糖心原创

Ra煤l D铆az is an Architect and Principal at RNT architects and has been a Contributing Faculty member at Newschool of Architecture and Design for over 25 years teaching Design Studios. He is currently teaching second year in the Graduate Program. He鈥檚 also served as a studio critic and visiting instructor for CalPoly San Luis Obispo, Woodbury University, Design Institute of San Diego, and The City College of New York and Pratt Institute. He previously taught at City University of New York.

Over his Architectural career, Ra煤l has led and contributed to notable and award-winning projects throughout the Southern California and New York City:

• The historic reconstruction of the Balboa Park Botanical Building, Pergola, and Grounds
• The County of San Diego鈥檚 Borrego Springs Library
• Sage Creek High School for Carlsbad Unified School District
• The new Humanities Building and Student Services Building at Fullerton College

Currently, Ra煤l is serving as Principal-in-Charge on the new Oak Park Library for the City of San Diego (under construction), The new Palm Desert Library (in Design) and the campus modernization, including 4 new buildings at Gompers Preparatory Academy for San Diego Unified School District, which completed construction this year.

In addition to his roles in practice and academia, Ra煤l also served as a member on the City of Carlsbad Historic Preservation Committee, whose initiatives have helped accomplish Carlsbad Village and Village Barrio Design Guidelines.

Jos茅 Francisco Garc铆a (“Pancho”) is an architectural designer, builder, and educator whose work bridges design, construction, and community engagement across the San Diego鈥揟ijuana region. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at NewSchool of Architecture & Design, where he mentors future architects through design studios that emphasize creativity, craftsmanship, and the transformative power of the built environment.  

A native of Tijuana, Baja California, Garc铆a studied architecture at Southwestern College and earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Woodbury University, receiving the WSD Thesis Award. He is currently pursuing a Master of Construction Management.

In 2012, Garc铆a co-founded Prism谩tica Architects, a bi-national architecture and design practice recognized for innovative work exploring the intersection of design, culture, and craft. The firm has received notable honors, including the AIA San Diego Merit Award for Edie’s Tire Shop (2023) and the AIA San Diego ADU Honor Award for Chula Vista Garage (2019). Prism谩tica’s work has been featured in publications such as ArchDaily, Designboom, Habitat, and C贸digo.

Before founding Prism谩tica, Garc铆a collaborated on projects with Research Facilities Design, Foster + Partners, Dodd & Associates, and Estudio Teddy Cruz. A licensed California contractor since 2021, he integrates design and construction to deliver impactful, community-centered projects. Outside of architecture, he enjoys spending time with his family and  music played by his twins.

NEWSCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN 

Written by Mohamed Bassie Kamara and Noah Ragas 

Photography by Katherine Hayler-Jones 

Talking to Allan Manzano did not feel like a regular interview; it felt like a real conversation with someone who has been through adversity in life and came out wanting to give back. Allan is from southeast San Diego. He is a graphic designer by trade, but he is also a creative person who mentors others and someone who remains humble and never forgets where he came from. 

Growing up in southeast San Diego in the 鈥�80s and 鈥�90s, Allan saw a lot of street life including gang activity and just about everything in between. But he also saw art. And he learned early on how to bring street life and art together. Yet art wasn鈥檛 just something that Allan liked鈥� it was how he came to understand the world around him. His cousin first introduced him to drawing by sketching He-Man and Voltron characters, and from there, Allan never stopped creating.  

