Diverse designers exhibition features current architecture students, alumni

Bringing more awareness to design diversity across Nebraska, the College of Architecture is hosting the “Say It Loud,” a traveling exhibition featuring diverse designers — including two current University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and 24 alumni.

The exhibition will be on campus Oct. 11-16 near the Willa Cather Dining Complex.

RDG Planning & Design, Pascale Sablan, Beyond the Built Environment and McCarthy Building Companies partnered to bring the “Say It Loud” traveling exhibition to Nebraska. The collaboration transformed a 20-foot shipping container into a “Diverse Designers Library” exhibit that showcases the work, quotes and video interviews of 45 Nebraska-based designers.

“We are excited to bring the ‘Say It Loud’ exhibition to UNL’s campus and support the Beyond the Built Environment mission to ‘engage community through architecture to advocate equitable, reflectively diverse environments,’” said David Karle, director of the architecture program. “We are proud that several alums and students of UNL’s College of Architecture have projects in the exhibit, and we hope the exhibition brings awareness, fosters dialogue and supports the diverse designers who shape our built environment.”

The goal of the ‘Say It Loud” initiative is to raise up minority groups of professionals who work in the built environment. Architects, contractors, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and planners who identify as a woman and/or a Black, Indigenous, person of color from across Nebraska have submitted work for the traveling exhibit.

“RDG’s collaboration with Pascale and Beyond the Built Environment is helping elevate the work of historically underrepresented individuals in our industry,” said Benjamin Kroll, RDG partner and architect. “We all have the power to positively impact the world around us, and we hope that by highlighting women and BIPOC designers, the next generation of design professionals will be empowered to go out and make their own unique mark. Encouraging more diversity only serves to positively influence the future of our collective experience and surroundings. Through its celebration of diverse designers, ‘SaySAY IT LOUD is showing people what’s possible, and helping enact transformational change within our industry and beyond.”

Visitors can use QR codes to interact with the exhibit and learn more about featured designers, as well as vote for their favorite designer to win a People’s Choice award. A virtual online resource library allows visitors to expand their knowledge about design diversity and serves as a gateway of information for those interested in the design profession.

The “Say It Loud — Nebraska” traveling exhibit is open to the public and will be on display at multiple locations in Omaha and Lincoln in October and spring 2023.

[Learn more about the exhibition](visit https://go.unl.edu/0vus).

The UNL campus exhibit will be hosted by College of Architecture student leadership representatives and alumni with the following dates and times of availability:

Tuesday, October, 11 8-10 am, 12 pm-4 pm

Wednesday, October 12, 8 am-12 pm

Thursday, October 13, CLOSED TODAY due to high winds.

Friday, October 14, 8 am-12 pm, 2 pm-4 pm

Saturday, October 15, 8 am-4 pm

Sunday, October 16, 12 pm-4 pm

Current students featured in the exhibition are:

Olena Yarmolyuk and Morgan Davis.​

Alumni featured in the exhibition are:

Jennifer Ankerson;
Audrey Buckley;
Brad Brooks;
Ashley Byars;
Olivia Epstein;
Stacy Feit;
Stephanie Jo Guy;
Diane Honeyman;
Sheila J. Ireland;
Meganne Lamprecht;
Megan Lutz;
Alexa Metcalf;
Phuong Nguyen;
Davielle Phillips;
Katie Ramsbottom;
Heather Robbins;
Morgan Ronspies;
Chandler Sanders;
Hannah Schafers;
Vanessa Schutte;
Jean Vacha;
Golden Joseph Zenon;
Xin Zhao; and
Jennifer Zimmer.