Pratt Institute's Aashna Bajaj on Pushing Through, Giving Back, and Designing for the Human Experience

Aashna Bajaj is a fifth-year student at the Pratt Institute School of Architecture, and the Student Advisor to the Dean. Born and brought up in India, Aashna moved to New York as a teenager. Her experience has inspired thought and interests towards exploring architecture through the visions of culture and psychology, believing that when designing a new space, we should all ask ourselves - how does this offer dignity to its user? Does that space fulfill psychological needs in addition to the physiological ones?

JG: Why did you decide to study architecture?

AB: My father, a builder based in Kolkata, India, told me something one evening that resonates with me to this day: “It makes me happy to see I helped build someone’s home, a place where core memories will be created, a place where each milestone in life celebrated.”

Growing up, I saw my home being built from the foundation up and looking back today, I appreciate the thought my father and his team put into it. Back then, I didn’t know architecture as a field was so wide and full of opportunities; I looked at it simply as designing a home where one could spread joy and create core memories just like I did in mine with family and friends. Because of this, architecture to me has always been about emotion. Inspired to be a part of every client’s journey and to be able to leave an impact, I took a step towards this industry.

Canopy Shelter, a community emergency flood shelter in Far Rockaway.

What was the favorite project you worked on in school? Favorite paper you wrote? Favorite extracurricular?

In third year, we had to design a live/work housing complex — a residence for artists in Bedford Stuyvesant. This was also during the pandemic, a time when the line between where we live and where we work was getting blurred. For some, the pandemic highlighted the importance of addressing mental health and pushing for a personal routine.

Working with my studio partner Jibraan Zobairi and under the guidance of professor Eva Perez De Vega, our project titled “Commuter Community,” highlighted the commute we take from home to our workplace and the importance it holds. For example, when starting our day, some of us want the sound of the neighborhood while some prefer the quiet, but most of us probably want our morning tea or coffee.

I appreciate this semester and this project the most because it inculcated a drive in me to push architecture with psychology and understand human emotions and experience, taking me back to the reason why I was drawn to the field.

“When we talk about work, I look at how the firm structure is and this is something the firm’s portfolio can help illustrate. A place that has a clear hierarchy where the principal or lead designers produce the work would have a portfolio of projects with a similar design language, while a wider portfolio can tell me that multiple designers are working on the project. I do believe that creativity can spark from any corner.”

— Aashna Bajaj

What are some of the initiatives you’ve focused on in school, and why?

My involvement at Pratt has been very diverse — from social service to being a varsity athlete, a work/ study assistant, and now the student advisor to the Dean. Each role allowed me to contribute in a different light.

I started my first job at Pratt as the Alternative Break Chair for our Community Engagement Board. My time was spent curating volunteer opportunities for the Pratt Community. As a part of the Pratt Equestrian Club, we would have Friday night practices and shows on Sunday. Riding in the snow, waking up at 5 am, and returning late at 7 pm, showed the passion and commitment everyone on the team has, including the coaches. It taught me what discipline and teamwork truly mean — here’s a huge shoutout to my Equestrian family!

Right now, I’m involved in the Student Council at Pratt SoA as the Student Advisor to the Dean. I’d like to appreciate the legacy of Dean Harriet Harriss and thank her for creating an opportunity for students to be able to voice our future. With my co-advisor Ekam Singh Sahni, we are working on creating a mentorship platform for students, creating a student union at Pratt, and suggesting a redesign of how the critique system works at architecture schools, amongst other things.

I have learned so much from everything I’ve been involved with at Pratt and am grateful for the opportunities available. I would wish the same for all students — if you push, you will receive and then be able to give.

When searching for internships and jobs, what are you looking for?

The first thing I look for is a workplace that has a diverse workforce with representation by women and minorities. I look for how employees are treated both in terms of wellness and compensation, and their employee retention rates. Being an international South Asian woman, I hold this to high importance.

