Architecture Beyond
I am Brandon Aaron Gibbs, AIA, NOMA—a licensed architect, researcher, educator, media producer, and advocate working across architecture, technology, and public engagement.
My story begins with my parents, who met while attending Howard University. My mother came from Mississippi, and my father came from the U.S. Virgin Islands. They raised me in Memphis, Tennessee, where I developed an early love for music, creativity, architecture, and design.
As a youth member of several orchestras including the Memphis Youth Symphony, I traveled nationally and internationally and experienced cities, cultures, and remarkable spaces beyond my hometown. Those experiences showed me how buildings and public places can express identity, history, and possibility. They helped inspire my decision to pursue architecture.
I studied architecture at Pratt Institute as a recipient of the Pratt Institute Presidential Scholarship. I later earned my Master of Architecture from the Architectural Association Design Research Laboratory in London. Over more than 15 years, I have contributed to sports and entertainment venues, healthcare facilities, churches, community spaces, commercial developments, and residential projects across Tennessee, New York, the American South, and beyond.
My work has expanded into research, education, entrepreneurship, and media. Through MotionFORM, I explore design, sustainability, computational methods, and emerging technology. I also founded Iamthestudio to help architects and designers strengthen their creative and technical skills.
Selected accomplishments include:
- LICENSED ARCHITECT IN TENNESSEE
- CO-CHAIR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NOMA NASHVILLE
- PRATT INSTITUTE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
- BISHOP G. E. PATTERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
- AUDIENCE AWARD RECIPIENT, QUICKFLICK LONDON
- WORK FEATURED BY PRATT INSTITUTE AND AIGA MOBILE
- PANEL SPEAKER WITH MUSIC CITY NSBE
- SPEAKER AT PODCAMP NASHVILLE AND BARCAMP NASHVILLE
- SHORTLISTED AS A PROSPECTIVE TEDX MOBILE SPEAKER
- ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING THROUGH THE NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER AND NASHVILLE BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTER
Through Architecture Beyond, I bring together professional experience, independent research, and storytelling to make architecture more accessible and relevant. As “The Architect in Your Corner,” I explore how design affects our communities, industries, opportunities, and everyday lives.
Architecture Beyond
A Practical Guide to Style for Architects | AB Ep. 31
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From Homes to Civic Designs— How to Communicate Style with Clarity and Confidence
Episode Overview:
In this episode of Architecture Beyond, we unpack what style really means in architectural practice. Too often treated as a superficial label or academic category, style in the real world is a tool—one that can align clients, consultants, and contractors when used well, or derail a project when misunderstood.
🎧 Hosted by Brandon Gibbs, this episode explores:
- How to define and use style across residential, hospitality, and civic architecture
- Practical strategies for talking about style with clients, teams, and contractors
- A field guide to the most commonly referenced styles (Modern, Colonial Revival, Mediterranean, Industrial Chic, and more)
- Why architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, and Tadao Ando created timeless works without being boxed in by stylistic labels
- How to leverage AI tools to explore and visualize architectural style
🧰 Resources Mentioned:
- Style vocabulary checklists for project teams
- Books: What Style Is It?, The Architecture of Happiness, Modern Architecture Since 1900
- Visual boards: Pinterest, Morpholio, ArchDaily, Dezeen
- AI Tools for Architects course — details below 👇
🎓 Learn More:
🚀 Want to explore architectural styles visually with powerful AI prompts?
Start our new course:
👉 AI for Architects – Enroll Now at Iamthestudio
This course walks you through using tools like MidJourney and DALL·E to develop style boards, test ideas, and align your vision across teams.
Watch Episode @ Iamthestudio.com
https://www.iamthestudio.com/architecturalstyle/
Architecture Beyond is where architects, designers, and creative thinkers share the stories shaping life and impact beyond the studio. Since launching, we’ve released dozens of inspiring episodes and grown into a global community of listeners who care about architecture’s role in the world.
We’d love to hear from you—what topics inspire you most, or who you’d like to see as a guest. If you’re interested in sharing your own story on the show, visit Iamthestudio.com and click ArchBeyond in the menu. Join the conversation and help us continue building a platform that elevates architects everywhere.
Sponsored by iamthestudio architecture software courses (site here).
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