Design anthropology
for the built environment
I help architecture and planning teams uncover the unspoken cultural patterns that can make or break projects.
Let’s create spaces that communities embrace, not just tolerate.
When you need me
Federal/embassy projects requiring anthropological assessment (OBO-compliant)
Public/civic projects where community buy-in is critical
International builds requiring deep local cultural understanding
Campus/institutional projects with complex stakeholder needs
Leadership wants culturally responsive design but lacks bandwidth
Projects where cultural context errors carry high costs
What you get
Ethnographic fieldwork - 1-2 week intensive site visits with stakeholder interviews, observation of actual usage patterns, and cultural institution engagement
Targeted community engagement - Stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and co-design sessions that create genuine buy-in
Cultural context analysis - Historical, political, and demographic research that explains *why* communities behave the way they do, *how* these insights will impact your project, and *what* you should do to address this context
Actionable design recommendations - Specific guidance on space planning, materials, aesthetics, and cultural symbolism tied directly to your project
Implementation tracking - Ongoing consultation through design phases to ensure cultural insights shape the final design
Need something else? Let's talk!
Trusted by
Diller Scofidio Renfro
Department of State
KCCT
University of Arizona
Climate Assessment for the Southwest
Regenerate Hub
Terran Industries