The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is celebrating the 60th anniversary of student excellence in leadership, service, and design. In honor of our 60th year, the AIAS is excited to share 60th: Legacy, an ongoing weekly celebration of and thanks to our alumni sponsored by Professional Publications, Inc (PPI). PPI is a publisher of professional licensing exam materials since 1975 and wants to recognize those who have helped the AIAS achieve 60 years of success.
Name
Ryan Vincent Manning, MArch, Sci-Arc
Organization
Heron-Mazy; Quirkdee; Miawcat
Title
Director, Partner
Connect
Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Website
Bio
Ryan Manning is a designer/owner of quirkd33 a design collaborative in landscapes, film, and architecture. He has worked with Heron-Mazy since 2008 and accompanied honors/publications in Storefront Art and Architecture, Dallas Film Festival, IDEXXCanada, Blankspace, and many others. Recently working with local artists and filmmakers, Ryan has experienced the multi-facets of the architecture and film industries including Project Manager, Production Designer, Installation Designer, and Director. He has been a critic/lecturer at SCI-Arc, University of Texas at Arlington, TU Berlin, TU Innsbruck, USC, IOUD, ETH, University of Texas, and is currently teaching/practicing in Texas.
How did your experience with AIAS help you to achieve your goals?
AIAS gave a space where students could compete with other students in a competitive environment. Being in the professional world, the opportunities sometimes can be overshadowed by large firms.
What and/or who shaped you into who you are and what you do today?
I had an interesting road. Original I went into biology out of high school. Biology wasn’t what I thought and ended with a literature bug. Lost in books and 3D CAD classes I landed in architecture school. As a senior level in other subjects and an incoming student in architecture, I hated it until my second year. My teacher that semester became my mentor, and later a dear friend that I work with till today. 11 years and still rolling.
How can someone best change the world?
This is never a question. If you would like to change the world, then one needs to understand that. One can only look to the past and the contemporary. By doing this a person can examine what others have and make observations that others have not. Some of those observations will be big and some of them will be small, yet they all add to the field we call architecture. Love, enjoy, and strive to be the best that you can.
How can someone be a better designer?
As a friend told me once, read a book, then read the books referenced in that book. That applies the same for designers. If someone comes with something you don’t know, understand it, do it, and weld/fight against it. Software, Theory, Narrative, etc. Always keep learning. You are never the best.
What is one tip you would give yourself in your 20s?
Focus. There is plenty of time for fun. And better places for it to be had. Read a lot, always.
How have you overcome unforeseen challenges through your career?
Simple as a bull charging through. Never stop. Academia is not going to make you an architect. You have to find that for yourself–they can only tell you where others have traveled.
How do you define work-life balance and how is it achievable?
Ha. Pick another profession. If you are not thinking about this all the time, then you are in this for a job. Try again.
What is a decision or action you made in school that influenced your trajectory?
Study abroad doesn’t mean Europe or the Far East. Study outside your bubble, because in this field knowledge and progression is made by who you know and the bubbles you’ve been in. It hasn’t changed since its invention.
If you, or another AIAS alumni you know, deserves recognition for their contribution to the profession and society at large, please use the link below to nominate them for this honor.
