About Us

Our work is rooted in the empowerment and cultivation of community.

 

ARCHEFFECT is a multi-disciplinary, intersectional design studio based in Los Angeles, California. We center womxn, people of color and our queer community (QTBIPOC) in our work and use our collaborative design processes to address challenges our communities face.

Founded in 2010 by Lilliana Castro, a Salvadoran immigrant and queer-punk feminist, on the premise that the role of the designer is a facilitator rather than an expert. We share our knowledge and tools with our community for design to be accessible and inclusive to all.

We draw from our intersections and experiences to foster equity and create platforms for our Clients to increase visibility, amplify their voices and deepen their impact.

We believe our work has a greater purpose and working together we contribute a to a larger discourse that challenges social constructs, promotes agency, and impacts policy.

We work to uplift traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge and practices, working towards sustainable outcomes for our communities to have representation and agency.

FOUNDER

Lilliana Castro (she/her/ella) is a community focused designer, living and working in Los Angeles. Born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador, she is a graduate of The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and currently undergoing licensure in the State of California.

She is the founder and Chief Creative of Acheffect, established in 2010 to bridge her passion for community and collaborative architecture, increasing access to design for the people who will inhabit and experience the designs. Her work primarily focus on identity, examining the concepts of place, culture and empowerment. In her art practice, she raises awareness and funds for community initiatives such as the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES).

Her work has been experienced at the the Illuminate L.A.’s Collective Memory Installation at Grand Park, at Los Angeles State Historic Park with the site specific design-build installation, ‘Pulling the Sun Back’ in collaboration with Mercedes Dorame, the Architecture + Design Museum ‘Come In Les Femmes’the Coachella Music & Arts Festival 2012EDC Las Vegas 2013Coachella Music & Arts Festival 2014. In 2018 she received 1st place with her team in the the Yes to ADU Design Competition in Los Angeles to advance the legislation and policies for Accessible Dwelling Units (ADU).

Outside of the studio Lilliana teaches Architecture and Design at Long Beach City College Architecture and leads the design-build initiatives for the program. She has previously taught and lectured at USC School of Architecture, USC Cinematic Arts, the Los Angeles Institute of Architecture and Design (LAIAD), Pasadena City College (PCC) and Santa Monica College (SMC).