Publications
Guest Writer, Special to the Democrat-Gazette | October 26, 2019 “NGOZI BROWN: Best for children: Choices in education important”
Co-Author, “Confronting Lack of Student Diversity in Interior Design Education”, Journal of Interior Design, Invited Perspective, Publication Date: December 2021
Co-Author, “Confronting Lack of Student Diversity in Interior Design Education”, Journal of Interior Design, Invited Perspective, Publication Date: December 2021
Public Speaking
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Conference Speaker, "From Blight to Bright: Actionable Tools for Your Downtown Upgrade", Mississippi Rural Placemaking Summit, Yazoo City, Mississippi, September 2025
Conference Speaker, "Repurposing Spaces Through Adaptive Re-use and Preservation", Mississippi Rural Placemaking Summit, McComb, Mississippi, September 2024
Conference Speaker, ASID GATHER National Conference, Miami, Florida, September 2022
Conference Speaker, 2021 IDEC Virtual Annual Conference – “Confronting Lack of Student Diversity in Interior Design Education” - March 4, 2021
Conference Speaker, ASID SCALE National Conference, Seattle, Washington, February 2020
Conference Speaker, ASID National Virtual Conference – September 2020
Conference Speaker, AIA Arkansas Virtual Conference – “Race and Architecture” – October 2020
Panel Speaker, UARK Diversity and Inclusion Panel member - “Designing While Black" - November 2020
Conference Speaker, "Repurposing Spaces Through Adaptive Re-use and Preservation", Mississippi Rural Placemaking Summit, McComb, Mississippi, September 2024
Conference Speaker, ASID GATHER National Conference, Miami, Florida, September 2022
Conference Speaker, 2021 IDEC Virtual Annual Conference – “Confronting Lack of Student Diversity in Interior Design Education” - March 4, 2021
Conference Speaker, ASID SCALE National Conference, Seattle, Washington, February 2020
Conference Speaker, ASID National Virtual Conference – September 2020
Conference Speaker, AIA Arkansas Virtual Conference – “Race and Architecture” – October 2020
Panel Speaker, UARK Diversity and Inclusion Panel member - “Designing While Black" - November 2020
Public Involvement
Our team believes in giving back and staying engaged. Below are some of our team members' recent community activities:
Reimagine America's Schools - National Design Team member, Cohort Leader, Pittsburg, PA
Reimagine America’s Schools (RAS), a project of the National Design Alliance, works in partnership with educators, technology experts, and design professionals to create new models for learning environments. The program works to leverage public funds invested in school construction and modernization to support new ways of learning in our educational facilities. In 2020, in response to the pandemic and social and racial upheaval, Reimagine America’s Schools engaged in conversations on how these disruptions might change public schools and how the design of the learning environment must also evolve to support these changes. More info...
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (previously the Arkansas Arts Center) Docent, 2015 - 2021
Guided Tour Leader/Narrator, Hot Springs Architectural Tour – Historic Pleasant Street District – in partnership with the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance and the Gateway Community Association – April 30, 2018
2017—2018 American Institute of Architects - Arkansas Central Section Chair (2-year appointment)
Volunteer Horticulturalist at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, Inc.;
WIA AR (Women in Architecture) Committee Member (previous)
AIA AR Diversity Committee Member; 2017- 2020
Architecture + Design Network - Board Member; 2017-2018
studioMAIN - Board Member (2017-2018)
I-30 Crossing Design Committee Member (led by the Quapaw Quarter Association)
SoMa Design Board, Member; 2018
Judge, Ralph D Vines, II 2018 Speaking Contest sponsored by the Ralph D Vines, II Endowment and the Rockefeller Foundation
Community Judge – Arkansas Diamond Speech and Debate Competition 2019, 2020, 2021 Little Rock, Arkansas
Community Judge – Texas Prologue Speech and Debate Competition, Dallas, TX 2019
Community Judge, Texas Escalade Speech and Debate Competition, Dallas, Texas, 2020;
Quapaw Quarter Association Finance Chair(past) and Board of Directors, 2019 – current
American Institute of Architects Arkansas Chapter, Board of Directors, Director 2019-2022
UARK Design Review Committee Member , “Reciprocal Moment: Whipple Family Forestry Education Center” (Hot Springs Arkansas) August 2020 – present
Juror, Fay Jones School Alumni Design Awards – March 2021 (Jurors for this design award program were tasked with evaluating submissions and assigning awards for the following categories: Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Unbuilt, Regional/Urban Design, and Diversity-Equity-Inclusion.)
