Key Takeaways from the 2025 AIA Conference on Architecture
Every June, the AIA Conference on Architecture offers a pulse check on where the profession is—and where it’s going. This year in Boston, amidst record attendance and spirited discourse, one message rang loud and clear: Architects are ready to lead, not just projects, but people, systems, and futures.
Here are the key takeaways from AIA 2025, curated for forward-thinking designers, firm leaders, and change-makers in the built environment.
1. Leadership Is Evolving—And So Are We
From Evelyn Lee’s opening address to sessions on mentorship and firm culture, the refrain was unmistakable: architecture needs more human-centered leadership. We have heard calls to rethink how we work, how we lead, and how we show up for one another. “Thriving” isn’t just about design excellence—it’s about resilience, equity, and deep connection to our communities.
Architects are stepping into broader roles as facilitators, mentors, collaborators, and storytellers. And as Evelyn reminded us, “We don’t need to have all the answers—but we do need to ask bigger questions.”
2. Storytelling Is Strategy
A standout session from Dani Lee (of Architecture is a Story) drew a packed house. Her message? The work doesn’t speak for itself—and never has. In fact, the more technical or complex your message, the more essential it is to lead with emotion, metaphor, and narrative tension.
From breaking down embodied carbon through video stories about the Portland Building to translating the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari using pasta metaphors (yes, really), Dani showed how architects can—and must—use storytelling to make ideas stick. Because no matter how rigorous the research or radical the proposal, “you are the final human element.”
3. Equity Is Not Optional
The Equity in Architecture Forum was a powerful reckoning. Panelists explored the intersection of racial justice, health outcomes, and environmental inequity, using raw data and real-life stories—from redlined neighborhoods to post-pandemic design policy.
What resonated most? Equity isn’t a sidebar. It’s foundational to sustainability, resilience, and relevance. Programs like SmithGroup’s J.E.D.I. scholarship internship, HKS’s leap from a 70 to 100 score on the Corporate Equality Index, and NOMA Boston’s data-driven advocacy show that measurable progress is possible when it’s intentional, integrated, and resourced.
4. Infrastructure Is Design, Too
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg made one thing clear: “Infrastructure is not neutral.” In a powerful session on the future of American mobility, Buttigieg emphasized that every bridge, bus line, and bike lane reflects a design decision—and a set of values.
He challenged architects to embrace transportation as a civic design issue, not just a technical one. Whether it’s equity in transit access, resilience in the face of climate change, or dignity in public spaces, design professionals have a critical role in shaping the infrastructure of a more just and sustainable America.
His closing message? Don’t wait for permission. “We need designers at the table—early, often, and unapologetically.”
5. Fictional Futures Shape Real-World Design
Another significant moment occurred when architecture intersected with gaming. Dani Lee’s work consulting for an AAA video game world based in solarpunk aesthetics reminded us that speculative futures have cultural currency and political potential.
While cyberpunk dominates mainstream visual culture (think Blade Runner and Altered Carbon), solarpunk remains a niche movement. Why? It lacks a strong architectural identity. The takeaway? Architects must take an active role in shaping the visuals, narratives, and typologies of alternative, optimistic futures. Fiction can be a testing ground for systemic change.
6. Burnout Is Real—and So Is the Need for Rest
Many speakers acknowledged the cost of advocacy work. It’s inspiring to hear about equity programs and national campaigns, but just as critical to name what it takes to sustain that work. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor; it’s a barrier to collective progress.
We heard from young leaders stepping back to reconnect with their purpose, from veterans reminding us that progress is generational, and from community coalitions (such as Out in Architecture and BIPOC firm-owner networks) emphasizing the power of doing this together.
What This Means for Your Firm
Suppose you left AIA 2025 energized, overwhelmed, or somewhere in between—good. That means you’re listening.
Now’s the time to ask:
Is your firm telling its story—or waiting for others to interpret it?
Are you investing in equity beyond the HR manual?
Are you leading with purpose, or defaulting to precedent?
Design doesn't speak for itself. It never has. However, with the right communication strategy, it can initiate conversations, shift culture, and influence minds.
At The Raygency, we help architecture and design firms tell their stories to reach new audiences. If you’re ready to elevate your story—on the stage, on the page, or in the press—we’re here.