معرفی
John May is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design (GSD), where he directs the Master in Design Studies (MDes) program. He is also a founding partner of the Los Angeles-based design practice MILLIØNS, known for its experimental architecture and urban interventions. His academic work bridges philosophy, technology, and environmental politics, exploring how technical advancements shape architectural thought and practice. May holds a BA in Philosophy and Visual Art from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Architecture (AP) from Harvard GSD, and a PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies from UCLA.
May’s research focuses on postorthographic practices, the psychosocial effects of digital images, and the philosophical underpinnings of design technologies. His books Signal. Image. Architecture (2019) and Design Technics (2019, co-edited with Zeynep Çelik Alexander) critically examine the role of technology in contemporary architecture. He has taught at MIT, UCLA, SCI-Arc, and the University of Toronto, and was a 2012 NEH Visiting Professor at Rice University.
His professional work with MILLIØNS includes projects such as the Everson Museum’s west wing redesign, furniture installations like Bathing, Again, and exhibitions addressing modernist typologies. The firm’s exploration of collective living and material systems has been featured in Harvard Design Magazine, e-flux, and Flaunt.
- Awards: 2018 Graham Foundation Grant, 2012 NEH Visiting Professorship, Architect’s Newspaper 'Emerging Designers to Watch' (2018).
- Grants: 2018 Graham Foundation support for Under Present Conditions.
May’s academic roles include coordinating the History and Philosophy of Design at GSD and curating exhibitions like Platform 10: Live Feed and Multihyphenation. He actively engages with public discourse through lectures and panel discussions on topics such as urbanism, technology, and sustainability.
