Bryan Lee Jr.

Power + Place

Our values are validated through the spaces and places we design and subsequently build. Power + Place explores the privilege and power structures that have defined injustice in the built environment from America's inception. We will look at the history of the design justice movement and how the theory of practice continually advocates for the dismantling of power ecosystems that use architecture and design to create injustice throughout the built environment.

Like all institutions, Design imposes its power through policies, procedures, and practice and is subject to its own inherited biases. The lasting permanence of our professional decisions requires us to pay particular attention to the injustices that result from our work and to seek Design Justice wherever possible. Architecture has the power to speak to the language of the people it serves, we as designers, are at our best when we are willing to serve the people without power.

Power + Place explores the privilege and power structures that have defined injustice in the built environment from America's inception. We will look at the history of the design justice movement and how the theory of practice continually advocates for the dismantling of power ecosystems that use architecture and design to create injustice throughout the built environment.

About Bryan

Bryan is an Architect, educator, writer, and Design Justice activist. He is the founder/Design Principal of Colloqate Design, a nonprofit design practice. A founding organizer of the Design As Protest Collective and Dark Matter University. Led two award-winning architecture + design programs for high school students through the Arts Council of New Orleans (local) and the National Organization of Minority Architects (national), respectively.

• National NOMA South VP. Many awards and fellowships.
• 2018 Fast Company Most Creative People in Business and Youngest firm to win the Architectural League’s Emerging
• Voices award in 2019. 2021 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award.