Join us for an insightful discussion on innovative approaches to representation in architecture. We’ll delve into how art can be a juxtaposition with the formality of traditional drawings. And how these approaches evoke emotion and feelings about the spaces we create.

Traditional renderings are a useful tool to represent a building or space under perfect conditions. In this session, we examine how — beyond the rendering — are opportunities to amplify the life inherent in spaces, from emotion to humanity to scale, movement and more.

Our speakers will present their unique stories — scaled to person, building and city, and informed by their personal journeys to honing their craft — all resulting in artwork that delivers impact, deeper meaning and greater perspective.

After exploring the work, we’ll dive into a panel discussion to weave a common thread and help us realize the value that innovative approaches to representation can bring to the built environment.

Speakers:

John Son, AIA, LEED AP, Associate Vice President, CannonDesign

John Son is an Architect at CannonDesign Los Angeles with over 15 years of experience. A graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's College of Environmental Design, his early career focused on historic preservation, working on the restoration of several Los Angeles landmarks. At CannonDesign, he has contributed as a project designer, primarily within the Education and Healthcare studios.

John is also an avid illustrator who has leaned heavily on hand sketching both within and outside of the field of Architecture. He has been a contributing artist for a few local art exhibits and has published pieces in several children’s coloring books.

Some years ago, John sustained a traumatic injury that permanently altered his relationship with the built environment. The intersection of art and architecture have been a driving force behind his reckoning with his disability.

T. Kelly Wilson, Associate Professor and founding director of the IU J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program

T. Kelly Wilson is an Associate Professor at Indiana University and was the founding director of the IU Center for Art+Design and the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program in Columbus, IN. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University.

Wilson, an artist and architect, has twice received the Paul Rudolph Fellowship at Auburn University. Wilson’s paintings and drawings have been concerned with the nature of perception by observation under the rule of transient experience of the urban and inter-tidal landscapes. His recent work explores a new body of figurative abstraction that references human interaction.

He has held academic positions at Harvard University, Columbia University, Yale University, MIT, Auburn University, Florida University, Northeastern University and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Letícia Wouk Almino, Associate, Thomas Phifer and Partners

Letícia is an artist and architect based in Brooklyn, New York. She received a Master in Architecture from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College. Her artwork has been exhibited at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, 411 Gallery and the Pratt School of Architecture Gallery.

Her work explores the tension between order and chaos through gridded, layered paintings that reflect a search for stability and a sense of home. Rooted in architecture and shaped by her peripatetic upbringing, Letícia uses geometry, color, and daily ritual to map memory and urban space.

Letícia completed a residency at Further On Artist-in-Residence program in Amagansett, New York and taught architectural studio and drawing courses at Pratt Institute and Barnard College. Her writing has been featured in notable media outlets, including The Architect's Newspaper, PLAT Journal, the New York Review of Architecture and Hyperallergic.

Moderator:

Dale Greenwald, Assoc. IIDA, Vice President, Interior Design Leader, CannonDesign

Dale Greenwald, CannonDesign’s New York City Interior Design Leader, has honed the power of design thinking and its ability to improve the human experience.

Trained as an industrial designer and working across a variety of clients, scales, and project types, he's honed his teamwork skills during 19 years at SOM and two professional segments totaling 20 years at CannonDesign.

He approaches design with an open mind and meticulous craft, ensuring teamwork is always at the heart of his projects. Schooled in industrial design, he has a rare ability to translate bold, audacious vision into tangible solutions that enhance and enrich life. In 2024, the International Interior Design Association's New York Chapter recognized Dale with its Leadership Award of Excellence, which recognizes his exceptional contributions to the profession.

The Art of the Unexpected: Beyond the Rendering