Exhibit Information:
In the Public Interest: How one Designer used an AIA Travel Scholarship to Inspire Change

Garrett Nelli was awarded AIA Seattle's Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship for his proposal, "Public Interest: Redefining the Architect's Role in and Responsibility to Society."

From AIA Seattle, "Public Interest Design, a growing field within the profession, is repositioning architects to critically address the social, political, and environmental issues of the 21st century through a community engaged design process. This shift advances the notion that architecture is not only a product, but a process that instills the tools and awareness for individuals to improve their condition. As this year's recipient of AIA Seattle's Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship, Garrett will travel to Los Angeles, New Orleans, rural Alabama, Haiti, Burkina Faso, and Italy to catalog how the built environment can proliferate positive societal change. This research proposal showcases six non-traditional practices expanding and redefining the role of the architect to include social activist, engaged facilitator, environmental steward, political advocate, among others, in order to meet the complex needs of the public. The selected projects offer unique perspectives on how to promote meaningful public engagement and present new methods for the profession to design for Seattle's communities."

Learn more about Garrett and the Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship.