Ekin Bilal

Ekin Bilal is an architectural designer and researcher. His work focuses on subverting conventional architectural representation methods to envision scenarios that challenge aesthetic, legal and economic norms shaping the built environment. His work is driven by critical ethnographic research and utilizes familiar mediums such as comics and cartoons to expand the audiences of architectural design and drawing. 

Previously, Ekin has worked in design and master facilities planning for public library networks, working with communities across the US to reimagine the future of neighborhood libraries. He has contributed to projects that have been exhibited in Salone del Mobile 2022, Venice Architecture Biennial 2023 and has designed exhibitions for galleries in NYC Chinatown and upstate New York. Currently, as part of the MIT Urban Risk Lab, he's involved in developing designs for a public park centered on disaster preparedness in Tokyo. Ekin received a Master of Science in Architecture from MIT (2024) and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University (2020) with a minor in Visual Studies.