Over the last few days, I’ve been reflecting on last week’s Design Forum held at Virginia Tech. Not only did I come away inspired and reenergized, I also have a renewed sense of optimism for our profession. The program underscored the impact that architects and designers can have on society, not only through the places we design, but through how we think, lead, and engage with the communities we serve.
The theme of Design Forum XVII was “Against the Grain.” Each speaker offered a distinctly different approach to this theme – from the creative and innovative use of local building materials, to reimagining centuries-old building materials through advancing technologies, to mitigating threats to fragile ecosystems through both building and landscape design. Together, these examples reinforced that meaningful design often begins with a willingness to challenge convention.
The event also reminded me that good design is not just about aesthetics. It is equally about the underlying values that fuel the work we do for our clients and communities. In that sense, good design is not only visible in the built product; it is embedded in the systems and processes that shape the work from the very beginning.
This reflection also brought me back to something I shared last November at Architecture Exchange East: that optimism is a key characteristic of effective leadership. As Melinda Gates has said, “Optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better, it’s a conviction that we can make things better.” That idea felt especially relevant after the Forum. The future of architecture will be shaped by practitioners who are willing to think differently, act boldly, and be agents of the positive change our profession can create.
Sincerely,
Bill Hopkins, AIA
AIA Virginia President
Read 2026 Design Committee Chair, Jesse Gemmer’s reflections and view the DFXVII gallery>>