A sketch plan is better than no plan

Ask me anything!

Public life is synonymous with public discourse. The emerging campaign strategy is to enable an open dialogue with the electorate using my new favourite phrase - ask me anything. An overall summary of the questions asked so far is how should the RIBA support and add value to our lives and the profession?

I say, there is a shift from what architecture is (a building), to what architecture does (process in creating delightful communities). In this shift, architects need to step up and be at their best. It’s the role of the RIBA to showcase the best in the profession. This is a good message for the campaign, and is a challenge for the profession at large to engage in governance, developing internal and external partnerships to create longer tables instead of taller fences that broaden our value proposition in the marketplace. 

the architects' role in social engineering, design management, and aesthetic design should all be championed and recognised, now and in the future.

The plurality of the architects' role in social engineering, design management, and aesthetic design should all be championed and recognised, now and in the future. The RIBA should be focused on fostering an ethical profession that is sustainable for all those that work within it, to fulfill its duties of championing ‘the general advancement of Civil Architecture’. I’m eagerly anticipating sitting at the table with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) to re-imagine and future-proof the profession. To define the outcomes in their ‘flexible and innovative’ approach to learning and training that will add value to our lives. I will start by asking them everything that’s on my mind.

A Balance diet

Searching for equilibrium among my current diet of work, life, and campaign activities has been my number one priority. I am operating on an edict that a sketch plan is better than no plan at all. The plan for this period was to set out my headline-grabbing policy deliverables and spread them online and in-person at the various extracurricular events I attend. 

The policy points focus on addressing the state of inertia within our profession. Low wages and fees, the mental health crisis in education and work and our contribution to the destruction of our planet. If elected, I will implement these three key policies:

- I will make the RIBA more equitable and mandate overtime pay for RIBA chartered practices.

- I will establish institutional democracy by introducing quarterly RIBA town halls where members are engaged in key decisions, to move toward direct democracy.

- I will execute on the Climate Emergency by introducing cradle-to-cradle accreditation and rewards. Introducing a Director of Climate at the RIBA.

We cannot transform our profession overnight, but there are some very easy wins that won’t cost the earth - we just need to be smart about how we address these challenges we face. 

Extracurricular events 

In my willingness to maximise in-person engagement with individual RIBA Members, I started searching for archi-related events to put on the calendar. This was followed by further clarity received on the election rules by the RIBA, I got invited to the Architecture Club Centenary Party by my new friend Neil Pinder (FRIBA). It was not in the original ‘sketch’ plan, but Neil - the founder of Homegrown+ a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving diversity within architecture is a good plug. He is the brainchild of NY-LON, an exchange programme with Pratt Institute School of Architecture that recently got young people from the UK (from non-traditional backgrounds) to take part in workshops and see some iconic buildings, on a free trip to New York! At the architecture club, there was an appetite from guests to encourage the next-gen voices to shape the discourse for the profession, and get more stuck into governance.

Sir Nick Grimshaw and daughter Chloe Grimshaw - curator, writer and editor launched the Grimshaw Foundation in partnership with Grimshaw Architects leadership. Invited by former colleague - Angela Dapper, who’s been instrumental in the development of Diversity Network at Grimshaw Architects, was a great opportunity to speak with a few senior leaders and convince them that aspirational views and speaking from lived experience is the way forward.

the best kind of role model, makes space for the next generation.

I joined my Peer 20 network for a dinner to connect, laugh, debate and inspire each other with fresh ideas on how to have a positive impact on society through our respective roles in the built environment. Organised and co-hosted by Lorna J Walker and Laura Le Boutillier, we heard from Krista Sharp, CEO of MYTIME Young Carers, and Mike Barry, director, Mikebarryeco Limited. The key takeaway from the conversations was that we all have agency and a story to tell. And the best kind of role model, makes space for the next generation.

I got to mix with a variety of crowds, connect, share ideas and expand my sphere of influence. We should not underestimate the power of the people we know, and in the digital-focused environment we live in, these connections multiply. This is something that will be important in the next phase of the process. I’m slowly realising that this campaign period will be the end of only the beginning phase of the process to speak up for the future architect and I’m thrilled for what the future will bring.

Takeaway #1- Dont underestimate the power of your network.

Takeaway #2 - A sketch plan is better than no plan at all.

Takeaway #3 - You can ask Muyiwa Oki - RIBA Candidate 2022 anything.

Vote 🗳 Muyiwa Oki for RIBA President. See the poster for How to vote

Voting closes on Tuesday 26 July 2022.  RIBA members if you haven’t voted yet, please do so using the link sent to you by the RIBA election service provider Civica. 

#VoteforMuyiwaOki #SpeakUpfortheFuture #ifyoudontknow #nowyouknow