Module 1 | BACK TO FUTURE: Storytelling Through AI-Powered Design Process

Misa is a landscape architect, urban designer, and graphic illustrator who is the creative mind behind STUDIO EDITION. With over 20 years of experience transforming public spaces at varied scales, Misa’s design philosophy is rooted in the vision of enriching public life in cities through site-responsive and high-quality outdoor spaces that intricately bring together culture, arts, and nature. From facilitating visioning workshops to spearheading design phases, Misa excels in diverse project typologies, including mixed-use development, multi-family housing, and educational institutions. Misa also serves as an adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson University and a frequent design critic at respected local universities.

Ricardo J. Rodríguez de Santiago, an architect-turned-innovation strategist, boasts 17+ years of leadership in digital innovation. His global footprint spans projects exceeding 2 million sqft at renowned firms like Gensler and BASF. Honored as Emerging Architect of the Year and Top-50 Adoption Leader, he has served as an AIA Councilor and Global Head of Marketing & Digital Excellence at Master Builders Solutions. Teaching introductory AI for designers at the University of Pennsylvania, Ricardo founded Bytes & Mortar to accelerate business digital transformation. Passionate about generative art, he amplifies influence from Puerto Rico to international stages like Paris' BuiltWorlds Summit.

Joshua Vermillion is a designer, scholar, maker, and educator. As a design technologist he uses machines to augment his creative activities. As an associate professor in the School of Architecture at UNLV, Joshua has co-edited two books and has spoken, published, and presented peer-reviewed creative research worldwide. His creative and pedagogical interests include: artificial intelligence and machine learning; computational, parametric and algorithmic design; digital fabrication tools and techniques; and robotics. As an award-winning educator, Joshua’s students have won design awards and competitions, and as a designer, his collaborative work has been featured in diverse media outlets.

Patricia Matamoros began her career in architecture and after a few years working in the field, made the decision to return to graduate school and study landscape architecture. She started this degree in Caracas, Venezuela and finished it in Miami while interning at SMDS. Upon graduation she accepted a full-time position at the studio and has since engaged in a number of public and private projects as a project manager and design associate.

Patricia is particularly passionate about recovering unused or misused public spaces for community enjoyment, as well as increasing the resilience of coastal cities against sea-level rise.