Michael Ford is the recipient of the 2026 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the organization announced on Friday.
Ford, widely known as “The Hip Hop Architect,” has earned this distinction through his “visionary work in merging hip hop culture with architecture to inspire underrepresented youth and create pathways into the design profession.”
“This recognition means a lot to me. Whitney Young called architects to confront injustice and design with purpose. That mission has shaped my entire journey, using hip hop as a bridge into architecture, amplifying unheard voices, and opening doors so young people can see themselves in this profession,” Ford said in a Facebook post announcing the award. “I have spent more than a decade carrying that work through camps, lectures, projects, museums, and partnerships across the country. To be acknowledged in Whitney Young’s name is deeply humbling.”
Ford is the founder of BrandNu Design Studio, a full-service architecture and design firm that has offices in Madison, Dallas, and New York.
The Whitney M. Young Jr. Award is given to an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses pressing social issues like inclusiveness and equity.
“Civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr. challenged architects to assume their professional responsibility to address pressing social issues,” AIA said on its website describing the award. “Named in his honor, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access.”