When we talk about work, I look at how the firm structure is and this is something the firm’s portfolio can help illustrate. A place that has a clear hierarchy where the principal or lead designers produce the work would have a portfolio of projects with a similar design language, while a wider portfolio can tell me that multiple designers are working on the project. I do believe that creativity can spark from any corner.

Third, I would look at the type of projects the firm addresses and if human experience, health, and wellness are considerations in the design.

What’s important to you? What inspires you?

I believe that it’s important to see women represented in our world and workforce. Growing up, I heard stories about how my grandmother and the women that came before her would stay at home. Often, it is believed that it’s her duty or her choice but I believe that even today most women don’t get that option. It’s important for me to create a legacy so the future generations after us don’t have to fight hard to have a voice. I’m thankful that a platform like Madame Architect exists and allows women to learn, connect, and share our voices. When I look at design, the cultural backgrounds that exist in our world inspire me. I believe that there is so much to learn from our world and important to represent culture in design.

“I would also encourage everyone to develop multiple interests...the combination of them all helped me have a cumulative outlet and an inspiration source.”

— Aashna Bajaj

What do you hope to do in your career?

My hope is to explore multiple sectors the field of design has to offer — in art, architecture, music and sculpture. In architecture, I hope to create spaces that address the human experience and wellness. I would love to research the historical traditions present in each culture and how space is used to carry them. In today’s world, people move constantly from one corner of the world to another. It would be a joy to document how these lasting traditions can be molded into the new environment and lifestyle.

I also wonder if we can use neuroscience to study the mind and how it reacts to a space. Sensory Designer and Neuroscientist Ari Peralta talks about how color theory can be used to mold the perception of a space. The book Blink by Malcolm Gladwell talks about the human subconscious and decision-making; I am curious about the possibilities offered by human psychology toward space design.

Who do you look up to? Both in terms of women in architecture, and in general.

I appreciate a lot of people in my life and am inspired by those who voice what they believe in and work towards it and their legacy. I look forward to hearing everyone’s story — where they come from, what inspired them, and what they believe in — just like this opportunity you are giving me Julia, to voice my story.

Thank you Aashna.

I am inspired by multiple strong women. The first is my mother, a woman who has constantly inspired me to push for what I believe in. I look up to her for her work ethic, her creativity, her communication skills, and finally, her ability to truly connect with people amazes me every day.

I appreciate Mariana Cabugueira Custódio dos Santos for her approachability and for her transparency. Her knowledge and effort to teach the world about parametric design inspire me. Our past Dean, Dean Harriet Harriss holds a special spot for me. Amongst other efforts, she is a woman who has created opportunities for the youth, giving us a voice in this industry and the future of academics. I am inspired by her legacy. Sarah Sham is an inspiration for the employee culture she maintains at Essajees Atelier and the boundaries she has pushed in the field of interior design. I am amazed by Pascale Sablan’s legacy, from being a student at Pratt to the 315th Black woman architect to obtain licensure here in the States. She is an inspiration and a voice for all diverse communities and the built environment.

There are more that inspire me, but these are some women whose stories and legacies I appreciate every day. Some I’ve met, some I’ve never met, but all I look up to, and hope to meet one day. All of them are accomplished and talented professionals in their fields and I appreciate their resilience, hard work, consideration, and the work that they do.

Terra, a brick tessellation for terrapins, humans and plants.

Terra, and the human and terrapin interaction chunk.

Finally, what advice would you give to those in high school now, choosing their field of study?

I would tell them to talk to as many people they meet in life and connect with them — to try and learn what inspires the person you’re talking to and what their values are and where their interests lie. I would also encourage everyone to develop multiple interests. I was fortunate to be in a high school that stressed co-curriculars. By the time I graduated, I had played about seven to eight sports and taken up mime, violin, music, pottery, and football, to name a few.

While they aren’t skills that helped me directly in choosing my field of study, the combination of them all helped me have a cumulative outlet and an inspiration source. For example, pottery helped me identify my interests and channel them later towards another creative field. I hope this all helps someone out there.

Thank you Aashna — I assure you that it does.