Rakibul Hasan’s curious journey of designing the future

Md Rakibul Hasan (Alumnus and former lecturer, SoAD) has recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with Distinction, bringing immense glory to BRACU.  He pursued his master’s degree in Design: Robotics and Autonomous Systems (MSD-RAS)- a program that brought together his architectural background and his passion towards making spaces come alive.

For Rakibul, one of the defining experiences of studying at UPenn was learning to think beyond conventional boundaries, which brought his vision of combining robotics with architecture to reality. Looking ahead, he envisions a design culture where architects play a leading role in technological innovation, bringing more efficient and empirical approaches to building the future.

While studying at BracU, the resources that Rakibul was exposed to played a pivotal role in taking him beyond the usual scope of architecture. Moreover, equally rewarding was his experience as a lecturer at his Alma mater, during which he prioritized creating a safe environment for his students to chase innovations. As he begins his role as a Teaching Assistant at UPenn, he hopes to bring the same student-friendly approach with him.

To Rakibul, his success still feels a bit surreal. His journey has been transformative, shaped by every challenge that he faced during his degree. Moving to the USA felt like navigating uncharted waters without a radar, embracing uncertainty in its many forms. Yet amidst the unfamiliarity, his wife is who he describes as his lighthouse, as her unwavering care and support transformed a foreign land into a place he could call home.

Curiosity is what led him to explore channels through which he could express himself, and his discipline followed through. For the aspirers chasing a similar dream, he adds, “If your path looks different from others, that may actually be your strength. Coming from Bangladesh or BracU is not a weakness that needs to be hidden. It is a lens, a background, and a story that can make your work more meaningful”.