We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Safeerul Haque Syed a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Safeerul Haque, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I’m fortunate to be making a full-time living as an Architectural Designer at a firm in Brooklyn. But my journey here wasn’t straightforward—it was filled with challenges, pivotal moments, and tough decisions.

I started my academic career in India by studying for a bachelor’s degree in Architecture. The course itself was hard to get into, with extremely competitive entrance exams. Having gotten in, I quickly realized that architecture wasn’t just another degree—it was a rigorous, exacting discipline that took both my creativity and perseverance to the edge. Every late-night project, every torturous round of design, and every sleepless night spent tweaking models worked to harden my determination for the discipline.

Following graduation, I wished to gain hands-on experience before taking the next giant leap: moving to New York to start my master’s in Urban Design at Pratt Institute. Among the career-defining moments was when I worked as consultant on Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) projects. That experience exposed me to large-scale urban projects and design processes that revolutionized my mind. This is when I truly fell in love with urban design—studying how architecture interacts with the city, its people, and the ever-evolving urban landscape.

But if I rewind to the very beginning, my biggest challenge wasn’t the rigorous coursework or the workplace challenges—it was convincing my family to let me study architecture in the first place. Coming from an engineering family as the preferred career, my decision to take up a creative course certainly raised some eyebrows. I still remember the countless debate sessions and arguments, trying to make them see what I envisioned for myself. They eventually came on board with the decision, and looking back now, I would not have had it any other way.

That being said, if I could have sped up my trajectory, I might have done something differently—maybe skipped my bachelor’s in architecture and gone directly into a master’s with an art background. It would have sped up the process and brought about a different entry point into the field. But again, the trajectory I have followed has shaped the way I think about architecture and urban design in a way that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Safeerul Haque Syed, an Architectural Designer and Urban Designer based in Brooklyn, specializing in residential space design and resilient strategies to address sea level rise and climate change through design interventions. My approach balances aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability to create living spaces that enhance the meaning of everyday life.

I am committed to designing well-planned residential spaces that are both beautiful and highly functional. My goal is to create homes that are intuitive, comfortable, and in harmony with their surroundings while integrating forward-thinking strategies to mitigate environmental challenges.

With experience across diverse cultural and architectural landscapes, I bring a unique perspective to my work. My design process is research-driven, ensuring that each space is not only visually striking but also practical, sustainable, and responsive to modern living needs.

Beyond the projects I’ve worked on, I am most proud of the journey itself—overcoming challenges, following my passion, and creating designs that make a meaningful impact.

I look forward to collaborating with those who value thoughtful, intentional design and are committed to creating resilient, inspiring spaces for the future.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My overall goal is to contribute towards a better, sustainable world—where everyone plays a role in building a responsible and prosperous world. As an Architectural and Urban Designer, it is my responsibility to design spaces that not only build our present living environment better but also contribute towards a better future for the next generations.

My intention is to design thoughtfully, responsibly using resources, promoting sustainability, and constructing a healthy, high-functioning society through my work. Every project I engage in is an opportunity to create spaces that are not only stunning but also sustainable, efficient, and closely linked to the requirements of people and communities.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My commitment to designing sustainable and thoughtful spaces traces back to my early years as an architect. When I first chose architecture as a career, my parents opposed my decision because they did not consider it to be a lucrative career. Their skepticism made things even more difficult, and at times, I questioned whether I had made the right choice or not.

Despite the doubts and failures, my passion for bringing ideas to life in design never faded. The idea of bringing ideas to life in a physical form—a space that people could experience and relate to—was what drove me. Overcoming these early failures only strengthened my resolve, confirming my belief that great design can create a better world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://archinect.com/safeerulhaque
• Instagram: @ssafeerulhaque
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/safeerulhaque

Image Credits

Safeerul Haque Syed