Neil Onions, founder of Beyond the Box, has a uniquely perceptive understanding of how we can collaboratively reshape both the outcome and entire process of design. “Systems of inequality didn’t emerge by accident”, Neil shares, “they were designed”, a vital point of reference that often goes overlooked in the industry. “Beyond the Box is about rethinking how our built environments can serve everyone fairly”, he shares, something that is directly actioned by the organisation, with one of the young architects, Taja Dennis, having been recruited as an equity designer for a pivotal project in Crystal Palace prior to the BUILDHOLLYWOOD partnership.

Beyond the Box is a pioneer in the field of design, forging new and needed roles in the industry that not only meet the needs and desires of the end recipients, but also the people creating the work. “It was a real insight to me”, says Taja in response to her role as equity designer by way of Beyond the Box for the Crystal Palace project, “to realise that there’s a role out there that bridges the gap between neurodivergence and architecture – that was so important”.

Taja’s interests in designing beyond the “default” user speaks to an industry-wide shift in favour of not just accommodating difference, but truly celebrating it. This “co-design” approach allows for a more democratic collaborative effort, bringing together voices from the community alongside the industry leaders to get involved in the process from the very beginning, a sentiment that is echoed in the chamber of the 1 Quaker Street space for all to witness this week in Shoreditch.

This grassroots, self-funded initiative was made with 90% recycled materials from Re-collective’s material store and has seen 90% of materials post exhibition repurposed and reused.

Neil, you’re the founder of Beyond the Box – I’m really interested in the “equity by design” concept you’ve spoken about in the past – could you share the story behind founding the movement and what the phrase means to you and your community?

Neil: “Equity by design” at Beyond the Box is about rethinking how our built environments can serve everyone fairly. Recognising that systems of inequality didn’t emerge by accident – they were designed – we aim to reshape them through intentional, inclusive design, and not just the end design outcome, the entire process… This begins by dismantling barriers in our spaces and creating room for collaborative input from diverse voices.

When we say “equity by design,” we’re talking about a commitment to developing environments that genuinely serve community needs, allowing for shared ownership and access. At Beyond the Box, we work alongside communities, inviting them to co-design spaces and opportunities that foster social equity across all areas of society. By involving everyone from the ground up, we build not only fairer environments but also a culture of mutual respect and inclusion. This philosophy drives us to create spaces where people feel empowered and have a tangible stake in shaping their surroundings.

Could you tell us about the open call you launched and the criteria for selecting the winning artists? What were you looking for in their proposals? Why did Lily, Akif, and Taja stand out for you?

Neil: Our open call sought to understand how young people interpret and express their resilience, especially in today’s challenging world. We invited artists to share their unique perspectives on resilience through creative proposals, with a focus on how they could harness their experiences and connections to community and history. In selecting winning artists, we looked for originality, cultural awareness, and an authentic representation of resilience.

Lily, Akif, and Taja stood out for their deep insights and distinct approaches. Taja’s proposal emphasised the power of play and the critical need for spaces where young people can freely express themselves—an essential form of resilience. Akif and Lily, meanwhile, drew from their experiences of student activism, weaving in the history of East London’s activism and protest, and reflecting on current events, such as the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Their proposals showed a profound understanding of resilience as both a personal and collective struggle, deeply connected to heritage, identity, and social justice.

Moving onto you, Taja, Akif, and Lily – could you each tell me a little about your creative background? What brought you to each of your practices?

Akif: I went through the traditional route of GCSE art and A Level art, and then I went into architecture at the Bartlett. For me, architecture was that perfect in-between of art and maths. I’ve been really interested in cultural memory, things like pedagogy and the exchange between different cultures, so architecture felt like an interesting path to take.

Taja: I started my masters in architecture this September, but when I was studying at A Level, I was actually going to do dentistry (laughs). Halfway through, I went back to art and maths to see what I could do with that, and architecture made sense as a combination of the two. When I got to third year of my undergrad in architecture at Nottingham Trent we had a bit more independence so I chose social sustainability as my topic. I wanted to focus one of my buildings to be more of an inclusive environment, catering more to users with disabilities. My brother is autistic, and I’ve always been interested in seeing how he experiences the world – as architects, we’re designing for user experience, but quite often designing for a standard, “typical” user.

