We were delighted to hear that Chiamaka Obialo, 2015-22, was recently awarded one of the Gensler Diversity in Design Micro Prizes.  The Diversity in Design programme supports under-represented and ethnic minority architecture students at some of the U.K.'s top universities.

Since leaving Hymers College, Chiamaka is continuing her education at the University of Manchester, where she is studying Architecture, with a particular interest in residential design and sustainable building forms that better the environment.

I heard about the Diversity in Design program through Manchester School of Architecture’s inclusion officer and applied through an email they sent. To apply, I had to upload a letter or recommendation and write a short 500 word essay about what I believed the biggest value of an architect is and how I would fit that role in the future. I then had to attend an interview with a current Gensler employee, explaining my portfolios and design processes to which later awarded me one of the micro prizes.