Kellie

Dinh

hackNY class of 2018

Kellie Dinh is an alum from the class of 2018 who took an unconventional path into architecture. Initially drawn to computer science, she honed her coding skills through hackathons and internships and built a strong foundation in the tech industry.

Kellie’s desire for a creative outlet led her to architecture, where she leveraged her problem-solving abilities and technical background to excel in graduate studies. Now at USC, Kellie is poised to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds, bringing her unique perspective to the field.

Kellie’s Favorite Projects

  • Prelude in G Minor

    Inspired by the musical intricacies of Rachmaninoff’s 1901 “Prelude in G Minor”, Kellie created a formal representation system for its sheet music. This project adds form to musical notation like notes, rhythm, volume, and duration. The final system is organized as a 20” x 24” x 1/2” basswood model.

    Portfolio

  • Full Resolution Study

    Kellie’s studio cohort designed and built six site-specific structures within a two-week charette (hackathon) for the quad above a library at USC. The group’s design was inspired by Turrell Skyspaces, incorporating framed views of the surrounding scenery. 

    Instagram

  • Growing Forward: Planting Generational Roots

    The USC NOMAS chapter participated in an annual design competition among schools all over the country. The brief was to design a concept to honor Portland's Black community and includes mixed-income residential development and commercial, retail, and community spaces.

    Article

Origins

Kellie's journey began in 2015 when she enrolled at Bryn Mawr College. At first undecided on a major, she explored diverse fields like architecture, computer science, higher-level math, and mechanical design. A pivotal moment came during an undergraduate architecture studio which sparked her interest in the field.

While pursuing an undergraduate degree, Kellie entertained the idea of pursuing a master’s in architecture. She learned that an undergraduate degree in architecture wasn’t a prerequisite for graduate studies and kept the option in mind as she navigated her academic path.

Discovering a Passion for Code

In undergrad, Kellie’s interest in computer science took center stage. She was captivated by the power of code and participated in hackathons during her first and second years of college. These events introduced her to vibrant tech communities where she made strong friendships and solidified her career aspirations.

Kellie’s passion for building community led her to organize hackathons in 2018 and 2019 that brought together the historic Seven Sisters women’s colleges which include Barnard, Wellesley, Smith, Vassar, and Mount Holyoke. Kellie’s experience organizing these events showcased her leadership skills and commitment to fostering inclusive communities within the tech industry.

She realized that by dedicating herself to coursework, attending hackathons, and honing her resume, she could secure internships and land a fulfilling job in the tech industry.

hackNY

Kellie’s journey with hackNY was instrumental in shaping her career and personal growth. hackNY provided her with a supportive network of like-minded individuals, which she found particularly valuable coming from a small liberal arts school with a limited CS department. Through hackNY, Kellie gained exposure to a diverse range of tech professionals and discovered a shared passion for using technology for social good.

Kellie's hackNY fellowship led to a dream internship at BuzzFeed, where she gained valuable hands-on experience working on internal and external-facing applications across BuzzFeed’s organization.

Her time as a hackNY fellow equipped Kellie with the skills and confidence to navigate the job market successfully once she returned to school for her senior year. The hackNY network proved invaluable in her job search with opportunities and advice. Kellie worked with Chris Wan h’15 to practice interviewing and leveraged the knowledge of the hackNY alumNY to help negotiate her salary and get the best offer possible for her first job. 

Post hackNY

After her hackNY fellowship, Kellie’s career continued to flourish. Upon graduating, she began her software engineering career in NYC where she gained valuable experience and honed her technical skills while she figured out her next step.

In 2020, a new opportunity arose through the hackNY network. Alice Ren h’15, a fellow hackNY alum, invited Kellie to join a promising startup founded by Valentin Perez h’16, another hackNY connection. The fully remote nature of the company allowed Kellie to embrace a digital nomad lifestyle, exploring different cities and spending a month in a ski house with other hackNY friends.

Rediscovering

Architecture

During her time working, Kellie’s latent interest in architecture was rekindled. A company-sponsored creativity stipend provided the perfect opportunity to delve deeper into this passion. She enrolled in an architectural hand-drawing course at Parsons, dedicating her evenings and weekends to honing the skill. The rigorous coursework and the joy of creating tangible designs reignited her desire to pursue a formal education in architecture.

In 2022, Kellie moved to Los Angeles. She enrolled in a program at the Los Angeles Institute of Architecture and Design (LAIAD), a one-year intensive course designed to prepare students for graduate architecture programs. The program provided her with a solid foundation in architectural design principles and techniques and helped her develop a strong portfolio.

Kellie moved to Lake Tahoe after her time at LAIAD, where she worked as a snowboarding instructor. This experience allowed her to step away from the fast-paced tech world and meet folks from different backgrounds than her. During this time, she also worked on her application to graduate school. She submitted it at the end of 2022 and enjoyed her remaining time on the mountain that winter.

At the end of snowboarding season, Kellie received her application decisions for graduate school. With help from the hackNY community to negotiate scholarships, she accepted a spot at the prestigious USC School of Architecture in 2023.

A
New Chapter

Though she’s excited about the potential of AI in architecture, Kellie wants to remain grounded in the physical. She’s drawn to the analog process of designing, the joy of sketching, and the satisfaction of building physical models. Her goal is to gain a deep understanding of the traditional building industry, its challenges, and its opportunities for innovation. Rather than taking the route of a computational designer – someone who uses code to design structures – she prefers the more tangible process of designing, being hands on.

While her classmates come from design and math backgrounds, Kellie’s unique experience in computer science sets her apart in the architecture program. Her technical skills and problem-solving abilities enable her to bring a fresh perspective to traditional architectural challenges. As she navigates the rigorous coursework and studio projects, she's learning to balance creativity with technical precision.

As Kellie continues her journey, she’s grateful for the invaluable support and connections she’s forged through hackNY. From her initial internship at BuzzFeed to her current pursuit of a master’s degree in architecture, hackNY has played a role in shaping her career path and personal growth. Even while living in LA, she still hopes to move back to NYC one day.