BRYAN C. LEE JR
Colloqate Design
SAY IT LOUD - NOW Exhibitor
SAY IT LOUD - NOMA 50th Exhibition
Louisiana Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by the community organizers and activist who work to build community and bring to light the issues of systemic racism. The elders and ancestors who mapped their work to the struggles of the most disinherited communities.
BRYAN C. LEE JR
Bio:
The great designer, Bryan is an Architect and Design Justice activist + organizer. He is the Principal of Colloqate Design, a nonprofit multidisciplinary design practice, in New Orleans, La, dedicated to expanding community access to design and creating just spaces. He is the founding co-organizer of the DAP (Design As Protest) Collective. He was recognized as one of 2018 Fast Company Most Creative People, a USC Annenberg Civic Media Fellow, and received the Architectural League’s Emerging Voices award in 2019.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
Architecture played a central role in my youth and served as a medium to respond to the conditions of my families neighborhoods growing up. I decided to follow this path at a young age and continued that passion into a HS and on into the profession.
What do you do?
I am an Architect,writer, educator, activist, and organizer focused on Design Justice.
What excites you in the work you do?
Design as a tool for protest. Design provides us the opportunity to forward a radical vision for racial, social and cultural justice in the built environment.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by the community organizers and activist who work to build community and bring to light the issues of systemic racism. The elders and ancestors who mapped their work to the struggles of the most disinherited communities.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
My proudest professional moments are the projects that build coalitions and community power. Project Pipeline, Paper Monuments, Claiborne Innovation District, and DAP Collective.
Featured Project Name:
Claiborne Innovation District
Featured Project Location:
New Orleans
Featured Project Completion Date:
2017
Role in Featured Project:
Design Lead
Featured Project Description:
The Claiborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District (CID) is a project that seeks to improve upon the vision for the future of the Claiborne Corridor. Building on the efforts of the Claiborne Avenue Design Team study (CADT) in the 70’s and the Livable Claiborne Communities (LCC) Study from 2011, the project establishes a public space that facilitates the shared goals of economic development, cultural preservation, sustainable environment, and safe and healthy neighborhoods.
