University of Arkansas Fay Jones School's Anindhitha Sudhakaran on Design in Early Childhood Education and Our Planet's Health
Ani’s portrait by Lily Milmon.
By Julia Gamolina
Anindhitha Sudhakaran is an Honors College Fellow at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was born in India and migrated to the USA with her family when she was three years old. Ani and her family have been continuously drawn to the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas region because of the vibrant community it fosters. Ani is in her fifth year of the Bachelor of Architecture program and is pursuing a minor in Sustainability.
JG: Why did you decide to study architecture?
AS: I decided to study architecture because I was interested in design and wanted to explore the ways design can influence the world around us and help people. My interest in design started through my involvement in the high school yearbook, where I designed spreads as the Editor-In-Chief. The act of organizing and crafting these layouts was satisfying to me, and I was curious how this design exercise could apply in different scenarios.
Specifically, I wanted to prioritize sustainability and contributing towards a more resilient future. I knew that the built environment was a major contributor to global warming and thought working in the architectural field would be an opportunity to use design to influence the built environment’s effect on our planet’s health.
Springdale Branch Library, Hybrid Drawing.
What was the favorite project you worked on in school? Favorite paper you wrote? Favorite extracurricular?
My favorite projects that I have worked on in school are the ones that have related to my Honors Capstone Project — exploring how architecture and education overlap. My interest in this overlap began with my involvement in the annual summer Design Camp organized by our school. This evolved into further exploration of how architects can use design thinking to contribute to early childhood education. I began by studying the effects of design activities in early childhood curriculum and looking at historical and modern pedagogies. I am now working on designing an educational toy for children between the ages of three and five based on what I have learned from this research.
“I wanted to prioritize sustainability and contributing towards a more resilient future. I knew that the built environment was a major contributor to global warming and thought working in the architectural field would be an opportunity to use design to influence the built environment’s effect on our planet’s health.”
What are some of the initiatives you’ve focused on in school, and why?
I have been dedicated to the University of Arkansas chapter of Freedom By Design since the summer after my second year, shortly after the chapter was founded. That summer happened to be during the thick of the COVID-19 lockdown, and our student organization was eager to stay active and motivated during the difficult time.
Out of empathy for fellow students and even younger students who were continuing their education separated from their ideal learning environments, we began developing an activity book to simply provide some entertainment but also shine light on diversity in the field of architecture. I’ve stayed committed to the project because it aligns so closely with my personal interests in design. I currently serve as the Public Relations Manager for our chapter and hope to encourage more students to join the project.
When searching for internships and jobs, what are you looking for?
I am interested in design practices that value sustainability and impact on community well-being. My design process is people driven, and I look for the same thing in future employers.
Honors Capstone Project, Early Childhood Educational Toy Prototype
What’s important to you? What do you hope to do in your career?
Making design services available to user groups who don’t always have access to quality design in the spaces they occupy is an important cause to me. Overall, a positive impact for clients and user groups is what motivates me to be a designer. In addition, I want to empower and encourage other designers who share similar values, especially in the demographics that are under-represented in our field. I hope to be involved in initiatives that spread this message and increase awareness.
“I am interested in design practices that value sustainability and impact on community well-being. My design process is people driven, and I look for the same thing in future employers.”
Who do you look up to? Both in terms of women in architecture, and in general.
In the field of architecture and design, I look up to Maya Lin for the poise and sensitivity she demonstrates in her work. She is often tasked with difficult design problems that reflect historically and culturally complex backgrounds. I believe she always offers a beautiful solution that successfully tells these stories.
2019 FJSoA+D Design Camp at the Scott Family Amazeum. Photos by Shawnya Meyers. Courtesy of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, University of Arkansas.
What advice would you give to those in high school now, choosing their field of study?
I would remind students who are choosing their field of study that they are in control of their own future and career path. No matter what major you choose in college or what job you take, the future presents unknown outcomes and endless possibilities. Many professionals and mentors that I look up to went to school for one thing and ended up in a different career path or found a niche aspect of their field they care most about. It gives me a sense of comfort in knowing that it is never too late to find your perfect fit.