Yet, he聽didn鈥檛聽always feel seen in the design聽world.聽As聽a聽person聽of聽color,聽Allan聽felt聽he聽had聽to聽code-switch for years,聽dress a certain聽way聽and聽put on the button-down shirt聽and聽鈥�talk proper,鈥澛爅ust to聽play the part聽and聽fit in. But deep down, he knew that was聽not聽really him. 鈥�I became numb,鈥� he said,聽鈥�and聽I kind of lost my identity.鈥澛犅�

It was聽not聽until聽after聽many聽years聽in聽the聽industry聽and getting聽laid聽off聽that Allan聽dealt聽with burnout聽and聽decided聽to聽start聽using聽his聽voice.聽鈥�It鈥檚聽not聽about聽what聽you聽do,聽it鈥檚聽about what you talk about, what your ideas are. Just remember,聽you鈥檙e聽a designer second.聽You鈥檙e a human first.鈥澛�

Currently, Allan runs his own design company in the same area where he grew up. He also teaches and mentors young artists, and he is helping to build the next generation of designers. For him, design is about more than logos or layouts. It is about representation and about giving kids from neighborhoods like his, a reason to believe that they can make it. Allan does this by empowering them to believe that their creativity matters. He shared that his biggest challenge is no longer his design work, but getting parents in the community to see the value of art and design for the next generation of children. 

鈥�There鈥檚 a lot of talent out here,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut some people still don鈥檛 take it seriously. They鈥檇 rather their kid be a nurse or engineer, not a designer.鈥� This is why stories like this matter. We did not visit Allan鈥檚 studio simply to interview him and then write this article to make our professor sound special. Instead, we did the interview to highlight that mentors like Allan exist, designers who are willing to help students like us learn and mature. We hope there are other designers like Allan out there, ones who have made it through all the noise, stayed true to themselves, and who are willing to help others do the same.

If there is one thing to take away from Allan鈥檚 story, it is this: do not quit on your gift. Even when it feels like no one else understands it. Even when the path gets difficult. Stay the course. And once you figure it out鈥� reach back and help someone else do the same. Design can change lives, and Allan Manzano is helping change ours.

from left to right: NewSchool of Architecture & Design students, Katherine Hayler-Jones and Noah Ragas, faculty, Allan Manzano, student, Mahammed Bassie Kamara

Allan Manzano currently teaches design courses at NewSchool of Architecture & Design.

You can find him on Instagram here:

Mallory Kraus is a versatile UX designer and front-end developer dedicated to crafting intuitive, human-centered digital experiences. By bridging the gap between empathetic design and technical execution, she brings a holistic, end-to-end approach to product development. Mallory has honed her expertise through impactful roles at industry-leading companies like HP and Roku. In these fast-paced environments, she has demonstrated her ability to translate complex user needs into seamless, visually engaging, and highly functional interfaces, consistently advocating for the end-user at every stage of the design and development lifecycle.

Her practical design philosophy is deeply rooted in a strong academic foundation. Mallory earned her degree in Cognitive Science with a specialization in (HCI) from the (UC San Diego).聽This background provided her with a profound understanding of user research methodologies, behavioral science, and interaction design principles, allowing her to build products that align naturally with how people think and behave.

Beyond the screen, Mallory is fueled by continuous curiosity and a passion for making. In her free time, she immerses herself in reading and hands-on creative projects鈥攑ursuits that continually inspire her design thinking and keep her creative problem-solving skills sharp

Fred Besan莽on, RA, RLA, LEED AP BD+C, SITES AP

Education:

• Master of Landscape Architecture with Honors,
• Bachelor of Architecture, (Cal Poly)
  

糖心原创 Fred

Fred is a licensed architect and landscape architect born in Santa Barbara. At NSAD, Fred integrates both sides of his professional background by teaching ways to incorporate innovative site and urban design into architecture. He has taught 2nd-year, 5th-year, and vertical undergraduate design studios; environmental science; introduction to landscape architecture; landscape graphics; landscape construction; landscape design; and served as a thesis advisor. Fred continues to learn, taking college classes and attending workshops on topics including sustainability, stormwater systems, ecology, horticulture, and ethnobotany, while contributing chapters to Routledge academic publications.