Reimagine America's Schools - National Design Team member, Cohort Leader, Pittsburg, PA
Reimagine America’s Schools (RAS), a project of the National Design Alliance, works in partnership with educators, technology experts, and design professionals to create new models for learning environments. The program works to leverage public funds invested in school construction and modernization to support new ways of learning in our educational facilities. In 2020, in response to the pandemic and social and racial upheaval, Reimagine America’s Schools engaged in conversations on how these disruptions might change public schools and how the design of the learning environment must also evolve to support these changes. More info...
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (previously the Arkansas Arts Center) Docent, 2015 - 2021
Guided Tour Leader/Narrator, Hot Springs Architectural Tour – Historic Pleasant Street District – in partnership with the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance and the Gateway Community Association – April 30, 2018
2017—2018 American Institute of Architects - Arkansas Central Section Chair (2-year appointment)
Volunteer Horticulturalist at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, Inc.;
WIA AR (Women in Architecture) Committee Member (previous)
AIA AR Diversity Committee Member; 2017- 2020
Architecture + Design Network - Board Member; 2017-2018
studioMAIN - Board Member (2017-2018)
I-30 Crossing Design Committee Member (led by the Quapaw Quarter Association)
SoMa Design Board, Member; 2018
Judge, Ralph D Vines, II 2018 Speaking Contest sponsored by the Ralph D Vines, II Endowment and the Rockefeller Foundation
Community Judge – Arkansas Diamond Speech and Debate Competition 2019, 2020, 2021 Little Rock, Arkansas
Community Judge – Texas Prologue Speech and Debate Competition, Dallas, TX 2019
Community Judge, Texas Escalade Speech and Debate Competition, Dallas, Texas, 2020;
Quapaw Quarter Association Finance Chair(past) and Board of Directors, 2019 – current
American Institute of Architects Arkansas Chapter, Board of Directors, Director 2019-2022
UARK Design Review Committee Member , “Reciprocal Moment: Whipple Family Forestry Education Center” (Hot Springs Arkansas) August 2020 – present
Juror, Fay Jones School Alumni Design Awards – March 2021 (Jurors for this design award program were tasked with evaluating submissions and assigning awards for the following categories: Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Unbuilt, Regional/Urban Design, and Diversity-Equity-Inclusion.)
NOB A+D Selected for SCALE Initiative to Advance Community Wealth and Design Equity
Cincinnati, OH — November 2025
NOB A+D is honored to announce its selection as a coalition partner in the Strategic Capacity for Advancing Local Economies (SCALE) initiative, led by the New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This national program supports small and midsized cities in building inclusive economies through community wealth-building and commercial real estate development.
As part of SCALE, NOB A+D proudly represents the Greenville, Mississippi cohort, one of eight coalitions chosen to strengthen local economies in underrepresented communities. Our work will focus on strategies that promote local ownership, cultural identity, and equitable design in Greenville and the broader Mississippi Delta region.
Ngozi Onome’ Brown, Principal of NOB A+D, participated in the SCALE Convening in Cincinnati, an immersive learning experience that showcased best practices in inclusive development. Delegates explored transformative models—from worker-owned businesses at Co-op Cincy to equity-focused redevelopment in Over-the-Rhine—highlighting how design and policy can work together to restore belonging and opportunity.
“Being part of SCALE affirms our mission to design with and for communities,” said Brown. “NOB is Not Only Buildings, we're also focused on building futures. We’re excited to bring these national insights home to Greenville, Mississippi, the Delta, and beyond.”
Through SCALE, NOB A+D will collaborate with local partners on community-led projects that activate spaces, support small businesses, and advance ownership models that keep capital local. This work aligns with our broader commitment to rural revitalization, including initiatives like Delta Community Development and Small Towns Collective, which center design as a tool for economic mobility and cultural preservation. NOB A+D will deepen its work in rural and underrepresented communities, leveraging design as a tool for economic mobility and cultural preservation. Our firm will collaborate with local partners including Delta Compass and Kudzu Collective to activate spaces, support small businesses, and promote ownership models that keep capital local.
Learn more about SCALE at NGIN’s website, read about the Greenville cohort, and explore highlights from the Cincinnati convening.
NOB A+D is honored to announce its selection as a coalition partner in the Strategic Capacity for Advancing Local Economies (SCALE) initiative, led by the New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This national program supports small and midsized cities in building inclusive economies through community wealth-building and commercial real estate development.
As part of SCALE, NOB A+D proudly represents the Greenville, Mississippi cohort, one of eight coalitions chosen to strengthen local economies in underrepresented communities. Our work will focus on strategies that promote local ownership, cultural identity, and equitable design in Greenville and the broader Mississippi Delta region.
Ngozi Onome’ Brown, Principal of NOB A+D, participated in the SCALE Convening in Cincinnati, an immersive learning experience that showcased best practices in inclusive development. Delegates explored transformative models—from worker-owned businesses at Co-op Cincy to equity-focused redevelopment in Over-the-Rhine—highlighting how design and policy can work together to restore belonging and opportunity.