Lily: I’m not as decisive as the others (laughs), I didn’t go the traditional route – I did product design and didn’t really like art as a subject, but I really liked architecture, and did a programme called Accelerate with Open City. They really helped me understand what architecture was before I went into it at UCL. Towards the end, I found that I liked the sustainability side and had a real interest in psychology like Taja, so I learnt a lot about neurodivergence and epigenetics, and how buildings can affect the mind.

How do projects like “Expressions of Resilience” help to celebrate and showcase the cultural and creative heritage of young people in East London? What does “resilience” represent in the context of this project?

Neil: “Expressions of Resilience” is a powerful platform that celebrates the strength, creativity, and heritage of young people in East London. This project recognises that young people today face unique challenges—from navigating the aftermath of a global pandemic and witnessing the climate crisis unfold, to seeing the realities of global conflict and injustice directly on their screens. These experiences, though daunting, fuel resilience in countless ways. It’s a celebration of their ability not just to endure, but to thrive and influence change.

Akif: When Lily and I responded to the brief, a lot of universities had encampments happening in protest and in solidarity with Palestine. I was inspired by the way that they managed to take over a communal space and really set up home there, to play, to share poetry, to pray every Friday. It was that attitude that I wanted to go with – the brief of “resilience” felt fitting for that.

Taja: When I received the brief I was basing my project around uplifting users’ voices. From the title of “Expressions of Resilience” I wanted to facilitate spaces for people to express themselves. That was mainly about the sectioning of different zones in the areas we had available. The car wash is one large space, so my idea was to section off into different zones depending on activities. It becomes a multi-space for different people to use depending on what they need that space to do. Some key elements that I wanted to highlight were about healing, conversation, and creativity.

Having an unconventional exhibition space can often change the reception of the work. How do you feel about having your work displayed at BUILDHOLLYWOOD’s 1 Quaker Street in Shoreditch?

Lily: I think because we know it’s a semi-outdoor and semi-indoor space, we really had to think about what people will be doing in that space. There were loads of obstacles that we had to work with to come to a solution – how can we bring brightness into the space? How can we make it homely and warm? It was a case of thinking about the Shoreditch “vibe” which is kind of rustic and raw, and shifting the space to have a more lived-in and intimate feeling instead.

Akif: I think our prior experience to this was mostly designing for student projects, so for me, the difference was designing a real space with all these nooks and crannies and things that cause actual issues in real life. We had to go back and forth about things that wouldn’t work – like drainage pipes and things like that – you can’t really get away from the issues and have to find solutions. I think being so connected to the site really allows you to think three-dimensionally.

Taja: What was also interesting about this project was that we had to think about actually building it ourselves, rather than just handing over the designs to someone else to problem solve it and make changes themselves. We could see the designs change based on how we’d be putting it together. Mine involves a lot of raw wood materials, so we’ve had to think about how we’re going to preserve the material without damaging it, because we want it to be repurposed in future.

Can you tell us how the partnership with BUILDHOLLYWOOD first came together? In an industry that’s often unpredictable, why do you feel collaborations like this – between creative institutions and emerging architects, designers, and artists – are so essential?

N: Our partnership with BUILDHOLLYWOOD came together as one of those rare, ideal collaborations where both sides truly understood the importance of supporting each other’s creativity. BUILDHOLLYWOOD has been incredible in giving us the freedom to stay authentic to our mission, empowering us as a creative organisation while acting as that critical friend who offers valuable guidance.

In an industry that can often feel fragmented or closed off, collaborations like this are essential. They create spaces where emerging architects, designers, and artists can bring their visions to life without gatekeeping or restrictive oversight. By working together, we can foster open, accessible opportunities for growth and innovation, providing platforms for underrepresented voices and allowing genuine, meaningful engagement with communities, in communities.

As emerging artists, what would be your advice to other creatives looking to take the next step in their career?

Lily: One piece of advice I always think to myself is to trust your gut. A lot of the time you’re going to get criticism, but often your gut decision is probably the best decision.

Taja: For me, it would be just to go for it. Don’t be your own barrier, you don’t know what outcomes could come out of a situation if you don’t just try it. I think that’s the biggest problem for me – just having confidence in my abilities, but even if you don’t get the role or whatever, show them what they’re missing (laughs).

Akif: The advice I’d give myself is to not compare yourself to what you think a designer should look like. It’s on the same line of trusting your gut, but just embrace the fact that you have your own perspective and view on the world, and let it feed into your design. Find confidence in your next steps.