WOMEN IN DESIGN: A Discussion with Jennifer Akerman
With February – and hopefully the snow storms – almost over, we’re all eagerly awaiting the arrival of nice weather and the vigor that accompanies it. Spring brings energy and life, and while it may potentially distract us from our work, it also forces us to focus in the time which we do have to buckle down and actually accomplish things. And when it comes to people who have accomplished many things, Professor Jennifer Akerman should come to mind. You might see her talking to students or working in her office. You might talk to her current and former students about their work. You might see things by Akerworks, a business which make imaginative and beautiful objects and instruments. You will probably see more than just what is listed here.
Professor Akerman is a Knoxville native. However, when accepted into the University of Virginia, she chose to study architecture in Thomas Jefferson’s own university. Technology was not as prevalent or accepted as it is today, and the students worked by hand. The school focused on poetics and pragmatics, which formed a solid base for her later work. Upon graduation, she spent two years working for Perry Dean Rogers & Partners, in Boston. As a younger firm, it was diverse and had a balanced ratio of men and women architects. In fact, one of its partners was even a woman.
After two years of experience, Professor Akerman decided to return to school to get her graduate degree. She attended Princeton, which was different from the University of Virginia in that it placed a special emphasis on theory, which both contrasted and complimented what she had learned from UVA’s pragmatic approach. This approach to design has also appeared in her work over the years.
Upon graduation, she spent five years working for Studio Hillier in Princeton, New Jersey. Though the firm itself consisted of over two hundred people, Professor Akerman worked in a small group that focused on design competitions and smaller-scale projects. During this time, she was a project architect, met with clients, and completed her licensure.
In 2007, she and her husband moved back to Tennessee, where she worked for Cockrill Design and Planning, now known as Red Chair Architects, as well as AWAKE Architecture. During this time, she taught one studio a year at UT, and was hired full time in 2010. Since then, she has taught many students in a variety of studios. Though she had been a TA during her time in both undergraduate and graduate programs, she had not originally planned on teaching. However, her time working with students led her to change careers. Professor Akerman finds it rewarding to work with students, as they provide more variety, different approaches, and perhaps even more stamina than clients.
Additionally, the academic world and the world of firms are two different environments in terms of women’s roles. There is a closer ratio of men and women professors in the academic field, as well as a similar ratio in students. In the past, women’s teaching positions did not include studio classes, but that is vastly different now.
When it comes to advice, Professor Akerman speaks from both her own experience as well as the experiences of students she has taught. It is surprisingly easy to feel paralyzed once you select a concept, and to feel like you don’t know what to do next in the design process without losing the power of your concept. It’s okay to experiment, to push boundaries and try new things. Doing this might result in something amazing. Additionally, she recommends taking part of the wonderful things offered in our college. Lectures, workshops, and organizations have a lot to offer, with incredible opportunities for learning. Go get involved.
The journey back to Knoxville has been a long but meaningful one for Professor Akerman. She has many past and present accomplishments, not to mention what she will accomplish in the future. So remember this when you see her around the building, and say hello.
If you want to learn more about Professor Akerman, start here: http://archdesign.utk.edu/faculty-staff/facultystaff/jennifer-akerman/
Or just start a conversation.
She and her husband have a business where they make beautiful, designed instruments and objects. You might have seen some of their work in the faculty exhibit last year. You can find out more here: http://www.akerworks.com/about.html