Alumni Spotlight: Mehdi Taghavi

Founder of Taghavi Design Studio

Mehdi Taghavi is the Founder of Taghavi Design Studio, an architectural design practice based in Arizona; focused on thoughtful, client-centered residential architecture, interior renovations, and both small, and large-scale commercial projects.

Taghavi’s background spans over two decades of international and U.S. experience, with work across the Middle East, North America, Central America, and the United States. His approach emphasizes design integrity, human experience, and contextual sensitivity—balancing strong architectural ideas with buildability and real-world constraints.

When asked why he chose NewSchool, he shared that “the strong emphasis on design excellence, critical thinking, and hands-on engagement with real architectural challenges stood out to him. The academic rigor, paired with a culture that encouraged exploration and responsibility, played a key role in shaping how I approach architecture today—both creatively and professionally.”

Through his perspective and experience, Taghavi provided meaningful insight for prospective and current students alike, helping them better envision their path saying “to treat school as more than a place to earn a degree. Use it as a laboratory; test ideas, make mistakes, build relationships, and develop your design voice. Focus on learning how to think like an architect, not just how to produce drawings. Most importantly, stay curious and resilient; architecture rewards those who continue to learn and adapt”.

TAGHAVI DESIGN STUDIO