Design Minded

Design Minded is an event series created by Design Austin in partnership with The Contemporary Austin. Showcasing the talented work of architects, designers, and artists in Austin and beyond, we hope you’ll join us for inspiring film screenings and thought-provoking talks and meet other design-minded creatives.

April 16, 2025
Design Minded: Design for All Panel Discussion
6:00-8:30pm
The Contemporary Austin – Jones Center
700 Congress Avenue, Austin TX 78701

The second event in the Design Minded series brings together a panel of designers, architects, and urban planners to explore the concept of Design For All and how inclusivity, accessibility, and belonging are embedded in their practices. Moderated by Gerardo Gandy, AIA, Brand Experience Practice Leader at Gensler and project lead on Design Austin’s ATX Voices project, confirmed panelists are:

• Kate Canales, Professor of Practice and founding leader of the School of Design and Creative Technologies (SDCT) at The University of Texas at Austin
• Natale Stephens, AIA, Certified Healthcare Architect, Principal, and Regional Healthcare Director at Page
• Aaron Taylor, AIA, Associate, McKinney York Architects

Moderator and Panelists

MODERATOR: Gerardo Gandy

MODERATOR: Gerardo Gandy

Brand Experience Practice Area Leader, Austin at GENSLER

Gerardo’s work shapes the built environment and fosters meaningful connections. With a background in architecture, interior design, and experience strategy, Gerardo creates seamless user experiences, dynamic spaces, and meaningful brand engagements. Gerardo is a member of the steering committee for Gensler’s Community Impact Program, and the founding Chairman of the ACE Mentor Program of Austin. He also serves on the Business Advisory Council for the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders and has played key roles within AIA Austin, including as Outreach Commissioner and Chair of the Exhibitions and Experiences Committee. Gerardo’s accolades include AIA Austin’s Associate Member of the Year, the Austin Under 40 Award in Architecture, Construction, and Engineering, and BD+C’s National 40 Under 40 in Architecture.

Kate Canales

Kate Canales

Professor of Practice, founding leader of the School of Design and Creative Technologies (SDCT), The University of Texas at Austin

Kate Canales is a Professor of Practice and a founding leader of the School of Design and Creative Technologies (SDCT) at The University of Texas at Austin, where she served for six years as the inaugural Department of Design Chair. Kate’s work explores the ways in which creativity and design can transform the way we work in any sector. She teaches design ethnography, generative prototyping, and leads project studios, drawing from her early work as a product designer and creative director - first at IDEO and later at frog. Kate is also co-founder of TWOxTWO studio and The Summer Studio, which help organizations grow their creative capacity through design and innovation. Recent clients include Southwest Airlines, RŌKA and KUT.

Raasin McIntosh

Raasin McIntosh

Founder, Raasin in the Sun; Vice President of Urban Activation at the Downtown Austin Alliance

Raasin McIntosh is a visionary leader, creative force, and Track and Field Olympian dedicated to transforming communities through the arts. As the Founder of Raasin in the Sun and Vice President of Urban Activation at the Downtown Austin Alliance, she specializes in cultural and creative placemaking, public art initiatives, as well as cross-disciplinary collaborations. She holds a BA in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MA in International Communications from Texas Southern University. She completed a two-year program with Mural Arts institute Philadelphia. Driven by a humanitarian mission, Raasin strengthens the city's cultural identity while fostering economic opportunities for artists and creatives.

Natale Stephens

Natale Stephens

Certified Healthcare Architect, Principal, and Regional Healthcare Director at Page

Natale Stephens is a Certified Healthcare Architect, Principal, and Regional Healthcare Director at Page. She specializes in medical planning, including critical and ambulatory care, pediatric, and mental health facilities. Natale engages in research, mentorship, as well as authoring articles and white papers on the impact of the environment on behavior, health, and well-being. She has a passion for universal design and engages in a balanced approach between industry best practices and innovative design that pushes the need for evolution in building technology, care delivery, and facility operations.

Aaron Taylor

Aaron Taylor

Associate, McKinney York Architects

Aaron’s 25 years of experience includes a range of new construction and renovation work on laboratories, museums, higher education, mixed-use developments, low-income multifamily housing, and shelters for the homeless and those experiencing domestic violence. His recent work has focused on projects for the Texas School for the Deaf - where issues of inclusivity and accessibility are at the foundation of creating spaces that embody a renewed sense of belonging for the deaf community. He is an active participant in the building process from feasibility studies through design and construction administration. Aaron co-chairs McKinney York’s design committee and is adept at walking the tightrope of practicality and good design.

PREVIOUS EVENTS

MARCH 5, 2025 | Design Minded: PlayTime | 6:00-9:00pm Staged on the Moody Rooftop at The Contemporary Austin, we hosted a film screening of PlayTime (1967) by Jacques Tati. The film is a gloriously choreographed, nearly wordless comedy about confusion in an age of high technology and the alienation of modern architecture. 

As Design Talks