Meet our founder, @heather_lena Heather Ferrell, AIA, NOMA, SEED is a designer, advocate, and educator working at the intersection of architecture, education, and community to expand who gets to shape the built environment.

Born in Durham and now based in Orange County, she is passionate about using design as a tool for social impact. Throughout her career, Heather has specialized in Public Interest Design, partnering with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations to create spaces that serve and uplift communities, including affordable housing developments across the triangle area. In 2022, she founded Prism Design Lab, an arts education nonprofit dedicated to introducing young people—especially those underrepresented in the profession—to architecture and design. Prism is built on the belief that expanding access to design education strengthens both the profession and the communities it serves. Heather serves as Prism’s Executive Director and is a member of the SEED Network, the Association for Community Design, and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). She holds a B.S. in Anthropology from NC State University, a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon, and is a licensed architect in North Carolina and Massachusetts. #prismdesignlab #arteducation #creativework #founder #nonprofitorganization