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Julia Watson
Julia Watson is a designer, educator, and author whose work advocates for the integration of traditional and Indigenous knowledge into climate resilient design. From an early age, she engaged with First Nations ecological perspectives, developing a deep understanding of how human and natural systems co-evolve, a worldview that guides her work. She is the author Lo–TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism (TASCHEN, 2019) and Lo–TEK Water: A Field Guide for TEKnology (TASCHEN, 2025), and the leader of the global Lo–TEK movement and the field of TEKnological Urbanism. Her work is deeply collaborative, co-created with Indigenous authors and communities. Watson founded the Lo–TEK Institute, advancing nature-based education, and the Lo–TEK Office of Intercultural Urbanism, guiding interdisciplinary teams in culturally grounded, place-based design where the landscape is treated as the foundational technology of the built environment.
“The World Around creates space for the voices and visions we urgently need—those that challenge dominant narratives and center regenerative, Indigenous, and ecological futures. Being part of this community reinforces my belief that design can be a powerful force for reciprocity, restoration, and cultural continuity. What gives me hope is the growing recognition that ancient knowledge systems hold keys to solving our most pressing environmental challenges—and that we're finally listening.”
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