Environmental Design at Otis College of Art and Design

03/03/2026

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Anupama Kundoo: 2026 Donghia Designer-In-Residence

We are thrilled to welcome Anupama Kundoo as the 2026 Donghia Designer-In-Residence at Otis College of Art and Design, presented by the Department of Environmental Design.

Anupama Kundoo graduated from the University of Mumbai in 1989 and received her PhD degree from T.U. Berlin in 2008. Her research-oriented practice has generated people-centric architecture grounded in spatial and material research, with low environmental impact and socio-economic benefits. She is the recipient of the RIBA Charles Jencks Award, the 2021 Auguste Perret Prize, and the 2022 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture under UNESCO patronage. Kundoo has taught Architecture and Urban Management at Yale and Columbia and is currently a Professor of Architecture at T.U. Berlin.

anupamakundoo.com

This lecture and reception, and the associated Donghia Master Class (March 24-29, 2026), are made possible through a generous donation from the Angelo Donghia Foundation. The Angelo Donghia Foundation, a privately held not-for-profit organization created under the will of the late Angelo Donghia, provides support for two distinct fields: the advancement of education in the field of interior design and initiatives pertaining to the discovery of causes of AIDS and its related diseases, and their methods of treatment.

Monday, March 30, 2026
Lecture with Q+A: 7:00-8:45 p.m.
Catered Reception: 8:45-10:00 p.m.
Location: The Forum, Otis College of Art and Design
9045 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045

Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/donghia-designer-in-residence-lecture-reception-tickets-1983897599124?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

02/13/2026

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Anupama Kundoo: 2026 Donghia Designer-In-Residence

We are thrilled to welcome Anupama Kundoo as the 2026 Donghia Designer-In-Residence at Otis College of Art and Design, presented by the Department of Environmental Design.

Anupama Kundoo graduated from the University of Mumbai in 1989 and received her PhD degree from T.U. Berlin in 2008. Her research-oriented practice has generated people-centric architecture grounded in spatial and material research, with low environmental impact and socio-economic benefits. She is the recipient of the RIBA Charles Jencks Award, the 2021 Auguste Perret Prize, and the 2022 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture under UNESCO patronage. Kundoo has taught Architecture and Urban Management at Yale and Columbia and is currently a Professor of Architecture at T.U. Berlin.

This lecture and reception, and the associated Donghia Master Class (March 24-29,
2026), is made possible through a generous donation from the Angelo Donghia Foundation. The Angelo Donghia Foundation, a privately held not-for-profit organization created under the will of the late Angelo Donghia, provides support for two distinct fields: the advancement of education in the field of interior design and initiatives pertaining to the discovery of causes of AIDS and its related diseases, and their methods of treatment.

Monday, March 30, 2026
Lecture with Q+A: 7:00-8:45 p.m.
Catered Reception: 8:45-10:00 p.m.
Location: The Forum, Otis College of Art and Design
9045 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045

Stay tuned for more information about this upcoming event!

09/26/2025

A short introductory project with no function or purpose other than enticing people to walk in and engage some form of non-mechanical vertical circulation system. This Warm-Up assignment is here to reinforce the notion that your building must play other roles in addition to housing its functions. This assignment gives you the chance to design an immersive experience for the world to explore. Think about what motivates you to move from point A to point B and figure out how to articulate it architecturally. If you have more than one idea, think about lining them up as a sequence of experiences (like chapters of a book) and try to identify what ties them together as a cohesive story. If you find joy in it, others may; if you don't, they won't.

From the syllabus for Studio 5 – Architecture
Instructor: Matias Creimer - Students: Sade Desir, Soley Dias, Jianna Farquharson, Crys Gonzalez, Aries Harvey, Vic Hsu, Wally Kelly, Alexander Teteriatnikov, Tony Yakovlev

08/22/2025

Congratulations to Environmental Design student Wally Kelly for winning second place and a $2,000 prize in the 2025 IESLA Lesley Wheel Luminaire Design Competition!

Wally’s lamp, titled "Neverending Light," is crafted from repurposed yarn, wood, and steel wire, and features a ceramic-fired base.

"This lamp is made as tribute to one of my favorite childhood movies that has always stuck with me 'The Neverending Story.' The design is inspired by the film's intense imagery, dreamscapes, creatures, and textures. The long, fuzzy, hand-knit shade is based on Falkor, the Luck Dragon, while the hand-shaped, glazed, and fired ceramic base represents the rolling hills he travels over. With multi-colored lighting outputs that emphasize purples, blues, and yellows, the lamp pays homage to the color palette throughout the movie. My intention was to break away from linear thinking and create a piece that my younger self would find enjoyable."

