Architects are inherent world builders.

In our concrete castles, we methodically conjure visions, drawings, and narratives of a piece of the world that does not yet exist. We imagine the nonexistent. We materialize the intangible. As designers, we each envision a unique world grounded in our own adventures, ideals, and aspirations.

In a recent lecture on “Radical Cartography: How Changing Our Maps Can Change Our World,” Yale history professor William Rankin described architects as “world builders.” He suggested that, much like cartographers, architects are trained to articulate versions of the world yet to be visualized. By revealing new fragments of the world, we generate fresh perspectives, inspire others, and help shape a more authentic future. This description shifted our perception of the role of architecture students and reminded us that world building is one of our most powerful tools in design.

In this edition of Paprika!, we invited designers to share a glimpse of their most fantastical worlds. To our delight, we were met with an array of charming, deeply expressive stories. In many ways, this issue is its own little world—a printed terrarium of ritualistic plants, shadowy beasts, heroic pests, underground fish, microscopic infrastructure, imaginary landscapes, and ephemeral architecture. We hope these tales inspire you as much as they inspire us.

We believe that world building transcends academic environments and is most profound in our personal lives. By imagining new versions of ourselves, our world, and our quests in life, we reveal our fullest potential. World building is embedded in everything we do. We believe when we embrace the power of otherworldliness, we innovate and inspire most.

Wherever your journey takes you, we encourage you to practice world building in your life—to imagine the most whimsical, peaceful, or heroic versions of it, and to pursue that vision without doubt. Perhaps your quest to bring this world into reality begins now. Go forth with courage.

Citation: Rankin, William. Radical Cartography: Visual Argument In the Age of Data. New York: Viking, 2025