SFI20: “With the NOMA National Conference” (2020)
SFI17: “Building on the Common Ground” (2017)
SFI16: “Structural Changes: Mission, Profession, Education” (2016)
SFI15: “Resilience of Mind, Body, and Spirit” (2015)
SFI14: “Broadcast. Forecast.” (2014)
SFI13: “Dignifying Design” (2013)
SFI12: “Design is Relational” (2012)
SFI10+1: “Include Yourself” (2011)
SFI10: “Social, Economic, Environmental Design” (2010)
SFI9: “Generate. Activate. Maintain.” (2009)
SFI8: “Systems for Inclusion” (2008)
SFI6: “Expanding Design” (2006)
SFI4: “Choosing Relevancy” (2004)
SFI3: “Affordable Housing” (2003)
SFI2: “Good Deeds, Good Design” (2002)
SFI1: “Designing for the 98% Without Architects” (2001)
Inspiration
The Structures for Inclusion conference has a lot to do with the notion of support structure. Design Corps founder Bryan Bell likes to describe what he does as “being in the trenches,” because it means (hopefully) that he’s working with the end users who need our services. However, being in a trench, you don’t know what the people are doing in the trench next to you.
We were not sharing our lessons, good and bad. Sambo and I decided we all should get together and share our lessons, be honest, try to help other people from making [the same] mistakes, and encourage some design students.
That’s all it’s been. It’s just been collective sharing of ideas.
What I love most is when the speakers are up there, and they hear somebody else speak and there’s a sort of realization that occurs in front of the whole audience. [Speakers have a] recognition that they’re a part of something else, some chemistry that may only be for that particular panel. …It’s dynamic, it’s alive, it’s just happening then. It’s not like we’ve all known each other for 50 years and we’re just here to tell you what to do. If there’s anything successful, it’s been just trying to share some lessons. And that’s…simple.
Design Corps does its best to keep each successive year relevant by hosting and planning locally, and through input from past attendees.