Pankaj Nath Joy

I believe that the most important part of architecture isn't the building itself—it’s the life that happens in the spaces between.

I spent a decade in Dhaka, and that city became much more than just a home—it became the laboratory for my curiosity. The urban challenges there were so complex and vital that they became the heartbeat of my academic work; both my undergraduate and graduate theses were dedicated to dissecting Dhaka’s urban issues, trying to understand how resilient systems emerge from chaos.

Now, practicing in the U.S., I carry that lens with me. I don’t just look at a site; I look for the system. Even when I walk down a quiet street here, I’m constantly analyzing it—looking for the pulse, asking "why" before "how," and thinking about how design can revitalize the spaces that feel disconnected.

Currently, I’m applying this mindset in the Education Studio at Design Collaborative. I love this work because schools are like micro-cities; they are where community starts.

My process is a balance of the old and the new. I still think best with a pencil in my hand; there is an emotional connection to sketching that helps me feel the weight of a design. But I am also endlessly curious, exploring how tools like AI can help us understand complex systems without losing our intuition.

Beyond the studio, I try to pass on what I’ve learned. Whether it’s volunteering with Junior Achievement or mentoring students in Fort Wayne schools, I want to help the next generation see that they have the power to design their own future.

When I’m not obsessing over a site plan, you’ll find me painting, gaming, or experimenting in the kitchen—because whether it’s a building or a meal, I just love making things that connect people.