What made you want to get into architecture?
When I was growing up, [I was supposed to be] a doctor or a lawyer. My last year of high school I decided I didn’t want to be a doctor. [I had] to be proactive because I hadn’t taken any kind of art classes in years. Once I landed in architecture school, it was nothing like I imagined, but I loved it.
How did you start practicing design on your own?
I started teaching part time at Parsons [New School of Design] and freelancing with a friend who was designing residences and offices, which provided me the flexibility I needed. If I’m working with one or two clients, it’s a manageable scale that I can sink my teeth into while still being actively involved in my kids’ lives.
Cooke John’s Point of Action, the seventh annual Flatiron Public Plaza Design Installation, was on view for five weeks
How did the Point of Action installation in New York [shown above] come about?
I come from Jamaica, but I was always fascinated by the diversity in New York. A lot of issues have come to light [during the pandemic]. You didn’t know that hundreds of thousands of kids were dependent on school lunch. So, if we are in this threshold—nine unique units on a 6-foot circle spread across Flatiron Public Plaza—and somehow connected to each other, then we’re more connected to each other’s issues.
What does it mean for you to be part of the Black Artists + Designers Guild and the National Organization of Minority Architects?
They’ve been such supportive and comfortable places to present our work to each other. We can be super relaxed and make jokes, but bottom line we’re sharing ideas, resources, and talent and trying to push each other forward in the design field.
How does the industry need to evolve in terms of racial inclusivity?
We all need to work on [hiring practices]. For one, getting young people of color to even know that you can make a living doing this, and then encouraging them to apply to schools and internships.
Related: Learn more about the Black Artists + Designer Guild (BADG) and its mission from founder Malene Barnett.
This article originally appeared in HD’s January 2021 issue.
