Cameron Sinclair

I learned about what makes a project or non-profit succeed or fail. I learned about how ego can get in the way of achieving a larger goal. I learned about an architect turned spokesman, Cameron Sinclair, who began the successful non-profit organization Architecture for Humanity. I learned about what he thinks led to his organization being as successful as it is today, and what he thinks stands in his way of getting further. To me Cameron Sinclair’s lectures, comments, questions, and conversations were the most interesting part of the conference.

He views the people he is designing for as clients, who have a crucial part in the design. He believes that by engaging the clients in the design process the client gives insight and crucial research to the architect. He said that the client is the best designer, because who would know more than them about the place that they live, and the needs that they have. He also feels that the clients need to be part of the design process so that they feel a greater sense of ownership of the finished project. Without a feeling of ownership, a project is doomed to be neglected over time, or just never accepted as part of a community.

He also talked about the difference between started a company and starting a movement. If architecture for humanity had stayed just a company, they would only be able to accomplish a small number of projects every year, and only make a small amount of change. Instead, they started a movement, by creating a company that served as more of a model of what Cameron thought was the ideal company so that other people would start companies like his, creating a network possible of achieving goals unachievable alone.

To me this was among the most valuable, inspiration information that I encountered during the conference. Hopefully I will be able to use this information in the future as I try to create some change of my own.