Dezeen Magazine

Donald Trump illustration by Lennart Gäbel
Illustration by Lennart Gäbel

10 times Donald Trump caused a stir in the architecture and design community

Today is President's Day in the USA, so we're looking back at our most controversial stories about current POTUS Donald Trump, from a Nazi-style logo to an IKEA version of his proposed Mexican border wall.

Ever since the real-estate mogul and reality TV star announced his plans to run for the US presidency, the architecture and design community has reacted strongly to Trump's policies and opinions.

Now in office, the new commander in chief is continuing to ruffle feathers, with many vocalising both support and distain for his proposals.

Here are 10 of our stories about Trump that have provoked the biggest responses from our readers:


Prison-Wall by Estudio 3.14

Trump's Mexican border wall envisioned as Barragán-inspired pink barrier

When Trump first proposed building a wall along the US border with Mexico during his presidential campaign, Mexican firm Estudio 3.14 visualised the "gorgeous perversity" of the plan.

The architects envisioned a giant pink barrier influenced by the work of legendary Mexican architect Luis Barragán, which would incorporate a prison for detained immigrants.

Read more about the Prison-Wall ›


Trump Tower Las Vegas

Around the world in 10 Trump Towers

As Trump's campaign gained momentum in the weeks before the election, we looked into his contribution to global architecture.

Dezeen rounded up 10 of the skyscrapers that he developed and that bear his name, in locations ranging from Las Vegas and New York to Istanbul and Manila.

See all 10 Trump Towers ›


Trump Tower Las Vegas

"Trumpitecture stands as a sad but honest reflection of the values Trump proudly embodies"

Trump's unique approach to architecture was also tackled by US architect Doug Staker in an Opinion column.

He said that the garish and self-indulgent buildings developed by the then Republican candidate revealed a lot about how he would run America if elected president.

Read Doug Staker's Opinion column ›


Make America Vote Again illustration

Illustrators react to Donald Trump's shock US election win

After Trump beat Democrat rival Hillary Clinton to be named the US election winner on 9 November 2016, illustrators took to Instagram and Twitter to express their feelings about his victory.

The images that trickled onto social media sites were mainly unfavourable, and included a depiction of Trump grabbing the Statue of Liberty's crotch and a hat bearing the slogan "Make America vote again".

See the illustrated reactions ›


US Congress

American architects pledge to work with Donald Trump

In the wake of the shock election result, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) issued a statement vowing to work with Trump to improve the country's infrastructure.

The organisation's chief Robert Ivy assured that architects across the USA would help the incoming president and congress with matters relating to the construction industry.

Read more about the AIA's post-election statement ›


Donald Trump

AIA issues apology after Trump support backlash

The AIA's post-election statement did not go down well with many of its members and other architects.

The outrage caused by the comments led to the release of a video in which Ivy and president Russ Davidson admitted that their memo was "tone deaf" and "resulted in hurt and anger by too many people".

Read more about the AIA's apology ›


We The People poster by Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey adapts Obama's Hope poster for Trump inauguration

Ahead of Trump's inauguration on 11 January 2017, American designer Shepard Fairey created three new posters based on his iconic graphics supporting Barack Obama's 2008 election.

The images used the same style and colour palette, but depicted non-famous faces representing some of the USA's minority populations.

Read more about the We The People posters ›


No Ban No Wall protest

US tech companies unite against Trump's travel ban

One of Trump's first moves as president was to sign an executive order restricting citizens of seven Middle Eastern and African countries from entering the US.

This "Muslim ban" was denounced by tech companies including Apple, Amazon, Google and Airbnb, which also took legal action against the immigration restrictions.

Read more about the fight against the travel restrictions ›


Nazi-style logo for Trump by Tucker Viemeister

Tucker Viemeister proposes Nazi-style logo for Donald Trump

American industrial designer Tucker Viemeister designed a logo for Trump based on Nazi insignia to reflect the billionaire's "racist hate mongering".

Viemeister created the logo, featuring a tilting letter T inside a white circle on a red background, in April 2016 – but told Dezeen that the symbol gained new relevance after the travel restrictions were introduced.

Read more about the Nazi-style logo ›


IKEA Börder Wåll

IKEA Börder Wåll provides Trump with affordable construction option

As plans for the US-Mexico border wall continued to develop, questions were raised about its potential cost – estimated at $15 and $25 billion (£12 and £20 billion).

As a tongue-in-cheek solution, a spoof of an IKEA flat-pack furniture kit called Börder Wåll emerged, with instructions for building the barrier for just $9,999,999,999.99.

Read more about the IKEA Börder Wåll ›