conversations, challenge ourselves and other businesses to do more, introduce the next generation to mentorship, inspire a career path in design and other creative fields, and amplify local opportunities for volunteerism.
2021: Celebrating Black Creatives
In the first year of Shine the Light, we celebrated local black creators and design innovators from a diverse set of industries. By amplifying these voices, we hoped to promote a professional path in the art and design industry for the next generation.
2022: Inclusive Design
We explored inclusive design through interviews with experts from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, research papers, a roundtable discussion with community and design leaders, and firm-wide DEI training conducted by VCIC.
2023: Equitable Housing
In our 2023 Shine the Light campaign, we’re investigating the housing crisis and how organizations and designers are working towards more equitable, sustainable housing options.