Wiebenson Lecture with Bryan Bell, Design Corps
February 15, 2013 — 6:15pm Architecture Building Auditorium
Public Interest Design Institute Training Program—February 15 &16, 2013 

Bryan Bell is the architect behind a growing movement that integrates community engagement into the fundamental practice of design. Public Interest Design is a human-centered and participatory design practice that places emphasis on the “triple bottom line,” integrating social, ecological and economic issues within sustainable design projects (coined SEED). As Founder and Executive Director of Design Corps, Bell leads the charge in creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the globe.

The lecture will compliment a two-day Public Interest Design Institute (PIDI) Training Program, offering design professionals the tools needed to engage in the rapidly growing field of social design. A selection of winners from the 2012 SEED awards will also appear in the Linear Gallery beginning February 15.  

Listen to Bryan Bell on WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi

About Bryan Bell:
Bryan Bell founded Design Corps in 1991, an organization that aims “to provide the benefits of architecture to those traditionally un-served by the profession.” He subsequently added a fellowship program through the public service organization AmeriCorps. Bell shares his knowledge and vision as a professor and lecturer at universities throughout the country. His has contributed to two publications, Good Deeds Good Design, (Princeton Architectural Press, 2003) and Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism (Metropolis Books, 2008). In 2010, he became a Harvard Loeb Fellow where his work includes a triple bottom line evaluation using Social/Economic/Environmental Design (SEED). His current work includes "Public Interest Design," funded through the 2011 Latrobe Prize awarded by the American Institute of Architects.

About the Public Interest Design Institute Training Program:
The Public Interest Design Institute (PIDI), held at UMD February 15-16, is a two-day training course on how to become actively engaged in the rapidly growing field of social design.  Participants will become certified in this public practice and earn continuing education credits.  For registration information, visit www.publicinterestdesign.com/college-park-maryland/

About the SEED Awards:
A collection of projects selected for excellence in Public Interest Design, SEED award-winning designs represent the collaborations needed to create truly sustainable projects and change in the world.
For more information on SEED, visit http://www.seednetwork.org.