Named by BusinessWeek as one of the world’s most influential designers, Ma founded his practice MADA s.p.a.m back in 1996. While his firm is known for its formal innovations, when it comes to pedagogy, Ma cares more about what works than what stands out. And, at USC, that translates to a focus on helping students move from academia to the professional world seamlessly—something that you won’t find at every architecture school. For this iteration of our ongoing series Dean's List, Archinect spoke with Ma at his office on the sunny, Southern Californian campus to hear more about how he has guided the school since he became dean back in 2007.
How would you describe the pedagogical stance of the USC School of Architecture?
The program is deeply rooted in the profession. In other words, architecture is conceived of as endeavor to build physical space and place. At the same time, we are considered with the social impact of building and also advancements of technology. Those are the kind of the agenda of the program.
What kind of students do you think would flourish at USC and why?
Students who are deeply concerned with globalism particularly in the built environment. Students that have a good sense of urbanism, in other words how not only a single building but how buildings [together] form the life of a place. Students with these concerns and with a very intense drawing and making capability will survive, will thrive.
Would you say theory plays a major role?
Theory in this program is really to enhance and [develop] a deeper conviction of what the students and the program do. It’s not primarily humanity and the theory studies, it's a professional degree and with true architecture as the focus—in other words, physical buildings.The program is deeply rooted in the profession
What are the biggest challenges academically and professionally that your students face?
Academically, I think what’s challenging is how research and new technology are forming the new way of design versus how societies see their traditions. In other words, what I'm saying is [that] technology and the global agenda really pushed building forward to a futuristic stance. But the societies we're living in are still primarily quite conservative. So this is the academic intellectual challenge that students are facing.
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