kenneth ford
partner
Kenneth Ford has over ten years experience as an award-winning designer. Kenneth approaches architecture from the point of view that space is a constantly shifting experience anchored through sets of situationally specific events and problems. Always looking for ‘opportunities in the difficulties’, for him the most important part of any project is the questions the project can ask.
Kenneth received his Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-arc) in 2003 and his BA in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University in 1996. At Texas A&M he took part in the first US-European internet-based virtual design studio. While attending SCI-arc, he studied in Barcelona, Spain at the ESARQ of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya focusing on a specialization in digital fabrication techniques in architecture using parametric modeling and CNC milling. At SCI-Arc, his education included studios with Stephanie Smith (who recently released her line of Eco-shack products) on the positioning of architectural design strategy for business development, and with Perry Kulper on the use of surrealist tactics and approaches in architecture. At SCI-arc, teaching as a critical component of practice is encouraged and initial teaching assistanships in MACROSCOPE: composite representation in motion and sound, and Architecture and Culture paved the way for his integration of teaching into design practice. His work at SCI-arc culminated into a thesis on the latent design potentials existing in construction documents and building practices.
Originally getting his professional start in small firms in Dallas, TX, Kenneth has amassed experience in a variety of project types ranging from smaller scale detail-oriented residences and commercial interiors to large scale corporate headquarters (Sprint HQ, Toronto) and transportation projects (Dallas Area Rapid Transit). His design skills are multi-faceted in nature and shift to address a range of problems relating to, but outside of architecture such as graphic and spatial identity, custom, hand-built furniture pieces, and digital fabrication technologies. He has collaborated with such architects as Thom Mayne of Morphosis, Hodgetts + Fung, and the Hillier Group. In collaboration with Thom Mayne and UCLA, his work on the book LA Now 3 helped earn the publication the 2005 Progressive Architecture Award. His work has been exhibited at the Pacific Design Center’s Cacophony exhibit in Los Angeles and Gallery H2O in Barcelona, Spain.
