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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

Janet Sager is a passionate advocate for ‘design thinking’, the term for an emerging practice defined as a way of creative problem solving that produces transformative innovation and explores strategic synergies between the interconnected set of values, ideas, and activities that can be applied to framing or reframing the understanding of a given situation.

Prior to establishing Sager Monti with Christina Monti in 2007, Janet founded Sager Design Research and Communication, a broad-based consulting practice that specialized in positioning design and arts organizations. Her educational background includes Fine Art and Environmental Design studies and practice in New York City as well as a degree in Art History / Visual Culture at UCLA. Professional commitment to the design profession began in 1989 working beside Thom Mayne for nine years as the Business Development ‘Maverick’ for Morphosis Architects, the Pritzker award-winning architecture firm based in Santa Monica and New York, producing twelve publications and coordinating over fifty exhibitions for the firm. From 1998 to 2005, Janet served as Director of Research and Publications for the international practice of Santa Monica-based architecture firm Moore Ruble Yudell, positioning the firm for national recognition as winner of the National AIA Firm award in 2006.

Sager Monti is founded on the belief that during these times of accelerated change, today’s design professionals and their constituents require an increased capacity for adaptive leadership and innovative problem-solving strategies to accomplish the goal of inventing new possibilities for a sustainable future. The firm works with clients to communicate their value proposition and identities with clarity and meaning to engender trust and elevate ‘the conversation’ in a way that is customized to suit each client’s unique requirements. By working closely with a network of luminaries - affiliated thinkers, makers and doers working on the frontiers of knowledge, social change and creativity, the firm is nimble, and swift in execution, ensuring that their clients, and their clients’ client’s receive maximum value.

Sager Monti develops and supports working relationships across a broad range of constituencies through expertise in strategic planning and external positioning for accelerated business development; print and media production coordination, event and exhibition coordination, and market research and fundraising strategies for promoting working partnerships. The firm’s work includes developing new market sectors, building strategic alliances and presenting their clients to prospective clients, publishers and curators.