Principal Architect Brent Koch takes us on a journey to define and demystify the concept of design excellence. He explains that it's more than just aesthetics; it's a guiding philosophy for creating buildings that truly serve people, respect the planet, and are built through thoughtful collaboration. Drawing on the AIA's Framework for Design Excellence, Brent walks us through ten key principles from integration and equitable communities to sustainability, economy, and well-being. This is a conversation about broadening our definition of success to encompass purpose, resilience, and the power of a design that is truly meaningful and lasting.