The environmental places where people live, work, and play may be functional. However, can they be more than that? Multidisciplinary designer Hazel Sun believes so. As a three-part artist, architect, and landscaper, she creates environments that unite beauty, purpose, and social impact.
The Pressure of Meaningful Design
Design today faces the challenge of balancing aesthetics, functionality, and social purpose. Architectural and landscape projects must do more than offer visual appeal—they must also respond to environmental realities, cultural diversity, and the universal human need for belonging.
Sun has built her creative practice around this belief. “I was drawn to explore how design can have a tangible impact—how creative vision can work hand-in-hand with real estate, hospitality, and the leisure industry to shape the environments where people live, connect, and find joy,” she says. This motivation led her to integrate architecture, landscape architecture, and art into a cohesive and expressive design language that defines her work today.
Designs for Human Connections
Sun approaches design as a conversation between people, nature, and culture. Her work at Hart Howerton, an award-winning firm specializing in hospitality projects, shows her belief that spaces can become destinations for connection. By combining architectural precision with ecological sensitivity, she infuses her projects with a sense of warmth and belonging.
As a teaching assistant at the Wharton School of Business, she supports the course “Product Design.” This endeavor sits at the intersection of design and business, further demonstrating her interdisciplinary reach—bridging creative practice with innovation and strategy. It also reflects her view that good design unites artistry, practicality, and collaboration.
A Look Back at Sun’s Path
“Growing up, I spent long afternoons in art studios taking drawing lessons,” Sun says. A supportive high school 3D art teacher nurtured her artistic confidence and gave her unrestricted access to an art studio. That small gesture helped her develop an early sense of creative independence.
Sun earned a Bachelor of Architecture with honors from Pratt Institute, supported by a merit-based scholarship. Her work quickly gained recognition, including the NYCXDESIGN Award in the Student Category and the UNI International Architecture Competition “Editor’s Choice” Award. Her top-honor degree project, “Perkspace,” explored how physical environments can encourage social connection.
After graduating, living in Brooklyn deepened her fascination with the urban landscape—how small parks and plazas become vital meeting grounds for people of all backgrounds. That curiosity led her to the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Master of Landscape Architecture. While at UPenn, her AI-based artworks were featured in a university exhibition, showcasing her ability to blend art, technology, and design.
The Gift of Imperfect Creativity
“One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome is perfectionism,” Sun admits. “In design school and early in my career, that mindset sometimes held me back from trusting my instincts.” Now, she approaches creativity not with the intent to achieve flawlessness. Instead, the endgame is to commit deeply to one idea and refine it through iteration.
Sun volunteers in her spare time at AIA | Center for Architecture. As someone passionate about hospitality and placemaking, this charitable service reinforces her dedication to using design as a tool for cultural enrichment and collective learning.
Creative Vision with Real-World Strategy
Hazel Sun’s career reflects a rare balance between creativity and grounded strategy. This multidisciplinary designer hopes to continue developing destination projects that unite artistry and practicality. “I want to continue harnessing my design skills, especially for the hospitality industry,” she says. Looking ahead, Sun plans to further her creative exploration—possibly through a book on design and creativity—sharing her vision of how artistry and purpose can shape the modern world.