Fred worked for over eight years for architecture firms on award-winning and published projects, including custom homes, multi-family housing, government offices, zoo exhibits, and dotcom interior spaces. After working in architecture, Fred earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture at RISD and the at Brown University to prepare for teaching. Fred was awarded a graduate program Award of Excellence and his department鈥檚 travel fellowship. His Berlin Wall Memorial student proposal won the American Society of Landscape Architects鈥� Award of Excellence – its highest student design award. After RISD, Fred won a competition reimagining San Diego鈥檚 Horton Plaza Park. His entry for the Sandy Hook Elementary School Memorial was selected as a semifinalist.

Fred worked at as a senior associate on award-winning projects, including housing, corporate campuses, community spaces, university planning, university landscapes, and botanical gardens. Just before the pandemic, Fred started his own company, where he explores how to design memorable places where people can connect with one another, their community, and the local ecology. Projects include landscape designs for homes, apartments, corporate campuses, public schools, and cultural landscapes across California and Arizona.

Outside of teaching, Fred enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, gardening, astronomy, and exploring the world around him.

Traci Knight is the creative force behind TK Designs, a boutique graphic design studio based in San Diego. Originally from Phoenix, she鈥檚 proudly called San Diego home for the past 16 years and brings more than 24 years of graphic design experience to everything she does. Traci currently partners with Urban Property Group, lending her expertise to guide their Marketing & Design efforts. A longtime champion of SDAF, Traci officially joined the Board in 2023 for a two-year term after many years of hands-on volunteering creating graphics, enhancing guest experiences, and jumping in wherever help was needed. She now serves as Board Vice President, Chair of the Marketing, PR & Outreach, and Property Tours Committee. When she鈥檚 not running her business, Traci stays deeply connected to the local design community and puts her passion for giving back into action by volunteering with two additional non-profit organizations.

Dr. Nelson, (鈥淒oc鈥�), is a retired U.S. Navy officer with experience working with many cultures and approaches to learning and living. They teach two courses at NewSchool: General Psychology (having developed the current curriculum for NewSchool); and, Research & Communications. We have been privileged to have Doc on our Integrated Studies teaching staff since 2018.

When not teaching for NewSchool, they teach the Psychology of Design course online for Maryville University St Louis after developing the course for Maryville in 2022. Beyond teaching, Doc wears many hats including web and graphic designer; master puppeteer; mascot performer; nature therapy guide and laughter therapy practitioner.

Two of Doc鈥檚 passions are learning and laughing and they were combined for doctoral research studying laughter-therapy for people suffering emotional duress. The research demonstrated, scientifically, that laughter is medicine. Doc is also a published author of a book about using laughter to take life less seriously and Doc will tell you the only thing they take seriously is laughter.

Doc鈥檚 philosophy on teaching is that learning is a team sport; no one learns in a vacuum. Teachers and students are team members each learning from, and teaching, the other. The decision to join the faculty at NewSchool was obvious. For Doc, a tour of the campus and introduction to what we do made NewSchool feel like the perfect home for Doc. For NewSchool, Doc鈥檚 passion for how psychology is affected by the design world and design is influenced by human psychology makes it a perfect fit.

Deny Ehrlich is a graphic designer, brand consultant and educator. The principal of Deny Ehrlich Branding, Deny has over 30 years of both international and local experience backed by well-respected academic credentials (a Master鈥檚 in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute, NYC). She has also been an instructor of graphic design and advertising for over 20 years, working at both the Art Institute of Portland and the Art Institute of California鈥揝an Diego, developing curricula and teaching classes ranging from concept development to branding and package design to collateral materials, including UI for mobile and web formats. Deny Ehrlich Branding offers a unique combination of spark and expertise to help uncover the story behind your brand. Deny Ehrlich Branding can identify what works and what doesn鈥檛 鈥� and WHY, ensuring that clients move in the right direction. This is what Deny brings to every classroom and every student鈥檚 understanding. Her wealth of experience has given her an understanding of how to develop focused strategies & practices, moving effectively from concept to actualization. Deny has the ability to excite and motivate others. Her students say that her extensive background as a creative with a real world approach, has greatly helped them to understand and learn the skills necessary for successful integration into today鈥檚 design industry.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Celebration of female talent, achievements, and role in society. And encouragement for young generations to pursue professional and personal dreams beyond boundaries.

