About Me
Hi, my name is Ayanté Hardy. I'm glad you're here.
Hi, my name is Ayanté Hardy. I'm glad you're here.
Who I Am, a biography.
I'm a future interior designer passionate about the vitality of a space based on a deep consideration of how to utilize light, shadow, color and furniture. As someone trying to figure out how I can take a humanities based skillset earned from my time as an undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside in the Liberal Studies program and utilize that as I transition into the highly technical design industry. That's what prompted me to also consider why there is such a large gap within the field of architecture, in particular, as it pertains to the diversity of design professionals. I am interested in examining the importance of welcoming students and thinkers from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds into the industry as well as how to increase BIPOC visibility in STEM careers. Here you'll find my research on design industry diversity in addition to resources about noteworthy Black women architects that inspire not only myself, but also inspire a hopeful generation of designers to come.
Now that we've gotten some of the semantics out of the way, I'd like to introduce myself.
If I had to describe myself I'd first say I'm a student. From an early age, the importance of an education was instilled in me through the love of reading. While I've had many career path changes over the course of my life, I've always known that no matter what I decided, I'd always be learning. We learn something everyday afterall. So I'd like to think that I'll always (in some capacity) be a student, learning the in's and out's of life and along the way, about myself.
A big part of my identity that I am proud of is that I am a daughter. A daughter to two Black African American parents no less. I like to tell people that as a creator, everything I make is made with "Black intentions" and in the interest of Black women. Simply put, I try to think how I can push the envelope even further for people of my diaspora, to break out beyond any limitations and strife we are uniquely faced with.
Being a writer and poet go hand in hand for me. As I've always loved reading and being entrenched into the fictional lands and minds of dynamic characters, naturally I transitioned into a love and passion for word. Being an eloquent writer and speaker is important to me as we are social beings. Knowing how to translate thoughts onto paper is a really important skill and I like to take advantage of that in my free time as a published writer for an online women's magazine (linked below) and as a habitual poet. As much as I execrate the condition of the world today, I am equally grateful of the experiences I've been able to have in engaging with that and being able to channel that into a creative outlet. Writing and poetry especially is deeply personal so I hope that through my work, I can share myself with others and give them an understanding of my point of view.
Finally, I see myself doing great and impactful things. I don't give myself nearly enough credit for all of the things I have accomplished but I believe and hereby manifest, that my work will make people feel again. That I'll move people in a way only I can do. I think my best is yet to come.