Cameron Sinclair

Design for Life : When sustainability is a matter of survival

Monday, November 3, 2008
5:30 P.M. - Alice Campbell Alumni Center, Ballroom
601 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana

Art + Design’s Design Matters Lecture
School of Architecture and AIA Central Illinois Chapter
anthemios chapter | alpha rho chi fraternity

Cameron Sinclair (b. 1973 , London, England ) is the co-founder and 'eternal optimist' for Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organization founded in 1999 to develop architecture and design solutions to humanitarian crises and provide pro-bono design services to communities in need. Currently the organization working in fourteen countries on projects ranging from school, health clinics, affordable housing and long term sustainable reconstruction.

Trained as an architect at the University of Westminster and the The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London Sinclair developed an interest in social, cultural and humanitarian design. His postgraduate thesis focused on providing shelter to New York's homeless through sustainable, transitional housing. After his studies, he moved to New York where he worked as a designer and project architect.

Sinclair is a regular lecturer and visiting professor at schools in the United States and abroad and has contributed to a number of exhibitions dealing with social justice and design. He has spoken at a number of international conferences and forums on sustainable development and post disaster reconstruction, including appearances on BBC World Service and CNN International, National Public Radio and PBS.

Sinclair and Architecture for Humanity co-founder Kate Stohr have compiled a compendium on socially conscious design titled "Design Like You Give A Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises" (May 2006, Metropolis Books). He serves on advisory boards of the Acumen Fund, Detroit Collaborative Design Center and the Institute for State Effectiveness.

In 2004 Fortune Magazine named Cameron Sinclair was named as one of the Aspen Seven, seven people changing the world for the better. He was the recipient of the 2006 TED prize and the 2005 RISD/Target Emerging Designer of the Year. Recently he was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Along with co-founder Kate Stohr, was awarded the Wired Magazine 2006 Rave Award for Architecture and the 2008 National Design Award.

As a result of the TED Prize he and Stohr launched the Open Architecture Network, the worlds’ first open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design.

On November 20th he will be profiled alongside Cameron Diaz as part of the 4th season of Iconoclasts, airing on the Sundance Channel.