A U program that pairs graduate students in architecture with Navajos that need new homes, DesignBuildBLUFF is doing much more than providing an educational experience. Not only do students design the homes and build them from the ground up in less than a year, they also learn how to adapt to new cultures and really listen to what a client wants. Navajo culture values different things than mainstream America, and students learn how to navigate these preferences. “As architects, designers and planners, we design the world we live in, and I want to be part of that,” said Emily Black, a graduate student in architecture and a DesignBuildBLUFF team member. “I have always thought I want to get involved and make my contribution.”
