Think Like an Architect: Student Model Making Workshop
Grades 6 - 8
Academy of Art University - School of Architectural Design
601 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA 94107-1511 United States
This event has sold out! If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please e-mail jzack@aiasf.org.
If you are registered but unable to attend, please let us know.
What does it actually feel like to design form? Come find out.
Join architects Ryan, Robo, and Karen in partnership with AIA San Francisco for a hands on workshop built around the principle: be brave with your ideas. You'll develop real design thinking skills as you explore the dynamics of form and space — and discover how architects turn ideas into the world around us.
No experience needed — just curiosity. Come ready to be brave with your ideas.
This is your time to explore, create, and surprise yourself.
Workshop Leaders
Ryan Hong, a licensed architect in California and New York, boasts extensive experience working on diverse architectural typologies. Possessing a keen interest in creative processes and continuous learning, Ryan is especially proficient in digital fabrication. Ryan is currently a senior job captain at Marmol Radziner and an instructor at the Academy of Art University and has previously worked with Studio Pali Fekete in Los Angeles, Bjarke Ingles Group in New York and WRNS Studio in San Francisco. He holds a Master of Architecture from UCLA.
Robo Gerson’s design philosophy draws on his love for photography, carpentry, vintage cars, and motorcycles. His professional background includes everything from parks, bridges, and municipal projects to single and multi-family residences (including his own in San Francisco’s Ingleside neighborhood). Joining Síol as partner in 2012, he brings to the practice a belief in simple and honest materials and an extensive understanding of how to move a project seamlessly from conception to completion.
Karen Seong is the director of the School of Architecture at the Academy of Art University, where she champions online education as a pathway to diversifying the profession and believes deeply that architects have a responsibility to serve the public. Under her leadership, student work has earned an AIASF Leadership Award and national media recognition — and her commitment to youth engagement extends from the classroom to the community. A former associate at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, she has led award-winning projects across the US, Kuwait, and beyond. Karen is a licensed architect, LEED AP, and NCARB certified, and serves on the AIASF board. She holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University and a BA from UC Berkeley, and is a professional member of the National Organization of Minority Architects.
Youth Design Festival, April 16-19, 2026
AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design will present the Youth Design Festival during Architecture Week 2026.
At AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design, Architecture Week 2026 is more than a celebration — it's a commitment. This year, we're bringing together programs that meet young people wherever they are in their journey, from curious middle schoolers discovering design for the first time to architecture students in their final year of school.
Whether it's a hands-on creative workshop, a career conversation, or a glimpse into what it means to shape the built environment, our programming is designed to spark interest, build skills, and open doors. From first sketch to graduation day, we're here for every step.
Thank you to our 2026 Architecture Week sponsors, the AIA College of Fellows and the Committee on Architecture for Education.
Supported by AIA National, the program serves as a pilot for a twice-annual youth design series aimed at inspiring the next generation of designers and civic leaders.
Support Emerging Designers Programs
With your help, AIASF and the Center will cultivate and support a diverse youth and emerging designer community interested in pursuing careers in architecture, design, and civic leadership.
