24 for ’24: Zetteler’s run-down of makers and mavericks

Pooja Agrawal leads one of the most impressive social enterprises in the UK – perhaps, even the world. Where it’s commonplace for people to build a career in a public institution before taking their skills and knowledge to the private sector, Pooja is working through Public Practice to turn the tide and bring talent into local authorities, strengthening their ability to shape and create truly inclusive and sustainable communities. Growing up in Mumbai before moving to London, she developed a passion for using the public sector to tackle inequality through her study of architecture (‘learning how to design at the largest scale possible’) and direct experience working in Kilburn, Ealing and Croydon. She’s also co-founder of social-equality platform Sound Advice (co-publishing their mega-compendium, Now You Know), a trustee at Open City and a fellow at the Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose. An inventive and influential force of nature, Pooja’s star is only burning brighter. 2023 saw her receive the AJ100 Contribution to the Architecture Profession Award, the London Design Festival Innovation Award, and be named UKREiiF People and Skills Torchbearer of the Year.

Few people get to include writer, architectural designer and model in their bio, but then, few people are like Awut Atak. A summer internship at an architecture practice propelled Awut to study at Cambridge. She took a detour to TRUE Africa, covering African trailblazers across art, music and fashion across the continent, before returning to the field with Karakusevic Carson Architects, working on public housing projects and assisting a RIBA-funded research project that resulted in a publication called 'Revolutionary Low Rise’. She continued her studies at Kingston School of Art (and was nominated by the school for the RIBA Dissertation Medal) while also taking part in a writing workshop by African State Architecture (ASA) at SOAS. In parallel with her architecture and writing, Awut is a fashion model, working with brands such as Balenciaga and Off-White. We met her through her current role with Zetteler client Manalo & White, and were immediately impressed by her energy, critical thinking and passion for the potential of architecture to positively impact the world.

When there’s no shortage of reasons to feel cynical about the industry at large, Will Barker is the kind of designer who makes us feel hopeful again – because a) his vision for architecture is rooted in fairness; b) his research is about making our cities and future welcoming to everyone; and c) he has an infectious, ear-to-ear smile. When Will’s not studying MA Architecture at the Royal College of Art, he’s volunteering his time as a Young Trustee of the Architecture Foundation (of which Zetteler is a proud patron). On his CV, you’ll see a range of projects for Sarah Wigglesworth Architects and David Kohn Architects. Crossing both disability justice and making a green transition equitable, his research interests include making playgrounds inclusive for young people and families living with disabilities, and lifting the veil on the extractive material ecologies lurking behind green infrastructure. We can only assume the sky’s the limit for this humble, hardworking and energetic force for good.

We sometimes agonise over who to include in this list, but architect, lecturer and engagement enthusiast Larry Botchway was a shoo-in. Meeting him through POoR Collective, which he co-founded, and having the honour to speak with and learn from the whole group when they shared our office, we’ve witnessed his whirlwind ascent as he received the RIBA Rising Star award and London Design Festival Emerging Design Medal, and embarked on projects with numerous architectural practices, London councils, non-profits and cultural institutions. With expertise in placemaking, architecture and urban strategy, Larry is on the board of trustees for School SOS, a 'Nomadic Not-For-Profit Critical Design School' that seeks to challenge modes of delivering higher education in the UK. He is also an Associate of the Quality of Life Foundation – a UK charity committed to improving people’s quality of life by changing the housing industry. It’s a mouthful to list all his achievements from recent years, but as POoR Collective have established themselves at the 12-month Black business residency at Somerset House, we’re confident that 2024 is the year he soars through the stratosphere.

It’s often said that things are changing in the design world, but not fast enough. If there’s one person speeding things up, it’s Akua Danso. A graduate from the Universities of Kent, Liverpool and London Metropolitan, whose CV cites a seriously impressive portfolio including the likes of Gort Scott, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, HUT Architecture and Scott Brownrigg, Akua designs and delivers both retrofits and large-scale residential projects. For the architect and co-founder of Black Females in Architecture (BFA), running the 400+ strong global network with Neba Sere and Selasi Setufe, the moral imperative of equitable representation is clear as ‘architecture is used by everyone’. So why shouldn’t those who build our communities and cities reflect the wider diversity of the global population? Since meeting in person at the 2023 British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, we’ve begun working with BFA and doing everything in our power to shout about her wonderful work. With the five-year anniversary of the network in their rear view mirror, we think 2024 is set to be BFA’s biggest year yet, with events, workshops and collaborations galore on the calendar. If you work in the built environment, and agree architecture is too white, male and stale, there’s an amazing network to tap into here.

If you asked us what makes Heta Fell a change-maker worth their weight in gold, we’d first point to the impactful programme she recently launched with Football Beyond Borders and Marcus Rashford for Nike. With more than a decade of experience working with leading global brands, charities and NGOs on social-impact partnerships, she has developed a deep understanding of both the corporate world and the charitable sector, which has been key to her driving lasting change that truly benefits communities. Outside work, she mentors young people from underrepresented backgrounds and has co-created initiatives including Art for India to create change through culture. Again and again, she delivers ambitious, meaningful projects with some of the biggest companies in the world, from Gucci to Spotify; just tell us Heta is behind something, and we’re confident it’ll be awe-inspiring.

Working to transform creative ideas into workable solutions for a better world, LAGO Collective is a growing community of creatives and researchers who influence policy makers around the globe. Marta Foresti, the extraordinary person behind this extraordinary initiative, built her career leading research and policy organisations such as global affairs think tank ODI, the Italian Treasury, and Save the Children UK's Evaluation and Research Unit. With an MA in the philosophy of science and logic, and an MSc in research methods and theory of probability, she is currently Senior Adviser at the Moleskine Foundation and Senior Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and ODI. Whether it’s building international coalitions, designing data-led projects, or delivering ambitious public events, her everyday life involves working on some of the most pressing issues of our time, from global migration to urban futures and sustainability. We were especially in awe of her work on migration, The Beauty of Movement, and her ode to Keyworkers (a collaboration with the wonderful Federica Fragapane, which uses design to show how refugees and other migrants played a crucial role throughout the pandemic.

Hailing from Nottingham, Taya Francis is a phenomenal knitwear designer bridging the gap between fabric and art. We met her through our mutual friend Mac Collins, and since that lucky encounter we’ve become obsessed with the output of her studio, Knit & Ting, which breathes new life into traditional technique, riffing on her Jamaican heritage to craft high-quality bespoke pieces. And we’re not the only ones. Taya began her career working with the likes of Katie Jones and Tomoko Yamanaka of Cabinet and was the first recipient of the British Fashion Council’s Joe Casely-Hayford Scholarship. Since then, she has developed custom projects for Clarks Originals, curated events at Boiler Room and collaborated with Wales Bonner on a jumper for her AW22 collection. In a world of ‘nice’ knitwear, Taya is turning preconceptions on their head with contemporary styling and a fresh perspective. Do yourself a favour and take a gander at her fantastic fabrics.