Tommy is a multi-disciplinary Hmong designer, researcher, and educator whose work focuses on insurgent urban and architectural growth, utilizing multi-disciplinary methods such as fieldwork, oral/public history, and cartography. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and holds a Master of Architecture from Parsons School of Design at The New School with Distinctions. He is a recipient of the Alpha Ro Chi Medal 2020 for Design Excellence and multiple awards. His Thesis: The Nuanced -Topia received multiple recognitions along with the NYCxDESIGN Architecture Graduates Showcase 2020 and Eileen Gray Thesis Prize.

Yang’s work focuses on collaborative design, resiliency, ethnic studies, and speculative urban futures. His methodologies include fieldwork, archival data collection, critical mapping, and oral history interviews. In his design processes Yang uses comics, illustrations, and animation as an available form of design communication elevating everyday stories of people, the built environment, and the terrestrial narratives.

In his project 'Finding Home: A Place to Belong’ investigates the importance of home in the production of the Hmong and Hmong American identity in an inner-city neighborhood of Milwaukee. His research methodologies are structured from disciplines such as ethnic studies, cultural geography, cultural studies, architectural history, public history, and cultural landscape studies.

A continuation of more of Yang's civilly engaged works is at the Buildings Landscapes and Cultures Program.

CURRENTS - Yang is investigating how Ethnography and Storytelling (the act of hearing lived realities), Cartography (the act of visualizing built realities), and Architecture (the act of manipulating realities) can become agents to understanding worlds. He taught at Chulalangkorn INDA, NKCU, and Parsons at the New School. Along with his personal work he; is a an artist and designer, Ethnographer, and currently teaches at Carnegie Mellon University.

Yang’s research has been funded by the National Endowment of the Humanities, Wisconsin Historical Society, Urban Systems Lab at The New School, Urban Field Station Arts in Residency, and Ann Kalla Funding at Carnegie Mellon University.

Portfolio and Curriculum vitae are available upon request.

Tommy CheeMou Yang

Updates

Judged by the faculty of each school, the medal is presented to the graduating student who has shown an ability for leadership, performed willing service for his or her school or department, and gives promise of real professional merit through his or her attitude and personality.

As a student design researcher, I in collaboration designers designers, activists, and other students planned and implemented a day-long discussion about the closing of Rikers Island. How do we re-imagine Justice in today’s environment? How do we begin to talk about the long and corrupted justice system in the United States? How do we move forward?

The Urban Edge Award is an advanced Research & Design Seminar that will bring together Students, internationally recognized Design Professionals and Local Stakeholders to develop fresh, innovative and effective design proposals at multiple scales that blur the boundaries of Art, Architecture, Landscape and Urbanism

“The McNair Scholars Program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.

Finding “Home”: Formulating Creative Civic Engagement in Community Health : Website

  • Student Presenter at National Conference of Undergraduate Research Presentation. University of North Carolina Asheville 04/2016

  • Student Presenter at American Multicultural Student Leadership Conference Presentation. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee 04/2016

  • Recipient of SUPPORT FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWS (SURF), Hmong Cultural Landscapes and Community Engaged Research. 2015-2017 • Mentor: Arijit Sen



© 2020 TOMMY YANG. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.