The Department of Architecture & Interior Design at Samford University is pleased to host Kate Mraw, Director of K–12 and Principal at LPA Design Studios, the recipient of the 2025 AIA Firm of the Year Award. Mraw will present a lecture titled “Designing Better Questions: A Framework for Research in Practice.”

This lecture explores how cultivating a research‑driven mindset can strengthen design thinking, transforming evidence into insight and insight into more thoughtful, human‑centered design outcomes. Drawing from professional practice, Mraw will discuss the role of research in shaping meaningful, responsive design solutions.