The American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter presented the 2017 AIA Honolulu Design Award: ‘Honorable Mention, Institutional’ to the project: ‘Design Islands, Interactive Traveling Exhibit System’.

Originally designed for the inaugural 2017 Building Voices event held the Hawaii State Capitol, ‘Design Islands’ is a traveling exhibit system inspired by the stick charts utilized by early Marshal Island navigators to traverse the waters of Polynesia.

‘Design Islands’ was built by students, and was imagined as a spatial component of the identity of the School of Architecture. It is a tiny project, hoping to make a big impact. It is more than just a framework to display artwork. It is an interactive, graphic, spatial construct, an urban installation, and a space-making device. Most importantly it is meant to bring people together to celebrate architecture and design in Hawaii.

Design Islands Installation

Design Islands Building Voices

Design Islands Welcomes the Hōkūleʻa

Design Islands Design Process

Design Islands Team Members