Self | Systems | Spaces: MKSK's 2026 Design Summit

MKSK’s 9th Annual Design Summit brought together people and perspectives from across our 12 studios, creating space to connect, share ideas, learn from one another, and celebrate the people who make our work and our communities stronger.

Held in Columbus, Ohio, the MKSK Design Summit invited participants to explore Self, Systems, and Spaces, examining how individual experiences, interconnected systems, and shared environments influence the communities we shape.

Day One

The first day of the Design Summit began with a tour of some of MKSK’s most well-known projects at The Ohio State University led by various Principals. The tour included University Square at 15th and High, Mirror Lake Enhancements, Chlois G. Ingram Spirt of Women Park, and Thompson Library, providing opportunities for colleagues from across the firm to exchange ideas, reflect, and connect.

Attendees then journeyed to the Franklin Park Conservatory, where they had an opportunity to participate in a behind-the-scenes hard hat tour of the Wolfe Terrace, the first implementation project from the FPC North Star Master Plan, a community gardens walk, or a self-guided exploration of the Conservatory. Franklin Park Conservatory President and CEO, Bruce Harkey, offered remarks before dinner was served at the MKSK-designed Wells Barn.

Day Two

The second day, hosted at the Columbus Museum of Art, featured an inspiring lineup of keynote speakers, including Veronica Lynn Clark, speaker, author, coach, facilitator, and educator, who offered expert insights on communication and navigating change, Julia Watson, global advocate and author of Lo—TEK, Design by Radical Indigenism and Lo—TEK Water, A Field Guide for TEKnology, who shared her internationally recognized knowledge on Radical Indigenism and Ecology, and Mouna Andraos, co-founder of Daily Tous Les Jours, explored how interactive elements in public spaces can bring strangers closer together.

The day also featured reflections from MKSK Associate Principals Sandeep Walia, Michael Mears, and Kelly Murphy, who shared how their unique upbringings and experiences led them to careers in Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Design.

Together, the sessions and conversations highlighted the value of collaboration and diverse perspectives, strengthening MKSK’s collective vision for innovative, purposeful design.