Varun Vashi

“Given the large pool of students from different backgrounds, I feel that interaction with varying minds really helps me broaden my perspective on design thinking and how I approach things in general.”

Hometown
Mumbai, India

Degree Program(s)
M.Arch 2G

Expected Graduation Date
May 2025

Academic Areas of Interest
Fabrication, Sustainable Practices, Methods of Making, Media Explorations.

Hobbies or interests outside of academia
Sketching, Painting, Sculpting, Making Products out of Waste Material, Photography.

Why did you choose Taubman College as the right program for you?
I felt that the program gave a balanced amount of flexibility and structure when it came to the coursework, allowing me to learn the core complexities involved in a graduate curriculum while simultaneously exploring different approaches to Architectural Design.

What is special or excites you about the Taubman community?
Given the large pool of students from different backgrounds, I feel that interaction with varying minds really helps me broaden my perspective on design thinking and how I approach things in general.

If applicable, tell us about studio culture – what is inspiring or innovative or unique?
The fact that the faculty is open to us directing our studio in terms of the interactive and collaborative aspects – it is something that I really appreciate. I feel that my peers are way more involved in helping, guiding, and directing me in studio challenges than I was able to experience during my undergraduate studies.

Describe your experience with faculty and professional staff during your time at Taubman?
The faculty has been majorly responsive and considerate towards helping me get the most out of my education. They are willing to give their time, work around it, and give encouragement when going through a tough phase during the studio process. I feel they are all collectively responsible for generating a relatively healthy environment in the school.

How has Taubman’s career and professional development support prepared you for a successful career in your chosen field?
They have been highly responsive when I have queries and given alternatives to certain career trajectories whenever I needed any guidance. They have been extremely cooperative to their maximum capabilities.

What benefits have you experienced being part of the University of Michigan?
Being able to take a host of cross-disciplinary courses and try out courses for a certain time period before confirming them for the rest of the semester is something that I really liked about being a part of the University of Michigan. Certain weekly creative activities, especially those hosted by the Arts Engine & Arts Initiative, have been super fun.

What do you like most about being part of the Ann Arbor community?
I like the help and assistance that quite a few organizations have offered when in need. The hosting of events that bring together people from all backgrounds and help them ensure that they are not alone in a new place really helps a lot, especially as an international student. Such factors are important to adjust to the climate of the town.

What advice would you give prospective students as they consider Taubman College?
The College and the University is abundant in terms of its resources; just make sure that they are the ones that are going to help you learn/get what you want, and this is definitely a great school for you to learn new methods and techniques of thinking design.

What are your plans after graduation?
I want to get into practice in projects that are large-scale and oversee them on different scales. Simultaneously, I plan to return to Academia in an Instructional capacity and balance both roles in Architectural Practice.

Additional advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective students?
Out here, you will definitely get the platform to explore different ways of approaching Architecture. A flexibility and variation that will help you play around with approaches while learning a whole lot in the process.