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Design Matters

Exploring how we could create a better future through design 

Design Matters is a thought-provoking lecture series, organized by the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, which seeks to inspire transformative change. The series brings to Calgary a range of designers, innovators, and thought leaders exploring the edge of design and city building. 

2025/26 Design Matters
DERAKHSHANI Farrokh Headshot

Architecture & Optimism

Farrokh Derakhshani | Architect and Urban Planner, Geneva CHE

Positioned between critical reflection and disciplinary agency, this lecture explores architecture's potential to produce positive impacts across social, spatial, and cultural contexts. Through the analysis of selected projects whose architectural qualities have demonstrably enriched the lives of individuals and communities, the talk will investigate how such examples may be identified, interpreted, and circulated.

Event Details

2025-2026 Lectures

Julie Riley

Staging Instruction: Grounds, Fortifications, and Archives

Julie Riley | UC Berkeley

Fokke Moerel

Designing for a Changing World

Fokke Moerel | Partner and Architect, MVRDV

This lecture was sponsored by:

MLA 10th Anniversary

Mountain Time: Practicing Landscape Architecture Across Alberta and the North

Panelists:

Tiffany Adair, ground cubed
Doriena Hassett, The City of Calgary
George Harris, George Harris Collaborative Inc.
Douglas Olson, SAFE Design Operations

This lecture was sponsored by:

2024-2025 Lectures

Gil Penalosa

Cities for Children & Olders: Equitable, Sustainable, Playful

Gil Penalosa Founder & Chair 8 80 Cities | Founder, Cities for Everyone

Hilary Sample speaking at a podium in the CBDL building.

Sommerville Design Charrette 2025 Lecturer 

Hilary Sample, MOS Architects

Peter Vestras and Li Chen presenting in the CBDL building.

COMPAS: Computational Framework for Research and Collaboration in AEC 

Petras Vestartas and Li Chen, Block Research Group

Jimenez Lai presenting in the CBDL building.

Gilmore Theory Seminar 2025

Jimenez Lai, Bureau Spectacular

Melissa Burton

Design Value

Melissa Burton, ARUP Canada

Sameep Padora

Is There an Indian Way of Thinking?

Sameep Padora, CEPT and Sameep Padora & Associates

Sponsorship

Design Matters is made possible through the partnership with generous sponsors who have shared aspirations. Sponsorship presents a wonderful opportunity for companies to not only heighten community profile, but also to engage with talented students who will be leaders and practitioners.

Looking forward to learning with you!

Become a Sponsor

Past Design Matters

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Philip Speranza (University of Oregon, Speranza Architecture + Urban Design)
    Yusuke Obuchi (PhD, University of Tokyo)
    David Godshall (TERREMOTO, Los Angeles)
    David Malda (GGN Ltd., Seattle)
    Johanna Hurme (5468796 Architecture, Winnipeg)
    Ana de Brea (Ball State University, Buenos Aires)
    Isabel Ochoa (University of Waterloo)
    Theresa Williamson (Catalytic Communities, Rio de Janeiro)
    Teddy Cruz (Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman, San Diego)
    Sara Candiracci (ARUP, Milan)
    Miquel Adria (PhD, Mexico City)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Philip Speranza (University of Oregon, Speranza Architecture + Urban Design)
    Yusuke Obuchi (PhD, University of Tokyo)
    David Godshall (TERREMOTO, Los Angeles)
    David Malda (GGN Ltd., Seattle)
    Johanna Hurme (5468796 Architecture, Winnipeg)
    Ana de Brea (Ball State University, Buenos Aires)
    Isabel Ochoa (University of Waterloo)
    Theresa Williamson (Catalytic Communities, Rio de Janeiro)
    Teddy Cruz (Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman, San Diego)
    Sara Candiracci (ARUP, Milan)
    Miquel Adria (PhD, Mexico City)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Charles (Chip) Sullivan and Elizabeth Boults (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, California)
    Kate Thompson (CMLC, Calgary Spotlight)
    Jean Verville (Jean Verville Architecte, Montreal)
    Christelle Avenier (Avenier Cornejo Architects, Paris)
    Jeroen Atteveld (Heeren 5 Architecten, Amsterdam)
    Paul Karakusevic (Karakusevic Caron Architect, London)
    Walkter McKinley (McKinley Burkart, Calgary Spotlight)
    Russell Acton (Acton Ostry Architects, Vancouver)
    Dustin Couzens (Modern Office of Design + Architecture)
    Jessie Andjelic (Spectacle Bureau for Architecture and Urbanism)
    Matt Knapik (O2 Planning + Design)
    Hernan Diaz Alonso (Sci-Arc, Los Angeles)
    Olon Dotson (Ball State University Indiana)
    Felecia Davis (Penn State Stuckeman School and Softlab@PSU, Pennsylvania)
    Chris Cornelius (Studio:Indigenous, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin)
    John Patkau (Patkau Architects, Vancouver)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

  1. Guest Lecturers

    Jeffrey Kipnis (Ohio State University)
    Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)
    Adam Caruso (Caruso St. John Architects)
    Marjan Eggermont (Biomimicry Institute)
    Julian Bleecker (Near Future Laboratory)
    Todd Hirsch (ATB Financial)
    Drura Parrish (PR+vD)
    Marcelo Spina (P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S)

Pan-Canada lecture series, Fall 2020
Design Matters 2019/20
Design Matters 2018/19
Design Matters 2017/18