Design Practice Group

Professor Emeritus W. Mike Martin Phd FAIA Archival Site 11/25

OVERVIEW

Professor Mike Martin has been at University of California-Berkeley for the past 29 years in the Architecture Department of the College of Environmental Design. He served as the Undergraduate Dean of CED for 11years and completed a 3-year term as Chair of the Architecture Department in 2008. He was the University of California Systems Education Abroad Director for Scandinavia from 2006 to 2008. An Adjunct Professor at Stanford for six years, an Adjunct Professor at the Royal Danish Academy for eight years, and a Professor at The Danish Institute of Studies for 10 years.His teaching and research focuses on the study of practice, collaborative design, work-studies of practice, and storytelling as a means of knowledge transfer. Digital media is central to his process of representation of knowledge transfer from practice.Current writings include Fundamental Processes in Concurrent Design and Construction, Progress Through Partnerships: The Changing Profession/Changing the Profession, Storytelling as a method of knowledge production in practice and Expert Intuition as Evidence in Practice. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a recipient of the 2005 AIA College of Fellows Latrobe Fellowship for Research.His recent book Design Informed: Driving Innovation With Evidence-Base Design,” has just been published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc, July 2010. He served as President Elect of the San Francisco Chapter of the AIA. Served as editor of Architecture California (AIACC) for six years. Received an Honorable Mention in the 2002 NCARB Prize for his Building Stories: A Case Study Analysis of Practice. He most recently was selected by the San Francisco Chapter of the AIA As the Educator of the year for 2024 and by the BSA for the Distingished Eagle Scout Award for contributions to society through his work.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:  

EDUCATION:

December 1983    

Ph.D., Architecture – Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Design

University of California, Berkeley, CA.

Dissertation Topic: A Conceptual Model of Design Education

August 1971

Master of Architecture – Department of Architecture, 

College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Thesis Topic: Architectural Programming Techniques for

the Design and Evaluation of Educational Facilities 

December 1969    

Bachelor of Architecture (with Special Honors) 

School of Architecture, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Thesis Topic: A High-Rise Office Complex in Lakewood, CO. 

AWARDS AND HONORS:

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:  

• 1992-2022–Department of Architecture, University of California Berkeley. Responsible for teaching design theory & methods, the practice of design, design thinking, and introduction to design. 

• 2007-2017–Adjunct Professor, Danish Royal Academy of Architecture, Copenhagen Responsible for teaching design process and practice, and knowledge production methods and theories and theories. 

• 2005-present 2016–Visiting Professor, Danish Institute of International Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark. Responsible for teaching a course on “Methods in Your Design Practice.” 

• 1990–present Adjunct Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture Program Stanford University. Responsible for teaching a collaborative design studio of architecture, structural engineering, and construction management students engaged in new models of practice.

• 1985-1992– Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA. Responsible for teaching architectural design studio, design theory and methods seminar, and creative problem solving seminar. 

• 1980-1985– College of Environmental Design, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. Responsible for teaching environmental design studio, social and behavioral factors of design, design methods and theories, perspectives of environmental design. 

• 1978-1980–Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Design, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Responsible for teaching beginning design studios and fourth year architectural design and coordination of the architectural internship program. (on leave 1976-1978)

• 1976-1978–Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley CA.Teaching Assistant : Professor R. Lifchez, Professor C. Stoller. Responsible for teaching social and behavioral factors as design determinants, and introductory design and drawing. 

• 1971-1976–Department of Pre-Design Professions, College of Architecture and Design, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Responsible for teaching introductory problem solving and design, social and behavioral factors of design, and design theories and methods. 

• 1970-1971–Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Teaching Assistant: Professor C.Siligman. Responsible for teaching basic design principles and introductory drawing and graphic skills.

COURSES TAUGHT: 

DISSERTATIONS AND THESES: 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, INVITED LECTURES:

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION AND SERVICE:

PROJECTS AND CONSULTANCIES

UNIVERSITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES:

Case Studies/Projects/Student Work

Included are examples of research and teaching activities to demonstrate the connectedness of my scholarly  work and the nature of my teaching strategies and values. 

Case Studies: Stories of Practice

For each Case Study click the image to link to a website for the Story

DISCLAIMER

The following pages contain information that has been collected and/or produced as part of the Building Stories course at UC Berkeley. Because of the confidential nature of the information collected for the production of these pages we would ask you to refrain of using it for any purpose different to the navigation of the pages, without the explicit permission of the authors and/or the researchers involved in this project. By clicking on any of the links below, you accept that you agree to use this site under these conditions, and that you will become liable for any unauthorized use of the information and materials contained in the web site. For any additional questions regarding this disclaimer and/or the contents of the website, please email wmmartin@berkeley.edu


Beginning Design Student Work

Drawing and Representation

Arch. 24 Design Thinking and Innovation

Design thinking and innovation are key drivers of success for many of today’s leading industries, companies, and institutions. At the center of these activities are processes of knowledge application and skills referred to as design thinking. This type of thinking is nested in a rich history of forms of inquiry and research paradigms. This course will explore the relationship of design thinking to other forms of thinking strategies, as well as connect thinking to the actions of innovation.  Much of our future progress, both today and in the years to come, will result from a culture of creative innovation. Specifically, the results of Covid 19 are requiring us to seek a new normal making the attributes of a creative culture more connected to the use of design thinking, but all forms of inquiry are needed to unlock the challenges and potential of our actions. Design action represents a powerful set of methods to engage everyday challenges in almost any discipline or profession. The course will focus on ways of thinking as they relate to changing our environment, our organizations, our discipline, etc. In addition, the course will illustrate some of the characteristics of career paths that are at the center of design thinking and innovation.  What follows are examples of projects from the course.

Self Images of Designers

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Ideation Tools

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Strategies for Prototyping

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ENVD 01 People and the Environment

How do buildings and landscapes, the places where we live, become a part of our everyday lives? What makes good places? How do these places come into being? Who creates them? These are the major themes of this course. The course has three primary purposes:

1 Environmental Design Course Description Sum 2019
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4 Exercise 3 ED 1 Sum 19
Team 4 Abstract
Team 5 Abstract
Examples of Exercise 3

Ed 11B Introduction to Design

ENVD 11B is an introductory course to design concepts and conventions of graphic representation and model building as related to the study of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and city planning. Students draw in plan, section, elevation, axonometric, and perspective and are introduced to digital media. Design projects address concepts of order, site analysis, scale, structure, rhythm, detail, culture, and landscape.

Ford Foundation Head Start School Lafayette Co.

Collaging as Recording Human Environments

Storytelling as Design Action-Berkeley-Boulder-Manhattan Ks

Community Workshop Tennessee Town Topeka Ks.

University for Man UFM Greenhouse Workshop Manhattan Ks

Beginning Student Chair Exploration Univ. Washington Seattle

Case Studies: Architectural Practices Professional Practice Course

Case Studies Arch 270 Professional Practice

Summary Composite Site of Student Work

Student Study Tours

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The Coastal Landscape of California

https://designpracticegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/the-coastal-landscape.pdf

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Office: 510-848-9823
Mobile: 510-559-0328
wmmartin@berkeley.edu
 CONTACTSFor speaking requests and inquiries, please contact:
W.Mike Martin
Phone:510-559-0328