{"id":28128,"date":"2021-02-22T16:56:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T21:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/?p=28128"},"modified":"2021-09-30T08:46:51","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T12:46:51","slug":"design-identities-edwin-harris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/blog\/2021\/02\/22\/design-identities-edwin-harris\/","title":{"rendered":"Design Identities: Edwin Harris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">Co-founder of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.evokestudio.com\/edwin-harris\">EVOKE Studio Architecture<\/a>, Edwin Harris believes that remarkable architecture enhances the lives of its occupants. For over a decade, he has consistently generated exciting designs that are decisive, focused, and rooted in clear objectives and novel concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was initially drawn to car design and shoe design &#8211; I didn\u2019t even know that industrial design was a thing,\u201d said Edwin Harris, co-founder and design principal at EVOKE Studio and professor of the practice at the College of Design. \u201cThen my grandfather suggested I become an architect \u2013 at that point, I couldn\u2019t name one architect. I had never met one, I didn\u2019t know anything but that architects design buildings. All I knew is that you get to create things, you get to draw, and so from that point on, I pushed towards architecture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Edwin\u2019s grandfather was a pivotal figure in his career trajectory towards becoming the architect he is today. After introducing the idea of architecture as a career path, his grandfather continued to help him achieve his dreams. Edwin applied to the College of Design three times \u2013 two unsuccessfully, before finally being accepted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy grandfather called up <a href=\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/blog\/2019\/07\/09\/acclaimed-architect-phil-freelon-dies\/\">Phil Freelon<\/a> and told him that my grandson wants to become an architect,\u201d Edwin remembers. \u201cSo, Phil Freelon met with me on a Friday in his office and he said \u2018we\u2019re going to get you into the school of design.\u2019\u201d He maintained a positive relationship with Phil, even working at the Freelon Group for nine years before founding EVOKE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Design Identities | Edwin Harris\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vF260heB7rY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While at The Freelon Group and Perkins+Will, his visioning for projects like Emancipation Park garnered him recognition as an emerging designer for the global firm. Emancipation Park embodies much of what would be the founding principles for EVOKE.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Former slave Reverend Jack Yates led community members of Antioch Baptist and Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas to purchase land for Juneteenth celebrations in 1872. Under racial segregation, the park was the only one in the city for Black people to use. The park underwent $33 million in renovations in 2017, led by Perkins and Will with Phil Freelon heading the design team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe believe that great design has the capacity to improve the lives of people. So, we\u2019re really ambitious about design and its capabilities \u2013 every project that we take on, from the smallest to the largest \u2013 how can we create spaces and designs that are going to improve the lives of anyone who experiences them,\u201d says Edwin.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He feels that his own personal ambition is driven by the desire to build upon the sacrifices of the previous generation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs a black person in America, our ancestors fought so hard for freedoms and made sacrifices for freedoms that they never achieved and they did it for us,\u201d he adds. \u201cI\u2019m trying to strive for greatness, not just for myself but for the people who come before me. I want to be able to tell them, \u2018look, [your sacrifice] wasn\u2019t all for nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-highlight with-image\"><h2 class=\"highlight__label\">Related<\/h2><a href=\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/news\/design-identities\/\" class=\"highlight__link\" data-ua-cat=\"Highlight Block\" data-ua-action=\"Story Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/news\/design-identities\/\"><div class=\"highlight__image-container\"><div class=\"highlight__image-background\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1921\" height=\"1081\" class=\"highlight__image wp-image-28104\" alt=\"Design Identities Alumni Lineup\" src=\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Instagram-16x9-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Instagram-16x9-1.jpg 1921w, https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Instagram-16x9-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Instagram-16x9-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Instagram-16x9-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Instagram-16x9-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"highlight__text-container\"><h3 class=\"highlight__heading\">Celebrate Black Design from NC State<\/h3><p class=\"highlight__teaser\">Design\u00a0Identities\u00a0celebrated five Black\u00a0Design\u00a0alumni in 2021 who have been influencers\u00a0in their\u00a0fields. Students from each department conducted one on one interviews with an alumnus in their field to learn about their successes as designers and to encourage the next generation of students, especially BIPOC students, with an introduction to and an interest in\u00a0design.