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Michael Pinto
Principal-in-Charge
Osborn Architects

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Evolving Modes of Practice

Until recent years, the architect’s role was narrowly defined. He, or less typically, she, designed Buildings, in pencil and ink-pen, with set-square and ruler, within established styles and industry standards. Architects belonged to a profession and, for the most part, dressed and behaved accordingly.

But that has changed now, thanks to massive change in technology, the economy and culture. Because the digital revolution genuinely allows the design of everything from the spoon to the city, architects are now creating furniture, fashion, graphics, video games, installations, set designs, cities and more. Oh, and buildings. The computer allows them to control the process of fabrication and to crossover with artists in terms of formal exploration.

They have also crossed economic barriers. Some architects are becoming developers, to control the process of design, construction and remuneration. Others are reinventing themselves as community activists, working with grassroots collectives to create parks or buildings. Others are taking on the role of branding experts, helping clients to use architecture as marketing tool. Many are learning new languages and cultural behaviors, in the knowledge that markets are changing swiftly and they have to go where the opportunities are.

At Dwell on Design we will discuss all this and more with architects working in new ways on a panel about Evolving Modes of Practice.

SPEAKER BIO

Michael joined Osborn in 1993, becoming a partner in the role of Design Principal in 2000. He has taught in the Environmental Design Program at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and is currently coordinating the Outreach and Community Program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCIArc). His work has been published in Thresholds: Journal of the MIT School of Architecture, Art Journal of the University of Chicago,and Loud Paper architectural magazine. He recently co-authored an article for the Los Angeles Times regarding the potential for design of public schools in Los Angeles.

Michael’s interests lie in the relationship of community, program and form. In 2007, he served as the President of the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design. He is a founding member of the CityWorks Los Angeles. Michael holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture.