“Accumulate knowledge from every possible source voraciously reading that which has been recorded and shared through stories from all of time. Begin research with the humility to know that much has already been explored.”

– Marvin Malecha, FAIA (1949-2020)

2008 ARCC James Haecker Distinguished Leadership Award

Marvin’s career was characterized by leadership in academic management, attention to the scholarly and reflective aspects of a design education, a consulting practice that informed a life in the academy and a passionate belief in the absolute right of access to an education for every individual in our society. He believed that education and practice lie along the same continuum in life and he encouraged others to find the connections between them.

Marvin wrote and prepared several academic publications, monographs and exhibitions. One particular focus of his teaching and academic achievements was in the area of Design Thinking. His development of a new course for entering freshman at NC State, titled Design Thinking, including materials linking design action with reflective thought, represented his personal philosophy recognizing the importance of diverse intellectual experiences and an entrepreneurial spirit. The course and its related materials and research evolved over the years, culminating into Design Thinking, a monograph published by the College of Design at North Carolina State University in April 2009.