A Conversation with Evelyn Lee at The Design School

Tracing Architecture

In this special episode, we were fortunate to capture an authentic and insightful conversation between Evelyn Lee, FAIA, and two passionate architecture students from The Design School at Arizona State University—Sophie Apropos-Kardos and Ivanna Selpuvuda Suarez—who currently serve as co-presidents of the AIAS chapter at ASU. Throughout the discussion, Evelyn shared her perspectives on a wide range of topics that are timely for emerging professionals. These included: Mentorship & Leadership: The importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and guiding others through example. Career Paths & Alternative Futures: Exploring nontraditional career paths in architecture and the value of interdisciplinary experiences. Equity, Diversity & Resilience: Addressing systemic challenges and fostering inclusive environments within the profession. Technology & Innovation: Embracing tech and its impact on design thinking and practice. Life-Centered Design & The Future of Practice: Reimagining architecture as a tool for human and ecological well-being. Personal Reflections & Advice: Evelyn’s candid thoughts on navigating the profession and staying true to her values. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the leadership at The Design School—Paola Sanguinetti, Claudio Vekstein, and Abigail Hoover—for their support in making this event possible. Special thanks also to AIA National for enabling us to record and share this meaningful exchange.