If philosophy was the intellectual dominant of early 20th century architecture vanguards and theory the intellectual dominant of late 20th century vanguards, then intelligence has become the intellectual dominant of early 21st century post-vanguards. While vanguard practices were reliant on ideals, theories and concepts given in advance, intelligence-based practices are more entrepreneurial in seeking opportunities for innovation that cannot be predicted by any idea, theory or concept. Indeed, it is their unique, produced design intelligence that enables them to innovate by learning from and adapting to instability. The lecture will track the emergence of this new intellectual paradigm and its impact on experimental design practices.


Michael Speaks (Ph.D., Duke University) is a Los Angeles based educator, researcher and writer. He has published and lectured internationally on contemporary art, architecture, urban design and scenario planning. Former Director of the Graduate Program and founding Director of the Metropolitan Research and Design Post Graduate Program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, Speaks has also taught in the graphic design department at the Yale School of Art, and in the architecture programs at Harvard University, Columbia University, The University of Michigan, The Berlage Institute, UCLA, and the TU Delft. Speaks is founding editor of the cultural journal Polygraph and former editor at Any in New York, and is currently a contributing editor for Architectural Record as well as an editorial advisory board member of A+U.