Hello!
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I'm Laney Vela, a licensed architect in New York, currently living in Jersey City. I'm proud to be Native American and a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I hold a 5-year NAAB-accredited B.Arch from the University of Oklahoma and an MFA in Industrial Design from Parsons School of Design. My work is fueled by a deep curiosity about the intersection of architecture and product design, and I'm constantly exploring the blurred boundaries between these disciplines, always asking when a product becomes architecture and vice versa.
My design philosophy is rooted in creating environments and objects that are immersive and impactful, focusing on holistic, all-encompassing experiences. I believe that thoughtful design has the power to inspire change, foster connections, and leave a lasting impact on both personal and societal levels.
Beyond architecture, I’m passionate about the art of brewing, both coffee and beer. As the former president of NYC’s largest homebrew club, I’ve refined my skills and deepened my appreciation for the craft. My life is a blend of creative pursuits, from design work to adventurous hikes and cycling, all driven by a love for exploration and the satisfaction of creating something meaningful.
Mastercard Fashion Hack, 1st Place
Teams of three students each were selected through a competitive submission process at Parsons and competed for $15,000 in prize money and an opportunity to showcase their creations at leading MasterCard industry events. The day-long Fashion and Design Hack took place at The New School’s University Center, and students from the fashion, industrial design, product design, data visualization, and design and technology programs participated.
Following an initial meeting to discuss research and initial concepts, the teams had just seven hours on the day of the challenge to create their prototypes before presenting it to a panel of esteemed judges, including:
Adam Selman, Fashion Designer
Barnett Zitron, Managing Director, MADE, a WME I IMG company
Burak Cakmak, Dean, School of Fashion, Parsons
Sherri Haymond, Senior Vice President, Digital Payments & Labs, MasterCard
C5 Competition, 1st Place
An annual University of Oklahoma, College of Architecture Senior class competition, where teams of architects, interior designers, and construction science students respond to an RFP. The RFP is sent out by a sponsoring architectural firm/contractor and the teams have two weeks to compile a design, renderings, a construction cost opinion, and prepare an interview to present the work.
