Akil Scafe-Smith

cO-founder - resolve collective

What I am working on at the moment?

Currently working collectively with a number of fantastic individuals and organisations to design spatial interventions that attempt to interrogate, deconstruct, and reimagine our cities and neighbourhoods in the hope of a more
just and equitable future.

Why I wanted to join the Participatory City Foundation Board?

The first time I came to the Participatory City warehouse I was really blown away. Seeing local people young and old coming together like that was something that stuck in my mind and ever since I wanted to see how I could be of some help to the project. I’m really keen to understand the civic landscape in Barking a little better and also help try to align some of the fantastic work going on all over the borough.

A little bit about my background

Born and bred in Streatham, South London, I am one sixth of RESOLVE, an interdisciplinary design collective that aims to address multi-scalar social challenges by combining architecture, art, technology and engineering. RESOLVE have delivered numerous projects, workshops, and talks, in London, the UK, and across Europe, as well as working with a variety of initiatives, local authorities, and institutions to pilot projects that introduce young people from under-represented backgrounds to concepts in interdisciplinary design. RESOLVE are also currently unit leaders at the Architectural Association, research fellows at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, artists in residence at West Dean College in Chichester, and resident creative youth workers at the V&A East/VARI in London.