Sehar Mapara is a recent graduate who majored in design and environmental analysis (DEA). She is now an architectural designer with MAOarch Architecture, a woman- and minority-owned boutique firm specializing in luxury retail, workplace and commercial projects. In addition to her day-to-day work at MAOarch, she has participated in New York and Paris design weeks.

Mapara shared insights into how her undergraduate experience informs her work: 

Q. What do you do as an architectural designer?

A. My role is a mix of design, technical drawing, and coordination. I work on projects from early design development through construction, which includes refining concepts, testing layouts and materials, and ensuring that the design can be built within budget, schedule, and code requirements.

Communication is a key aspect of my role. I’m involved both behind the scenes and in client-facing moments. Internally, I collaborate closely with the MAOarch architecture and design teams; externally, I participate in client meetings, design presentations, and coordination with vendors and fabricators. A major part of my work is managing the back-and-forth between design intent and real-world constraints. This includes adjusting details, sourcing materials, and iterating on drawings based on client feedback and technical requirements.

Q. What have you learned that you wish you knew when you were a student?

A. Ask your professors for help and advice. They are the ultimate resource for strengthening your projects.

Posted on
01/16/2026
Author
Marisa LaFalce
Tags
Alumni
Faculty member and student discuss a design project during a crit

Sehar Mapara ’24 receives feedback during a mid-semester review. She credits her studio classes with helping her approach projects with greater long-term vision and cohesiveness. Photo by Simon Wheeler.

Q. What CHE class prepared you best for your career?

A. The cohesiveness of DEA studio classes applies directly to my work because everything is project-based and iterative. Each project starts with understanding the brand, the space, and the client’s goals. We then move through multiple rounds of design development, critique, revision, and refinement before reaching a final built outcome. 
The cycle of concept, feedback, iteration, and resolution mirrors how studio projects at Cornell function and has prepared me well for the industry.

Q. What three adjectives do you use to describe the DEA major?

A. Eye-opening, well-rounded and creative.

Q. Do you have any other advice you would give to current and prospective students?

A. Explore as many different avenues of thought in Human Ecology as you can! There is such a wide array of majors and areas of study. You won't know how they all connect until you experience them.