UNSW 100K Alumni—Craig Kerslake
This month, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture achieved the milestone of having 100,000 graduates. To celebrate, they connected with key alumni, including Nguluway DesignInc Director Craig Kerslake, to hear how they are making the world a better place.
Craig graduated UNSW with a Bachelor of Arts in 1998 and a Bachelor of Architecture 2006. Read a snippet of his story below, or the full story here.
‘Craig’s path to becoming an architect was not without its challenges. At 18, Craig was illiterate. School had always been challenging for him, and after years of struggling academically, Craig found out he had dyslexia and was later diagnosed with ADHD. But despite the challenges, Craig found his way to UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, where his creativity and free-thinking spirit were nurtured. He found solace in the diverse academic environment, exploring arts, politics, philosophy, Aboriginal studies, and gender studies. Craig believes UNSW empowered him to explore beyond institutional norms, equipping him with the tools to become a “free-thinking architect.”
If you’re passionate about something, you’re unstoppable. Without passion, Craig says, the fact his schoolteachers had told him he wasn't capable would have stopped him from achieving anything. Craig's passion came from an encounter with an Aboriginal Elder and Wiradjuri woman, Aunty Gloria. After learning of his Indigenous roots, Craig searched for his family on Country, making the journey to Wellington. Here, he met Aunty Gloria, who spoke of "upside-down" government housing, isolating communities instead of connecting them. "She poked me in the chest and said, 'You need to fix housing,'" Craig recalled. Inspired by her wisdom, he founded Nguluway DesignInc, a design firm rooted in Indigenous perspectives.
At Nguluway DesignInc, Craig champions "Designing from Country." This philosophy embraces the interconnectedness between self, community, and nature, seeking to create harmony in built form. In practice, designing from country can include the integration of endemic species and materials from Country being incorporated into the building. It’s about invoking a connection and creating a structure that gives back.’
