“Future Unfolding”: HBG Emerging Professionals Reflect on NOMA 2025 Insights
HBG Design’s emerging professionals explore the power of connection, mentorship, and inclusive design at the 2025 NOMA Conference in Kansas City.
HBG Design’s young architectural professionals, Carmen Fluellen and Joshua Yarbrough, recently attended the 2025 National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s theme, “Future Unfolding,” challenged attendees to reimagine an equitable and inclusive future for the built environment—one rooted in care, collaboration, and community impact.
Designing With, Not For: Building Trust Through Collaboration
Reflecting on the experience, Carmen Fluellen noted that two ideas stood out most:
“The networkability of the conference was incredible—professionals across disciplines and experience levels were genuinely welcoming and curious about each other’s work. And the recurring theme of ‘designing with, not for’ resonated deeply. Speakers emphasized the importance of building trust through hands-on collaboration in planning, programming, and feasibility studies—truly partnering with clients and communities to co-create meaningful solutions.”
Carmen, who has been involved with NOMA since 2015, continues to stay active in the local Memphis chapter and currently serves as Social Media Chair.
“Our next chapter meeting will be held on November 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Aaron Patrick Architects in Clark Tower,” he shared. “It’s open to everyone—designers, students, and anyone interested in building community through design.”
Exploring Ideas and Innovation
Among the conference’s many inspiring sessions, Joshua and Carmen were struck by the variety of topics that bridged design, technology, and social impact.
A highlight for both was the keynote by Dr. Ruha Benjamin, who explored the intersection of artificial intelligence and the human experience in design.
“We often assume technology is in the driver’s seat, but humans are missing,” Benjamin said. “The desire and ideology that we as humans possess is what’s missing behind these newer technologies.”
Her talk urged attendees to question who truly owns the future—and how designers can guide that future with empathy, awareness, and responsibility.
Technology, Creativity, and Sustainability in Tandem
Fluellen was particularly inspired by a hybrid steel-timber gravity structural system that offers lightweight installation and adaptability for future redesigns. He also noted the creative use of color and form as cost-effective ways to elevate design expression—proof that innovation doesn’t always require high budgets.
Meaningful Engagement Beyond the Checklist
Several sessions focused on design equity, cultural storytelling, and authentic community engagement. One takeaway that struck Fluellen was a warning against becoming a “check-the-box architect.”
“Every requirement on a checklist impacts someone’s experience—owners, end users, or the surrounding community. Community engagement isn’t about what we can give to the community, but about understanding what the community feels it’s missing,” he shared. “That connection leads to more inclusive, lasting design outcomes.”
Speakers shared examples of projects that used cultural storytelling to revive neighborhoods, combat gentrification, and increase productivity in educational and workplace settings.
The Power of Representation and Mentorship
The NOMA Conference is one of the most diverse professional events in the design industry, bringing together over 1,500 architects, designers, and 500 students from across the country. Both Carmen and Joshua found that sense of belonging and collaboration especially powerful.
Joshua, who has been involved with NOMA since 2019, previously served as the organization’s Student Liaison for four years and helped restart the NOMAS Student Chapter at the University of Memphis in 2023–2024.
“The conference was amazing,” Joshua said. “If you’re a designer, whether in architecture or interiors, NOMA is something you should consider.”
Carmen echoed the same sentiment:
“It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many voices and perspectives. Mentorship came up often—true mentorship that benefits both mentor and mentee. That’s how our profession continues to grow.”
The Future, Ever Unfolding
When asked what “Future Unfolding” meant to him, Fluellen reflected:
“The future is always unfolding—economically, technologically, professionally. The key is to stay grounded in what makes you ‘you,’ while pushing yourself to evolve and engage where it matters most.”
He left the conference energized by words shared from a speaker that perfectly captured the spirit of the event:
“Don’t just think of those in the room—think of those who are missing, but should be there, or will one day be there.”
Supporting Emerging Talent at HBG
HBG Design proudly supports its emerging professionals through opportunities like NOMA, recognizing the value of continued learning and diverse professional engagement. Carmen’s and Joshua’s participation in the 2025 NOMA Conference reflects HBG’s ongoing investment in developing future leaders—those who bring forward-thinking design, empathy, and inclusivity to every project.
“Attending NOMA reminded me that architecture’s impact reaches far beyond the building—it’s about people, connection, and community,” Carmen said.
For HBG’s next generation of designers, experiences like NOMA are shaping not only their professional growth but also the future of equitable, meaningful design.
