Q&A: Vuthy Lay

DESIGNxRI has worked to boost minority hiring in the industry for years, and partners with another nonprofit, DownCity Design, where participants design and build amenities for Providence’s neighborhoods. Since its founding in 2009, more than 3,000 city teens have joined the programs and created nearly 90 public projects, including many to improve schools and parks.

“Part of our Design Forward [RI] program is working with kids to create pathways so they can enter the field, not because you’re privileged or your uncle was an architect at a firm,” Carnevale said.

DownCity has partnered with DESIGNxRI since 2015 to offer the Design Forward RI training, and runs the youth Explore Design programs that help young people discover design careers and build skills to pursue these careers, said Adrienne Gagnon, the agency’s executive director.

“We also offer some of Design Forward workshops for adults, including Design Strategy for Innovation and Creative Facilitation,” Gagnon said, adding that several staffers have participated in the DESIGNxRI’s Emerge cohort programs for emerging design professionals.

“The pandemic asked people to rethink so many aspects of our work and life, and essentially to redesign how we do those things within new constraints,” Gagnon said. “This was a moment in which designers could truly shine, from helping restaurants reimagine their outdoor spaces to designing face shields and ventilators to meet increasing demand. We all had to get creative.”

Carnevale said the Design Forward program also focuses on filling gaps in soft skills within the design sector, adding it’s difficult to only train people on technical skills without their also understanding the business side of design.

“They also need to know about asking the right questions, making sure they are thinking through the problem correctly,” Carnevale said. “Employers have been talking about business acumen for years. It’s not just to come in and design a thing. It has business implications and has bottom-line needs. They just need to learn a few extra skills and they will fit right in.”

And companies such as Warwick-based software and app-development firm Brave River Solutions Inc. offer their own ongoing training.

Marketing Manager Jennifer Flatow said the company is using LinkedIn Learning as a resource to offer new and experienced employees on-the-job training. The platform, Flatow said, offers training videos from web design to other subjects within the design field.

Flatow said online learning platforms were being utilized before the pandemic, but Brave River expects to utilize the platforms more often to accommodate a hybrid work environment.

Brave River also has new employees shadow fellow colleagues to better understand company operations, Flatow said. “If someone is working on the launch of a new website, they’ll shadow the web designer who is working very hands-on [with] it to see what the process is,” Flatow said. “They’ll also shadow a project manager who is running the project to see what their process is. They get to see different perspectives on a particular project or area.”

KITE Architects’ West said the industry’s emphasis on collaboration and training and a host of top-notch schools in the area have helped Rhode Island earn its reputation “as a design capital.

“It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: More and more people know about us and want to be here, so more and more [that] will attract designers,” she said.

Vuthy Lay

KITE Architects Inc. architectural designer

Vuthy Lay in 2019 completed the DESIGNxRI Emerge Program, then earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. He joined KITE Architects in September of that year. Lay feels a career in architecture provides access to fellow professionals who appreciate supporting the younger, up-and-coming designers.

1. Why did you decide to enroll in the DESIGNxRI program? I enrolled in the DESIGNxRI Emerge Program to connect with local graduates and become more involved within Rhode Island’s design community. I was really excited to meet young professionals with similar experience levels who are also practicing in the area to share our thoughts, anxieties and ambitions for our individual practices.

2. Can you give some examples of how the program prepared

you to work in architectural design? After completing the program, I found it incredibly helpful to reflect on all of the distinct communication styles I had learned. As well as how self-advocacy within the workplace took on many forms, depending on your particular industry. My cohort was composed of architectural, industrial and graphic designers whose perspectives informed a robust conversation about collaboration and teamwork.

3. What benefits does the industry offer that might be appeal-

ing to younger workers? A career in architecture not only allows you to become more aware and involved in shaping the built environment, [it also] provides access to a close network of professionals who deeply care about supporting the next generation of practitioners.

4. What would you rate as more important: A credential (de-

gree or certificate) or hands-on experience? I believe that both hands-on experience and a degree are equally important to a successful PBN Special Projects Editor James Bessette contributed to this report.

QA &

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

career in architecture. They are critical toward not only further developing your skills, but also maintaining the potential for professional advancement.

5. What would you suggest to people who are interested in

design? One of the best things you could do to explore that curiosity is to try and create a project of your own. Experimenting and testing your ability to engage in the design process will give you an authentic measure of what areas you are more excited by. Likewise, reaching out to individuals and organizations who inspire you and create work that peaks your interests are also important moments for growth and reflection. 6. Are you planning on making design a career? I plan on continuing to pursue a career in design and strive to earn my license to practice architecture in Rhode Island. I am excited to meet and share my ideas with other like-minded individuals.