The history of the west is one of colonialism. In that system its rare that any other than the colonizers are thoughtfully recognized. This has been obvious in many fields but in the field of design its been more impactful.
The Directories of Diverse Architects and Designers seeks to rectify that. It showcases individuals that have both obtained and achieved success in areas where they often go unrecognized. It also provides key demographics not found in any other resource in existence.
Thanks for being one of the "legacy" listings! If your entry was made prior to February 2021 then your information was in the old format and didn’t include the details needed for the type of review needed. The new database has ten times more data than the original and, in an effort to maintain the best possible data hygiene, particularly since the original data had gone mostly untouched for many years it was decided that the legacy listers needed to create new profiles. The new information would include critical metrics including licensure in multiple states, areas of expertise and full business listings for owners and principals.
No one! You can full manage your entry right now simply by logging in (icon at the top right corner) and editing your information. That’s it! No phone calls or emails required.
Each entry is reviewed and the critical datapoints checked by our volunteer data team. This process is often done in monthly, small batches but rarely takes more than ten business days.
Yes! The required fields represent datapoints frequently needed to give the best picture of what's happening in the field. Extrapolating that data, especially with the new fields will enhance that image and hopefully allow for advanced ways and means for improving the build environment.
In order to search for a specific individual or business, simply navigate to the profile search tab on the dashboard page and fill out the required information.
The directory had to be recreated but, since its inception, the National Organization of Minority architects knew that as Black architects were both recognized and celebrated other underrepresented groups would be as well. It was decided to make sure that the new directories were created in a way that would provide additional demographic information including nuances that are often missed in other attempts to analyze inclusivity.
Founders Bradford C. Grant, Professor of Architecture at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California and Dennis Alan Mann, Professor of Architecture at The University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio started the Directory of African American Architects in November of 1991. It was published in book form.
African American architects continue to be underrepresented within the industry. This directory is meant to provide a platform of visibility and representation for architects who would otherwise go unnoticed.
Representation continues to be on the lower side. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) reports that for the 1993-94 academic year, 6.3 percent of students in accredited B. Arch and M. Arch programs were African American. In that same year, only 3.6 percent of the graduates from both of those programs were African American. We have no statistics to tell us how many graduates remain in the profession as interns or continue on to licensure.
The Directories of Diverse Architects and Designers is the child of the Directory of African-American Architects, and is a project of NOMA, the National Organization of Minority Architects. The DDAD's goal is to catalog, educate and enlighten.
