Lou Switzer on Diversity in Design Today

Lou Switzer (above) on wanting to become an architect:

Ever since I was in the fourth grade, I was interested in becoming an architect, getting involved in design. The reason for that is my aunt's husband was an architect. He was very talented and he used to do all these beautiful renderings of homes. I think that's what got me really into design and focusing on design and architecture.

Everything I did from the fourth grade on was really toward architecture. When I got into high school, I started taking mechanical drafting. In my mechanical drafting class I became very talented and had a mentor...who taught [the class] and who was an architect. He was a big influence on me continuing within the architecture community.