The School of the Art Institute of California Los Angeles (SCI-Arc) has a reputation for fostering radical experimentation and innovation in architecture, technology, and interdisciplinary practices. Its alumni have made a significant impact on the global design landscape, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the built environment.
Innovators in the Field
SCI-Arc alumni have garnered recognition for their groundbreaking work in various fields. Connor Gravelle, founder of Good Project, was recently honored with an AIA|LA Design Award for his inventive approach to architectural fabrication and material research. Gravelle’s work challenges conventional construction methods by integrating robotic fabrication, computational design, and emerging materials to create more efficient and adaptable building systems.
- Gravelle’s approach to architecture has significant implications for the built environment, as it emphasizes sustainability, accessibility, and the evolving relationship between design and technology.
- His work has the potential to redefine architectural production, making it more efficient and adaptable to changing environmental conditions.
- Gravelle’s commitment to innovative design and technology is a testament to the school’s emphasis on experimentation and cross-disciplinary thinking.
Vivian Charlesworth, an interdisciplinary designer and Professor at Scripps College, has gained recognition for her immersive installations and speculative architecture. Her work merges cinematic techniques with spatial design, creating thought-provoking installations that transport audiences into new narratives.
Speculative Architecture and Storytelling
Charlesworth’s most recent artwork, As Real as the Here, is a three degrees of freedom (3 DOF) non-linear virtual reality film that explores an alternative post-911 world. The installation transports audiences into a new narrative, challenging their perceptions of reality.
- Charlesworth’s use of virtual reality technology allows her to create immersive experiences that are both thought-provoking and visually stunning.
- Her work demonstrates the potential of architecture to interact with visual culture, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the built environment.
- Charlesworth’s commitment to interdisciplinary design is a testament to the school’s emphasis on experimentation and cross-disciplinary thinking.
Evelyn Tickle, founder of Crete, is redefining the role of concrete in the built environment with her pioneering bio-receptive material technology. Her award-winning research focuses on designing concrete surfaces that actively support plant and microbial life, turning static infrastructure into living, ecologically beneficial systems.
Bio-Receptive Materials and Ecological Restoration
Tickle’s work demonstrates how material innovation can bridge architecture and environmental restoration, advancing more sustainable and regenerative design solutions. Her products, such as Reef Tiles and Green Surface Panels, have the potential to enhance marine biodiversity and enable vegetation growth on urban structures.
- Tickle’s bio-receptive materials have the potential to transform the built environment, making it more sustainable and regenerative.
- Her work demonstrates the importance of considering the environmental impact of design choices.
- Tickle’s commitment to innovation is a testament to the school’s emphasis on experimentation and cross-disciplinary thinking.
Emerging Voices in Architecture and Beyond
SCI-Arc alumni are making a significant impact in various fields beyond architecture. Jackson Lukas, a designer at DreamWorks, applies his architectural background to digital storytelling, crafting intricate environments that balance aesthetic appeal with spatial logic.
- Lukas’s work highlights the expanding influence of architectural training beyond the built environment, into the realm of film, gaming, and immersive media.
- His commitment to interdisciplinary design is a testament to the school’s emphasis on experimentation and cross-disciplinary thinking.
- Lukas’s work demonstrates the potential of architecture to inform other creative fields, such as animation and game design.
Runze Zhang, leader of TikTok’s Effect House, empowers creators to push the boundaries of augmented reality (AR) through intuitive design tools. His work focuses on developing an accessible platform for building AR effects, enabling users to experiment with spatial interactions and immersive digital experiences.
Augmented Reality and Spatial Interactions
Zhang’s commitment to AR innovation highlights the school’s emphasis on speculative design and computational thinking. By bridging architecture and digital media, he is redefining how people engage with virtual spaces, fostering new forms of creative expression on a global scale.
- Zhang’s work demonstrates the potential of AR to transform the way we interact with digital spaces.
- His commitment to intuitive design tools is a testament to the school’s emphasis on accessibility and user-centered design.
- Zhang’s work highlights the importance of considering the user experience in design choices.
Alessio Grancini, designer at Magic Leap, shapes the future of augmented reality (AR) by developing immersive experiences that blend digital content with the physical world.
Immersive Experiences and Spatial Computing
Grancini’s work focuses on creating intuitive AR interfaces that enhance user interaction, from workplace collaboration to creative workflows. His commitment to spatial computing highlights the school’s emphasis on computational design and digital experimentation.
- Grancini’s work demonstrates the potential of AR to transform the way we interact with physical spaces.
- His commitment to intuitive design is a testament to the school’s emphasis on user-centered design.
- Grancini’s work highlights the importance of considering the user experience in design choices.
Impacting the Future of Design
SCI-Arc alumni are making a significant impact in various fields, from architecture to product design and beyond. Aja Zarrehparvar, a designer at Nike, blends digital design, material innovation, and performance wear.
- Zarrehparvar’s work highlights the importance of interdisciplinary design, as she combines parametric design and advanced fabrication techniques to create products that enhance movement and adaptability.
- Her commitment to innovative design is a testament to the school’s emphasis on experimentation and cross-disciplinary thinking.
- Zarrehparvar’s work demonstrates the potential of architecture to inform other creative fields, such as product design.
Lena Pozdnyakova, founder of Studio Pozdnyakova, is known for her innovative approach to digital fabrication and material research. Her work investigates how advanced computational techniques and robotic manufacturing can push the boundaries of architectural expression.
Digital Fabrication and Material Research
Pozdnyakova’s commitment to innovative design is a testament to the school’s emphasis on experimentation and cross-disciplinary thinking. Her project, Transmedium, was featured at the 2024 Venice Biennale as part of the Kazakhstan pavilion.
- Pozdnyakova’s work demonstrates the potential of digital fabrication to transform the built environment.
- Her commitment to material research is a testament to the school’s emphasis on understanding the material properties of various materials.
- Pozdnyakova’s work highlights the importance of considering the environmental impact of design choices.
Matthew Pugh, a designer and founder of Pugh Studio, has established himself as an innovative force in architectural visualization. His firm specializes in VR experiences that allow clients to inhabit digital representations of their projects before they are built.
Architectural Visualization and Interactive Media
Pugh’s work highlights the importance of architectural visualization in the design process. His use of gaming engines and real-time rendering software allows clients to interact with their projects in a more immersive way.