We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jordan Howard. Check out our conversation below.
Jordan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time when I am working on creative projects, especially when it comes to photography. Viewing the world through a creative lens, and searching for the perfect shot, helps me to stay present in the moment and aware of my surroundings in a much more enhanced way. I notice all of the little details around me when I have my camera out, creating a sensory overload experience where I am immersed and finding the beauty in it all. I find that when I am photographing, I lean into what brings me joy and take time to appreciate what is beautiful to me. Lately, I have been doing more film photography as a hobby, and the freedom to curate each shoot brings me immense fulfillment as I build an archive of cherished memories to look back on.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I graduated in the spring of 2025 from Columbia University GSAPP with my Master of Architecture. Following graduation and some quality time with family, I began full-time as a facade consultant working on a range of project types and scales at all different points in the design and construction phases. I am early in my career and soaking up all of the knowledge from my talented colleagues. Specializing early on with facades has exposed me to a wide variety of projects, which has helped me to fast-track my understanding of both the design process and the material reality of the architectural field. I have especially loved product research and factory visits, which have given me insight into the material fabric of the industry.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that transformed how I see the world was my move to New York City. Over three years ago, I made the move from California after being back home for a few months after graduating from the University of Virginia. My time on the East Coast, particularly New York, has evolved the way I view the world by inspiring everything from my daily routine to my early career decision to focus on facades. The scale of New York is unmatched, and every small task invites you to walk around the city and engage with people from all different backgrounds. While overstimulating at times, I find that there is inspiration everywhere around me, especially architecturally and creatively. I am always surprised here, and those moments are exciting, thought-provoking, and sometimes uncomfortable. Constantly being challenged by what the city throws at me has made me more adaptable and open minded. Now I see the world as a constellation of unique creations with stories behind them, and that has made me want to learn, grow, and stay curious. Every building, small business, and even outfit has its story and, most importantly, people behind the making of those stories. I am in awe of how beautifully creative our world is, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be making my mark as well.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could speak to my younger self, I would love to tell her that she will be rewarded for consistency. Even when life doesn’t seem fair, patience and integrity will pay off. How you handle yourself when no one is looking deeply matters. Doing the right thing, while oftentimes harder, is worth the growing pains and the potential failures. If you never give up and you consistently try your best, one day you will look back and see how far you have come, as I am doing now. I am so proud of my younger self for her determination, values, and hard work even when it was not by any means easy. Even though others don’t see the process and the hard work it takes, that effort is worth it and is the critical work required to become stronger and more resilient.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I believe that the power of design is in the ability to imagine a better future for our world. Design has a tangible reality that materializes our imagination. With this belief, I hope to work daily towards building a better future, one design decision at a time. Each building that I touch and am a part of, I aspire for it to become a safe space for its future users and environmentally responsive to its surrounding ecosystem. With every small decision, compounding impacts grow over time and can lead to immense change in our surroundings. For example, the type of insulation that architects specify for a building envelope has lasting impacts on the environmental sustainability of the project. Our material consequences matter, and my hope is that collectively we can come together and combine our individual knowledge in order to cooperatively design a future we are excited to live and thrive in. The profession of architecture heavily relies on the expertise of other trades in order to bring a vision to life. I am in an interdisciplinary practice that listens to and values the perspectives of others, which requires patience, respect, and cooperation. The best work happens when we work together, no matter how long and challenging that road may be.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Since I am early in my career, I am developing a method of thinking and working that will likely not pay off until much later. This began in school, where we were taught mostly how to approach our studio projects with an interdisciplinary mindset that relies on research, teamwork, and iterative experimentation. These principles still apply heavily to my professional work, where I am beginning to learn from different disciplines through the process of consulting. Mediating many different skillsets and listening to others’ perspectives is critical for my long term career growth and understanding of the profession. Once I am managing my own projects, this foundation of learning from different disciplines will play a key role in my ability to be a successful leader in my field. I am in the mode of information retention that will gradually build up to a level of expertise that relies on my past experience, network of resources, and colleagues. Consistently being present and asking questions early on in my career is work that I am engaged in today as the foundation for my profession long term.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordan.r.h
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanrhoward
Image Credits
Architectural drawings were created in collaboration with Bryce Emerson at Columbia GSAPP for the Advanced Master of Architecture Studio entitled “Civic-Sacred” with Professor Karla Rothstein.
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