Bio:

Daje Clarke is a third-year Architectural Science student at Toronto Metropolitan University, pursuing a minor in Sociology. Daje enjoys developing design concepts through research, observation, and an interdisciplinary approach, informed by drawing, 3D visualization, and social sciences. As she continues her education, Daje hopes to develop a practice that balances technical rigor with thoughtful design, creating spaces that are responsive to the physical context and its inhabitants.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

I first learned about architecture in my high school art class. I've become increasingly interested in how the built environment shapes human experience, fosters connection, and creates opportunities for people to gather, reflect, and belong.

 

What do you do?

I am a full-time student studying Architectural Science and Sociology at Toronto Metropolitan University. I also work at a hardware company, where I've gained an appreciation for how even the smallest details contribute to a space's experience.

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What excites you in the work you do?

I am excited by good stories and the possibility of creating my own. More than anything, I love a strong architectural concept. A good concept does more than produce a successful project; it invites you across a threshold into a world of its own.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

I'm inspired by Black professionals across design. An immense amount of perseverance is needed to represent your culture in a historically exclusionary career. My predecessor's willingness to do so in their work gives me the confidence to do the same.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

My proudest accomplishment so far has been completing the Externship Program; it gave me the chance to work alongside architecture professionals, develop a project with support from BAIDA mentors and present my work for critique in an office setting.

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Featured Project Name: 

Triangulated Descent Pavilion

 

Featured Project Location: 

Toronto

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

2026

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Role in Featured Project: 

Program Participant

 

Featured Project Description:

These projects were developed as part of the BAIDA Externship program, organized by the Black Architects and Interior Designers Association with support from faculty at Hampton University. “Zero Shadow" combines layering, tessellation, and pattern to create a pavilion that embodies the designer’s cultural heritage and upbringing. “Triangulated Descent Pavilion” is formally inspired by tensile structures and presents itself as sculptural and fallen-into-place in contrast to its rigid nature.

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Photography Credit:

Daje Clarke