Narrative, Media, and AI in Architectural Academia; A Conversation with Natasha Sandmeier
Archinect last spoke with Natasha Sandmeier on the themes of visual media and narrative storytelling in 2019. Back then, few could have imagined the seismic impact that generative AI would have on such fields. In her leading role at UCLA AUD's Entertainment Studio, Sandmeier sits at the forefront of an architectural academic landscape, already asking what the recent popularized adoption of AI in design and world-building means for authorship, ethics, representation, learning criteria, and the role of the architect.
The intervening four years since 2019 have also seen a shift in Sandmeier's own responsibilities. Beyond her position as an assistant adjunct professor at UCLA, Sandmeier is now the Executive Director of Los Angeles' A+D Museum, offering yet another outlet to explore the question of how technology is changing the face of architecture and media. The latest appointment adds to Sandmeier's long list of prior positions in the worlds of architectural academia, practice, and culture, including as a project architect for OMA in Rotterdam and a lecturer at the Architectural Association in London.
In July 2023, Archinect’s Niall Patrick Walsh spoke with Sandmeier about her work across academia and practice, including reflections on how artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of architectural education, narrative storytelling, and world-building. The discussion, edited slightly for clarity, is published below.
