AIA International Mentorship Program 2026 - Design by Discovery: Materials Fair(y) Tale
The AIA International Global Mentorship Program invites everyone to join our latest online group session. This event is open to all.
When: Wednesday 11 November 2026 @ 09:00 (Eastern US time) / @ 15:00 (Continental Europe Time)
Where: Online
Speaker
Marco Stellato, Sustainable Design Specialist, MSc LEED AP
Description
Sustainability is often presented as a simple story, but reality is far more complex. This presentation explores the hidden narratives behind construction materials and challenges participants to rethink how sustainability is measured and understood. Combining storytelling with practical insights, it offers a framework for navigating environmental data, evaluating material impacts, and making evidence-based decisions. A journey of discovery that reveals how informed choices can lead to better design outcomes.
Join us to uncover the stories behind the materials we specify every day and discover how a more critical, questioning approach can help shape truly sustainable design.
The theme of the 2026 AIA International Mentorship Program is Design by Discovery.
To design is to experiment. By questioning norms and continuously testing ideas, we unlock new forms, materials, and spatial experiences. This series highlights the power of experimentation—from re-use to radical rethinking—to expand the limits of what architecture and design can be. Participants are invited to share and discover processes that challenge, refine, and ultimately elevate our practice.
The mentorship program includes regular online group events which are open to all, as well as one-to-one mentoring.
If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Bryant at emergingprofessionals@aiainternational.org.
