It is all too easy, when looking at a finished project, product, or building, to forget that it took a massive effort to reach that point of refined completion. Those sleek lines once existed only on screen, that site was covered for months in construction dust and raw materials, and the showroom-quality shine was previously the dull plastic or plywood surface of a rough prototype.

Research can be hard to justify, even in an industry that prides itself on results. Regardless of whether success is measured in portfolio-perfect pictures or kilowatts of energy savings, innovation in architecture wouldn’t happen without individuals willing to put themselves out there.