Shane Yee ‘21 Is Designing Community Through Architecture and Passion

From drafting table to the skatepark, Shane Yee has always followed a passion for building spaces where communities can come together.

Throughout his time at NewSchool, Shane has carved a path that unites architecture, community, and skateboarding into one seamless vision. 

Balancing the Navy, NewSchool, and Student Leadership

 

While working toward his Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Construction Management at NewSchool, Shane was enlisted in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps. While balancing school and active duty, he stepped into leadership as president of the co-educational college fraternity, Alpha Rho Chi, where he led initiatives to foster community and professional development among students studying architecture and related professions.  

Shane’s hard work and dedication didn’t go unnoticed. In 2019, Shane was awarded a scholarship by the College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF), an organization dedicated to supporting skateboarders in achieving academic and career goals.  

Thesis on Wheels: Merging Skateboarding and Architecture

 

Growing up, Shane always had a love for skateboarding and skate culture, which became the inspiration for his final thesis: “Skateable Architecture,” an exploration of how skateparks can be designed as an enriching part of skate culture and urban life.  

Shane Yee credits his coursework at NewSchool with teaching him the foundation of architecture so that he could apply it toward his passion: “Learning architecture at NewSchool helped me with the phases of design such as schematic design and design development, while learning construction management helped me with knowing how to build schedules, budgets and safety plans.” 

Beyond Graduation: Designing the Future with Skate Ecosystems

 

His passion for skateboarding didn’t end with graduation. As co-founder and design leader of Skate Ecosystems—a skate Design + Build firm rooted in innovation, technology, and sustainability, Shane now helps shape skateparks that are not only functional, but also fun and visually stunning.  

“It’s super fulfilling to work on municipal projects and the various populations and communities they serve and represent.” – Shane reflects. 

Their work Del Rio Skate Garden in Texas, a municipal skate garden and the first AI-assisted skatepark, was recently recognized in the DNA 2025 Paris Design Awards in the category of Landscape Design/Historical Landscapes. 

Bruce Matthes, Director of Integrative Studies at NewSchool couldn’t be prouder of Shane and his accomplishments. “Shane is the perfect example of what can happen when a student from NewSchool applies their education to a passion with purpose. Seeing photographs and videos of young kids and their parents overjoyed that their community of Del Rio opened a new skatepark, one that Shane’s company designed, says it all.” 

Shane currently lives in Austin, Texas serving as the Chief Design Officer for Skate Ecosystems.

Follow him on Instagram @skate_ecosystems or watch his interview on Design Logic Podcast

As artificial intelligence transforms the design landscape, designers face a critical challenge: understanding the ethical, moral and practical implications of AI in the creative process. 

“AI is everywhere but there is not much discussion about also what AI can and cannot do or the ethics of AI, beyond copyrights” shares Tiziana d’Agostino, Assistant Professor of Design. 

Building a Framework for Ethical AI Integration 

This past Summer, NewSchool’s Chair of Design, Victor Nacif, has launched a new course, Artifical Intelligence for Design that tackles these evolving dynamics. Developed by Remy Bourganel, an internationally recognized expert in AI and design, and by Assistant Professor Dario Miticocchio, the course explores foundational concepts that build a solid base of understanding how to work with AI tools, from general frameworks to ethical considerations. Students unpack how systemic thinking and worldviews interact with AI and design all while building a framework on how to think carefully about the outcomes of powerful AI tools. 

“There is no doubt AI is going to be an integral part of the future”, states Dario. 

“Knowing what it can do, its implications and how to handle it is going to make students better professionals. At the same time, it’s important that they develop traditional Design skills to understand the process they are driving.” 

Through a series of lectures and case studies, students learn various options for integrating AI tools in their workflow, with the goal of maintaining creative control of the activity rather than letting the tools drive the design process. 

Rethinking Future Cities with AI 

The final project of the class is centered on future cities. Students choose a subproblem of major cities—such as mobility, housing, socialization, etc.—and with the support of AI, design a solution. The goal is for students to utilize AI to expand possibilities and inform decision-making while keeping the human-centered approach at the core of the design process. 

“AI will only support the creativity of a great Designer, Architect or creative,” Victor shares. 

 “It was not made to replace the creative mind of an individual, but to compliment other possibilities for consideration.” 

As the role of AI in design continues to evolve, NewSchool continues to prepare students not just to use these tools—but to lead the conversation about their responsible and ethical use.