08/22/2025

Congratulations to Environmental Design student Vic Hsu for winning a 2025 Angelo Donghia Foundation Senior Scholarship Award!

Vic’s project focuses on the adaptive reuse of an underutilized building in Downtown Los Angeles. She has received $30,000 from the Angelo Donghia Foundation to support her final year of study at Otis College of Art and Design.

We would also like to extend special thanks to studio instructor Luciana Varkulja and mentor Hideyo Kameda for their guidance and support on Vic's award-winning project.

05/07/2025

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Environmental Design at Otis College of Art and Design
Annual Exhibition, May 9 and 10, 2025

The graduating seniors will present their work, encompassing four main areas: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, and Furniture Design.

Friday, May 9
Industry Preview and Open Studios
3:00–5:30 p.m. | Campuswide
Exclusive preview for employers, alumni, and industry leaders to explore the innovative work of our graduating students.

Employer-Student Reception
5:30–7:00 p.m. | Bobrow Thomas Green
An opportunity for employers and students to connect and network, featuring opening remarks by Otis president, Charles Hirschhorn, provost Colette Veasey-Cullors, food and beverages, and music.

Saturday, May 10
Departmental Celebrations
3:00–5:30 p.m. | Campuswide
Friends and families are invited to celebrate their graduates at special receptions hosted by each of Otis College’s academic departments.

Community Exhibition and Festivities
5:00–11:00 p.m. | Campuswide
Celebrate creativity and community at the O-Launch Community Exhibition. Students, families, and friends of Otis College can explore graduating student work showcasing the College’s BFA and MFA programs while enjoying a live DJ, food trucks, and our annual ceramics and book sales. Open to the public.

Alumni Reception
5:00–7:00 p.m. | Owl Lounge
Otis alumni are invited to reconnect with peers, enjoy refreshments, and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2025 at our second annual Alumni Reception. All Otis alumni, including Otis Korea alumni, are welcome. This is an invite-only event.

Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045

05/02/2025

Join us for O-Launch, a dynamic weekend of in-person and virtual events May 9 & 10, 2025, showcasing the future of art and design through the work of Otis College’s talented graduating students.

Friday, May 9
Industry Preview and Open Studios
3:00–5:30 p.m. | Campuswide
Exclusive preview for employers, alumni, and industry leaders to explore the innovative work of our graduating students.

Employer-Student Reception
5:30–7:00 p.m. | Bobrow Thomas Green
An opportunity for employers and students to connect and network, featuring opening remarks by Otis’s president, Charles Hirschhorn, provost Colette Veasey-Cullors, food and beverages, and music.

Saturday, May 10
Departmental Celebrations
3:00–5:30 p.m. | Campuswide
Friends and families are invited to celebrate their graduates at special receptions hosted by each of Otis College’s academic departments.

Community Exhibition and Festivities
5:00–11:00 p.m. | Campuswide
Celebrate creativity and community at the O-Launch Community Exhibition. Students, families, and friends of Otis College can explore graduating student work showcasing the College’s BFA and MFA programs while enjoying a live DJ, food trucks, and our annual ceramics and book sales. Open to the public.

Alumni Reception
5:00–7:00 p.m. | Owl Lounge
Otis alumni are invited to reconnect with peers, enjoy refreshments, and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2025 at our second annual Alumni Reception. All Otis alumni, including Otis Korea alumni, are welcome. This is an invite only event.

Learn more at otis.edu/olaunch

04/11/2025

Our 2025 Donghia Designer-in-Residence with Xu Tiantian ended with an amazing reception and lecture at the Forum on Thursday, March 27. Students, faculty, and professionals mixed and mingled before Xu's lecture, highlighting her exceptional knowledge and outstanding portfolio of projects. We can't begin to express our gratitude to the Angelo Donghia Foundation for making this possible! Stay tuned for next year's residency!

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

We still glow from Xu Tiantian's residency as our 2025 Angelo Donghia Designer-in-Residency last month!

From March 22-27, Xu worked closely with our Environmental Design students to explore new architectural and environmental practices while offering her expertise and insight. On March 26, our students presented their projects before a jury of educators, professionals, and, of course, Xu.

We are so grateful to receive generous funding from the Angelo Donghia Foundation for making this wonderful and enriching residency possible for our students and program.