“Being part of SCALE affirms our mission to design with and for communities,” said Brown. “NOB is Not Only Buildings, we're also focused on building futures. We’re excited to bring these national insights home to Greenville, Mississippi, the Delta, and beyond.”
Through SCALE, NOB A+D will collaborate with local partners on community-led projects that activate spaces, support small businesses, and advance ownership models that keep capital local. This work aligns with our broader commitment to rural revitalization, including initiatives like Delta Community Development and Small Towns Collective, which center design as a tool for economic mobility and cultural preservation. NOB A+D will deepen its work in rural and underrepresented communities, leveraging design as a tool for economic mobility and cultural preservation. Our firm will collaborate with local partners including Delta Compass and Kudzu Collective to activate spaces, support small businesses, and promote ownership models that keep capital local.
Learn more about SCALE at NGIN’s website, read about the Greenville cohort, and explore highlights from the Cincinnati convening.
NOB A+D Exhibited NWABH Design Projects at Crystal Bridges’ Community Wellness Fair
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Bentonville, AR — November 2025
On November 2, 2025, NOB A+D proudly participated in the Community Wellness Fair during the Art & Wellness Festival at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. This event celebrated the intersection of art, health, and community, offering experiences that inspire holistic well-being and cultural connection.
As part of the Wellness Fair, NOB A+D exhibited two architectural projects designed for Northwest Arkansas Black Heritage (NWABH), showcasing how design can advance cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and community wellness:
The Supreme Houses: Afrofuturist Living in the Black Futures Corridor: This housing concept reimagines affordable living and Black homeownership through an Afrofuturist lens. The design is guided by Jack Travis’ 10 Principles of Black Space Design, NWABH’s Blackspace Manifesto, and the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. Key features include:
On November 2, 2025, NOB A+D proudly participated in the Community Wellness Fair during the Art & Wellness Festival at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. This event celebrated the intersection of art, health, and community, offering experiences that inspire holistic well-being and cultural connection.
As part of the Wellness Fair, NOB A+D exhibited two architectural projects designed for Northwest Arkansas Black Heritage (NWABH), showcasing how design can advance cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and community wellness:
The Supreme Houses: Afrofuturist Living in the Black Futures Corridor: This housing concept reimagines affordable living and Black homeownership through an Afrofuturist lens. The design is guided by Jack Travis’ 10 Principles of Black Space Design, NWABH’s Blackspace Manifesto, and the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. Key features include:
- 10 Benefits of Black Homeownership: Strategies to build generational wealth, improve health outcomes, and strengthen community resilience.
- Nature Integration: Green spaces and biophilic design to support mental wellness and recovery.
- Car-Free Communities: Emphasizing walkability and shared mobility, with 19 benefits of car-free living highlighted in the design.
- Sustainability: Mass timber construction, solar integration, and reduced embodied carbon.
- Diasporan Dwelling Aesthetics: Vivid colors, patterns, and textures inspired by African cultural traditions, creating spaces that are expressive and joyful.
The EDGE: Afrofuturist Creative Space in the Black Futures Corridor: Winner of the 2025 AIA Arkansas People’s Choice Design Award, this project envisions a creative hub for Black artists, designers, and entrepreneurs in the forthcoming Black Futures Corridor. The design draws inspiration from African heritage and Afrofuturist principles, blending cultural symbolism with innovation. Key elements include:
“We are passionate about creating places that heal, connect, and honor heritage,” said Ngozi Brown, Principal of NOB A+D. “We were honored to share these NWABH projects at Crystal Bridges and celebrate the role of design in community wellness.”
Learn more about the festival at Crystal Bridges’ website and explore NWABH’s mission at nwablackheritage.org.
- Mashrabiya Screens: Adapted from African architecture to filter light and provide privacy, enabling the passage of divine light.
- Triangular Patterns: Referencing the sacred geometry of Africa, integrated into structural and decorative elements.
- Baobab Tree Concept: Symbolizing longevity and communal dialogue, informing gathering spaces and spatial organization.
- Programmed Spaces: Galleries, studios, performance areas, and public plazas to stimulate creative activity and cultural exchange. The EDGE is designed to preserve heritage, foster innovation, and create opportunities for Black creatives and entrepreneurs in Northwest Arkansas.
“We are passionate about creating places that heal, connect, and honor heritage,” said Ngozi Brown, Principal of NOB A+D. “We were honored to share these NWABH projects at Crystal Bridges and celebrate the role of design in community wellness.”
Learn more about the festival at Crystal Bridges’ website and explore NWABH’s mission at nwablackheritage.org.