SPOTLIGHT – Noir Design Parti

May 30, 2021
by: Tiara Hughes, NOMA

images credit: Noir Design Parti

This month NOMA recognizes the Noir Design Parti for this incredible documentation efforts for African American Architects. Often times, the stories and contributions of blacks to the built environment are lost or misrepresented. The work of groups like Noir Design Parti is greatly appreciated for furthering the NOMA mission because they are committed to documenting the careers and creative works of Detroit’s African American architects. They have also conducted architecture tours through downtown and Midtown Detroit, presented at National Organization of Minority Architects annual conference and local events, American Institute of Architecture and Detroit Month of Design events, and exhibited during the Detroit Month of Design sponsored by Design Core in 2018. They are also a 2016 Knight Arts Challenge Winner! We couldn’t be prouder to honor them as this month’s NOMA Spotlight!

TH: How does it feel to be selected as a featured NOMA Spotlight?

SL: This is so personal for us; we’re African American women who dreamed of becoming Architects as little girls. It’s an honor to chronicle the career journeys of our friends and colleagues, and we want Detroit and the world to know the very significant contributions our peers and predecessors have made to the design and life of this city.