AIA Middle East

From today’s lecture to our architecture students at , lecture titled: Designing a Career Through Discovery by .

Lecture discussed Designer careers. In an increasingly global and uncertain profession, waiting for the “right path” is no longer a strategy. Instead, designers must design their careers the way they design buildings, through iteration, experimentation, and discovery.

Rather than pursuing predefined milestones, participants will explore how strategic experimentation—joining professional committees, relocating internationally, contributing to policy, teaching, and initiating new platforms—can expand influence, accelerate growth, and uncover unexpected opportunities.

This lecture invites emerging professionals to treat uncertainty as a laboratory and to prototype their professional identities with intention.

Drawing from experience practicing across the United States and the Middle East, serving in leadership roles within the American Institute of Designers and NCARB, and engaging in global sustainability and licensure initiatives, this session reframes career development as a design process.

Speaker: Li Ren, AIA

Li Ren is an internationally licensed architect, designer and educator whose career spans the United States and the Middle East. His work explores how designers can intentionally design their professional paths through experimentation, global mobility, and institutional engagement.

Beyond designer practice, Li has served in leadership roles within the American Institute of Designers and contributed to global practice and licensure initiatives. His experience ranges from large-scale built projects to professional policy development and cross- border collaboration.

Through teaching, writing, and mentorship, Li encourages emerging professionals to approach their careers as iterative design process testing ideas, expanding contexts, and
redefining what designer practice can become in a global era

A reminder for anyone considering participating in the AIA Middle East 2026

Design Competition:

Nature | Eco-Resort Concept in Al-Shafa, Ta’if, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (developed in collaboration with Alfeir).

Competition package release
The full competition package will be issued to registered participants on:

Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM (GMT+3)

Registration will NOT close
Registration will remain open for the duration of the competition, and teams may join at any time during the competition period.

That said, the sooner you register, the more time you’ll have to work with the materials and any clarifications.

Open international competition
This is an open international competition — participation is not limited to AIA members or to the Middle East.

Students, professionals, and practices from anywhere in the world are welcome (per the published rules).

Looking forward to seeing bold, thoughtful proposals.

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