2024-05-27T11:03:53-04:00 https://archinect.com/features/article/150201711/discovering-a-black-aesthetic-in-architecture-an-investigation-by-woodbury-grad-demar-matthews Sean Joyner 2020-06-09T13:29:00-04:00 >2020-06-15T20:46:32-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/e8/e8cb74771810e7e5e35414f9867d9874.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p><a href="https://archinect.com/demar.matthews" target="_blank">Demar Matthews</a> is a recent M.Arch graduate of <a href="https://archinect.com/woodbury" target="_blank">Woodbury University</a>. We first met Demar with the publication of his article&nbsp;<em><a href="https://archinect.com/features/article/150132758/a-black-architecture-education-experience" target="_blank">A Black Architecture Education Experience</a>,</em> a piece that propelled the young designer into a rigorous investigation of <a href="https://offtopdesign.com/The-Black-Aesthetic" target="_blank">Black architectural aesthetics</a> in America. Due to COVID-19, Demar was forced to rework his approach to his project and decided to curate all of his research on a website, <a href="https://offtopdesign.com/" target="_blank">offtopdesign.com</a>, which is a work in progress. Demar's academic exploration of Black aesthetics is something he says he's only just begun.&nbsp;</p> <p>He says this thesis is a first step to what he hopes will be a much longer and deeper path. I connected with Demar, to talk a bit more about his project and thoughts for his future.&nbsp;<br><br></p> <p><strong><a href="https://archinect.com/features/tag/1582910/2020-thesis" target="_blank">Archinect's Spotlight on 2020 Thesis Projects</a></strong>: <em>2020 has been an extraordinarily challenging year for architecture graduates. Students were displaced as schools shut down, academic communities had to adapt to a new virtual format, end-of-year celebrations were can...</em></p>