The Young Designers Core was founded in 2000 by young designers who saw potential to enhance the professional development of emerging professionals in the firm. As a grassroots initiative, the YDC has maintained a great level of autonomy and innovation, even as the architectural and economic climate has changed around it. The most successful facet of the YDC model has been its adaptability; over the past 18 years the program has been able to transform and change to cater to the current needs of the firm. The underlying mission of the group has always stayed the same; to elevate young designers, but the methods have not. From year to year, the YDC’s focus may shift from education, to mentorship, to career advancement, or even to community and culture building. The events and opportunities that the YDC offers changes to align with this focus every year.
The YDC is led by two people, co-chairs, with alternating two-year term periods to ensure an easy transition between leadership that we feel helps keep our group thriving. Today, we wanted to introduce and learn a little more about our newest co-chair – Megan Brown.
What drew you to become an YDC co-chair?
PAYETTE’s Young Designers Core was a big draw when I relocated to Boston and was interviewing at architecture firms. The emphasis on growth and development for young professionals is essential to a healthy practice and I’m so excited to keep this tradition moving forward!
What is one of your favorite YDC events?
My favorite event is the YDC vs. ODC softball tournament in the summer. It’s a great mix of friendly competition, fresh air and exercise, and good food and drink. Looking forward to the next one!
If you could eat lunch with one architect, living or deceased, who would it be?
There are several that come to mind, but picking just one, it would have been fun to meet Zaha Hadid.
The sky is the limit: what would you redesign?
I would love to redesign wireless, Bluetooth headphones for running. I want something more customizable, minimal and that actually stay in place without the need for material wrapping up over the ear. Possibly worn to look like small earrings. I think technology will get there eventually.
What do you do in your free time?
Now that summer is nearly here, I like to spend the majority of my free time outside biking, running, hiking or playing sports.
We are honored to share PAYETTE has received two 2026 Green Good Design Awards from The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies—Land’s Sake Farm and The Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard.
“Green GOOD DESIGN identifies and emphasizes the world’s most important examples of sustainable design and works to develop a public awareness program that informs the general public about which global companies are doing the best job in ecological and sustainable design for our world. Architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning projects, as well as product, packaging, and graphic design projects from over 30 nations were honored with the 2026 Green GOOD DESIGN Award.”
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