Hip Hop Architecture Camps That Offer STEAM Education Doubles Locations

The Hip Hop Architecture Camp and one of our 2017 Austin Texas participants, Brianna White, was featured in Black Girl Nerds. As co-founder of the Urban Arts Collective, I have had the opportunity to work on many inspiring projects that involve bringing S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) education to individuals through the influence of hip-hop. I’ve spoken at SXSW on the topic numerous times and even helped design the Universal Hip Hop Museum, with input from local students and the Bronx community. Yet last year through my work with Autodesk, I kicked-off one of my proudest collaborations yet: The Hip Hop Architecture Camps.

The Hip Hop Architecture Camp comes to MOCAD

The Hip Hop Architecture Camp in Los Angeles. Photo by Josh Berry

Highland Park native Michael Ford has made a career out of his two seemingly unconnected passions: hip-hop and architecture. But listen to him talk and the two are obviously intertwined — it was the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier's invention of the idea of modern housing projects that gave rise to 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx, and 1520 Sedgwick Ave. gave rise to hip-hop.

After giving a traveling lecture series and exhibition series on the interconnectedness of hip-hop and architecture, Ford will soon bring his latest project to Detroit. Hip Hop Architecture Camp is a weekly, month-long meetup open for free to middle school students designed "to introduce underrepresented youth to architecture, urban planning, creative place making, and economic development through the lens of hip-hop culture," and after the camp MOCAD will show an exhibition of work created by the students. We spoke with Ford to learn more.

Annual AIASC Design Conference, “Community: By Design,” to Take Place in Lake City, Brings The Hip Hop Architect, Michael Ford to South Carolina

The American Institute of Architects’ South Carolina Chapter (AIASC) is excited to share that this year’s Annual Design Conference will take place in conjunction with renowned nine-day art competition, ArtFields. Held in the small town of Lake City, S.C., the conference will begin on Wednesday, April 18 and end Friday, April 20 with a gift to the community.

The Hip Hop Architecture Camp Wins National Award For Innovation and Social Equity

2017 Hip Hop Architecture Camp at Madison Public Library
Photo by: MOD Media

The Madison Public Library won a “Top Innovators” award from the Urban Libraries Council for its work with the Hip Hop Architecture Camp. The camp, created by architectural designer and Madison College instructor Michael Ford, aims to increase the number of women and people of color in the urban planning and architecture fields while giving kids the power to design their own communities.

Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Solange Knowles Promote Diversity in Architecture? Dezeen Magazine Interviews Michael Ford

After keynoting The 2018 Interior Design Show in Toronto I was interviewed by Dezeen Magazine about the creation of The Hip Hop Architecture Camp funded by Autodesk and the benefits of combining architecture and Hip Hop Culture!