Architect and educator Elena Manferdini grew up in Italy, drawing on any surface she was allowed to, and some she wasn’t. After obtaining a degree in structural engineering, a 9-month stint in Los Angeles grew into a 22-year ongoing stay. In LA, she established her studio, Atelier Manferdini, and began teaching. Now the Chair of Graduate Programs at SCI-Arc and a new mother, she’s passionate about the exchange of information and experimenting with color as a democratizing force for architecture.

In this special Clever Extra, taped live at a Be Original Americas event in Los Angeles, we conducted 6 lightning round interviews with leaders in different areas of design and architecture. Our central question of the night: How is original design and authentic voices important to the growth and ecosystem of your industry? Our guests included Gegg Buchbinder, Elena Manferdini, Bret Englander, Amanda Dameron and Barbara Bouza. Have a listen and join the conversation with us on social media.