Erin Besler and Ian Besler

Erin Besler and Ian Besler are co-founders of Besler & Sons, an office based in New Jersey and New York that works on buildings, objects, videos, software, and exhibitions to expand the definition of architecture through active participation with amateur creators, construction trades, and design software. They work to create new audiences and opportunities for social engagement.

Alongside their practice, they pursue design research through writing and teaching, with publications in journals including Log, Pidgin, Future Anterior, Project, San Rocco, and Perspecta. Their design work has been included in more than 40 public installations and exhibitions internationally. They were finalists for MoMA PS1’s Young Architects Program, participants in the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and the Shenzhen and Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Architecture/Urbanism. Besler & Sons has been profiled and their work featured in The New York Times T Magazine, Dezeen, Wallpaper*, Architect Magazine, Domino Magazine, The Architect’s Newspaper, and Archinect.

Erin is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Princeton University School of Architecture. She was recently awarded the Founders Rome Prize in architecture from the American Academy in Rome, as well as the Young Architects Prize by the Architectural League of New York. Ian teaches courses in graphic design at Pratt Institute and interaction design at Santa Monica College. He has received a Core77 Design Award for his writing and was awarded the Milken Family Foundation Design Fellowship.

Portrait photo by Andy J. Scott.