If you are a young professional or student, get ready for some serious motivation. Shawn and I had a heartfelt discussion about failing in university; dealing with obstacles in London, and learning about his journey to working with Bjarke Ingels on a major national project. We uncovered the secret to building your brand from scratch and raising your profile in a difficult profession. Shawn has used his architectural background to start a business in social consultation within the built industry. The POoR Collective is still in its infancy but is already making major moves.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Architecture from the Royal College of Art in 2020, his most recent work ‘Plinths and Tapestry’ has featured in the Financial Times, The Guardian and was the winner of the 2020 Architects’ Journal Postgraduate Student Prize. Previously, a New Architecture Writer, Shawn is an advocate for diversity and inclusion within the architecture industry and is a RIBAJ Rising Star. He is also the co-founder of POoR collective, a social enterprise that focuses on the development of communities through the elevation of young people.