\u00a0<br><\/p><p class=\"highlight__cta\">Learn their <span class=\"nowrap\">stories\u00a0<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"> <svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\"\/><\/svg> <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/aside>\n\n","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-post-header \/-->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"className\":\"is-style-lead\"} -->\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">Co-founder of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.evokestudio.com\/edwin-harris\">EVOKE Studio Architecture<\/a>, Edwin Harris believes that remarkable architecture enhances the lives of its occupants. For over a decade, he has consistently generated exciting designs that are decisive, focused, and rooted in clear objectives and novel concepts.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI was initially drawn to car design and shoe design - I didn\u2019t even know that industrial design was a thing,\u201d said Edwin Harris, co-founder and design principal at EVOKE Studio and professor of the practice at the College of Design. \u201cThen my grandfather suggested I become an architect \u2013 at that point, I couldn\u2019t name one architect. I had never met one, I didn\u2019t know anything but that architects design buildings. All I knew is that you get to create things, you get to draw, and so from that point on, I pushed towards architecture.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Edwin\u2019s grandfather was a pivotal figure in his career trajectory towards becoming the architect he is today. After introducing the idea of architecture as a career path, his grandfather continued to help him achieve his dreams. Edwin applied to the College of Design three times \u2013 two unsuccessfully, before finally being accepted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cMy grandfather called up <a href=\"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/blog\/2019\/07\/09\/acclaimed-architect-phil-freelon-dies\/\">Phil Freelon<\/a> and told him that my grandson wants to become an architect,\u201d Edwin remembers. \u201cSo, Phil Freelon met with me on a Friday in his office and he said \u2018we\u2019re going to get you into the school of design.\u2019\u201d He maintained a positive relationship with Phil, even working at the Freelon Group for nine years before founding EVOKE.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vF260heB7rY\",\"type\":\"video\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"youtube\",\"responsive\":true,\"className\":\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/vF260heB7rY\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:embed -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>While at The Freelon Group and Perkins+Will, his visioning for projects like Emancipation Park garnered him recognition as an emerging designer for the global firm. Emancipation Park embodies much of what would be the founding principles for EVOKE.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Former slave Reverend Jack Yates led community members of Antioch Baptist and Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas to purchase land for Juneteenth celebrations in 1872. Under racial segregation, the park was the only one in the city for Black people to use. The park underwent $33 million in renovations in 2017, led by Perkins and Will with Phil Freelon heading the design team.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cWe believe that great design has the capacity to improve the lives of people. So, we\u2019re really ambitious about design and its capabilities \u2013 every project that we take on, from the smallest to the largest \u2013 how can we create spaces and designs that are going to improve the lives of anyone who experiences them,\u201d says Edwin.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>He feels that his own personal ambition is driven by the desire to build upon the sacrifices of the previous generation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cAs a black person in America, our ancestors fought so hard for freedoms and made sacrifices for freedoms that they never achieved and they did it for us,\u201d he adds. \u201cI\u2019m trying to strive for greatness, not just for myself but for the people who come before me. I want to be able to tell them, \u2018look, [your sacrifice] wasn\u2019t all for nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:block {\"ref\":28105} \/-->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Co-founder of EVOKE Studio Architecture, Edwin Harris believes that remarkable architecture enhances the lives of its occupants.<br \/>\nFor over a decade, he has consistently generated exciting designs that are decisive, focused, and rooted in clear objectives and novel concepts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":25720,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"showAuthor\":false,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":true,\"caption\":\"\",\"featuredVideoURL\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vF260heB7rY\",\"displayCategoryID\":56}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,49,387],"tags":[51,439],"class_list":["post-28128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni-experience","category-newswire","category-student-experience","tag-architecture","tag-designlife-magazine-2021"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":56,"name":"Alumni Experience","slug":"alumni-experience","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":56,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":208,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28128"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28137,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28128\/revisions\/28137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}