'So what do you do?

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 June 2010 20:24

Open call to architectural practices in Wales

Following the successes of Reflecting Wales 08 and 09, the 2010 Reflecting Wales exhibition will explain what architects actually do, and why good design matters.

We are looking for three innovative, active and engaged architectural practices in Wales who are interested in promoting quality architectural design in Wales to collaborate with an exhibition team and three ‘Design Champions’ – 14-19 year olds from Wales who are passionate about design.

Your practice will host one Design Champion who will shadow your practice for five days during the summer of 2010. You’ll introduce the Champion to all aspects of life in an architectural practice – the development of a project from concept to construction, sitting in on client, planning, and design team meetings, and visits to construction sites. By recording these experiences through interviews, photography, web blogs, and tweets, the Design Champions will tell us - in their own words - what architects really do and why this really matters.

These observations, supported by sketches, drawings, and models from your practice, will be exhibited in a major public space in Cardiff in October 2010, as a key event in the Cardiff Design Festival. A linked seminar and workshop with ‘Meet the Architects’ and ‘Chat with the Champion’ sessions will include debate and participation from school groups and a public audience. The project, funded by Beacons for Wales, is organised by The Welsh School of Architecture, the Design Commission for Wales, and Design Circle RSAW South, in partnership with Techniquest, and with support from RSAW. We’ll provide a support team to organise the shadowing of practices and the exhibition.

‘So what do you do?’

will, in the Design Champions own words, explain the processes and possibilities of architectural design, opening up participation in architectural design in Wales to a wider public audience, particularly the Welsh youth who will become our future architects.

If your practice would be interested in collaborating with us, or would like more information, contact Mhairi McVicar (WSA / Design Circle) at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 11 June 2010.