Zain Islam-Hashmi is an aspiring designer, researcher, and maker. Raised in the rural farmlands of Central New Jersey, he is a first-generation Pakistani-American passionate about fabrication, materiality, and global citizenship. Zain graduated in 2019 from Carnegie Mellon University's Bachelor of Architecture program with minors in Intelligent Environments and Architectural Design Fabrication.
Zain has worked for offices and non-profit organizations across America and in Japan, Ghana, Pakistan, and France. He has worked across a range of scales and disciplines such as architecture, industrial design, curation, fashion and production, and his design and research work has been featured in several news articles and publications, as well as presented at conferences across the country. Zain is interested in exploring the different levels of engagement between people and design, from clothing and installations to research initiatives and participatory design events. He believes that architecture goes beyond building environments to creating memories for people and is excited in exploring the different avenues of engagement possible between people, design, their communities, and the spaces they inhabit.
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When he is not working, making, or gallivanting across the world, you can find Zain reading books and the occasional manga, watching foreign films, taking photos on disposable cameras, or eating copious amounts of desserts and spicy food. He also serves part-time as the USA International Fellow for Domaine de Boisbuchet.
Education
2010 - 2014
Rutgers Preparatory School
2014 - 2019
Carnegie Mellon University
Honors: Dean’s List | College Honors
Minors: Intelligent Environments & Architectural Design Fabrication
Thesis: Dirt Forms - Understanding & Implementing an Earthen Construction Collectivism in Pittsburgh
Experience
Current
International Fellow, Domaine de Boisbuchet
Remote
2019 - 2020
Design Associate, buildingcommunityWORKSHOP
Washington, D.C.
2018 - 2019
Digital Fabrication Lab Monitor, Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA USA
2018 - 2019
Head Design Coordinator, Lunar Gala
Pittsburgh, PA USA
2017 - 2019
Teaching Assistant, Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA USA
2018
Tour Guide & Staff Member, Domaine de Boisbuchet
Lessac, France
2017
Volunteer, Weft
Yeboahkrom, Ghana
2016
Intern, emmanuelle moureaux architecture + design
Tokyo, Japan
2016
Intern, Arcop Associates
Karachi, Pakistan
2016
Intern, Marina Rubina Architect
Princeton, NJ USA
Achievements
2019
AIAS CRIT Scholar Research Program
2019
Awards for Artistic Excellence
2018
Burdett Assistantship
2018
Measuring & Monitoring Internship Fund
2018
AIAS Chapter President Honor Award
2018
Ecolutions Fashion Show Winner
2017
CRIT Live Research Symposium Presenter
2017
3rd Place Epic Metals Design Competition
Mentions
2019
2019
2019
The Pitt News, Alluminare
Carnegie Mellon University, AIAS Honor Awards
2018
2018
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ecolutions Fashion Show
Carnegie Mellon University, SoA Design Awards
2018
2018
Made in PGH, Chroma
Carnegie Mellon University News, Chroma
2017
Carnegie Mellon University, CRIT Live Research Symposium
2017
Trib Live, Material Worlds Fashion Show
2017
Vice Magazine, Material Worlds Fashion Show
2017
Trib Live, de·struo
2017