What woman inspires you and why?

Marie Curie and Rita Levi Montalcini for the sciences. Miuccia Prada, Patricia Urquiola, Paula Scher, Paola Antonelli, Neri Oxman just to name a few in the world of design. I’m inspired by women driven by passion and with extraordinary creative + innovative thinking.

What highlights and challenges have you faced in your career?

In all my life, I have been very lucky to work with talented and visionary individuals, men and women, driven by the same passion for design. I have been particularly lucky to meet extraordinary men, as mentors, who believed in me and empowered me, and to whom I owe my professional growth. By traveling and working abroad, I have experienced different cultures and ways of thinking, sometimes obstacles, and learned that nurturing and respecting diversity is the most important value (in design and in life).

What鈥檚 something interesting you鈥檙e currently working on? Personal or professional.

As a past member of the Board of DFA (Design Forward Alliance) I’ve been following the preparation of an important proposal that could bring San Diego on the map of the design capitals of the world, and kickstart a series of initiatives to improve the SD-Tijuana Region with human-centered design initiatives.

I’m also excited to be part of the advisory group of the next (and second) edition of SDDW – San Diego Design Week – with prep meetings starting soon.

I’m reviewing papers for an Italian Journal of Design and developing many ideas for new courses and classes at NewSchool!

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female architects, designers, and construction managers?

The risk of discrimination is always present, not only against gender, but also ethnicity, culture, and creativity (change) itself. But I’m optimistic, and I see in the challenges of these times the opportunity of making big changes, for the good. I always recommend my students to focus on their knowledge and skills and on their ability to discern what makes sense for society at large. In the next generation of designers, the “why” we design will lead the “what” and “how.”

What is the most important lesson you鈥檝e learned in your career to date?

To listen, understand and learn. Every day.

Why should women and girls pursue a career in the architecture, design, or construction management industry? Why is it important to encourage women and girls?

Women who are interested, passioned, or talented in design should definitively pursue design and have a very high possibility to succeed and also become leaders in the field. The field of Interior Design is already dominated by women, but also in the field of product, media and graphic design the number of female designers, leaders and entrepreneurs is growing. Do not place boundaries on your talent!

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Listen, learn, apply. And repeat. Be humble and bold.

What has you most excited about the future?

The unknown. And the opportunity of design for a better world.

On International Women鈥檚 Day, what is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?

Be curious, courageous, humble and bold.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s a day to look back at the achievements of all women in all walks of life and to celebrate the future generation of strong young women.

What woman inspires you and why?

My mother is my inspiration. Through adversity, she moved herself from Richmond to Boston. She raised 2 daughters alone, worked full-time and attended part-time classes to make sure we had food on the table, a roof over our heads, and clothes on our back.

What highlights and challenges have you faced in your career?

After leaving Boston, it was difficult to find work here in San Diego, but I once started working at NewSchool I knew I was in the right place for me.

What鈥檚 something interesting you鈥檙e currently working on? Personal or professional.

I am a member of the San Diego Women’s Chorus and am on the Inclusion and Culture Committee.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female architects, designers, and construction managers?

I think women have an opportunity to lift up the next generation of young women in the STEM fields. Mentoring them can help them go further in their careers.

What is the most important lesson you鈥檝e learned in your career to date?

Keep in touch with all of the connections you make throughout your life; including the bad ones.

Why should women and girls pursue a career in the architecture, design, or construction management industry? Why is it important to encourage women and girls?

The STEM fields have for far too long been dominated by men. We need to have divergent voices in these careers.

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Stay in the Coast Guard a little longer. Four years are not enough time to get an idea of what you want to do in your life.

What has you most excited about the future?

Being around to see the human race make a home among the stars.

On International Women鈥檚 Day, what is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?

Don’t be afraid to find mentors and look outside of your career field. Everyone’s journey is unique and valuable.