Owning Differences: Dezeen's Architecture Editor Lizzie Crook on Provoking Thought, Amplifying Voices, and Inspiring People

By Julia Gamolina

Lizzie is architecture editor at Dezeen, the world's most influential architecture and design magazine. She has interviewed some of the world’s leading architects, including Norman Foster and Yasmeen Lari, and in 2023 she was highly commended as Architectural Journalist of the Year at the International Building Press Awards. Outside of work, Lizzie enjoys photography, music, hiking and running. She has a particular penchant for photographing people and places, often seen out exploring with her camera.

JG: As architecture editor for what is a very influential publication, what are you most interested in covering for the rest of 2025? What is something you're thinking about a lot that you feel all of us should be paying attention to?

LC: 2025 is a landmark year for architecture, marked by two major global events: the World Expo in Osaka and the Venice Architecture Biennale. As the world navigates numerous climate and humanitarian crises, I've been thinking a lot about the value and cost of these kinds of gatherings. While they serve as vital platforms for bringing together leading and emerging creatives and sparking important conversations across borders, they can also have huge environmental implications.

The climate crisis and architecture's role in it are never far from my mind. We all have a responsibility for questioning how this industry operates while ensuring there are adequate platforms for those pushing for meaningful change.

Lizzie interviewing the Elemental founders on a walk through Venice during the Architecture Biennale. Photo by Victor Oddó.

Now let's go back a little bit — tell me about why you studied architecture, and how you chose where you studied architecture?

When I was about seven years old, I was in the back of the car listening to my sister discussing her school subjects and possible career options with my Mum. One of them brought up the possibility of her being an architect, and I asked them what that was. Without much understanding of what it would entail, in that moment, I decided it was the job for me!

At school, I loved the sciences and arts, so architecture always felt like a career path that would allow me to continue exploring interests in both. This led me to study at the University of Sheffield, as the architecture course placed a big focus on both environmental studies as well as drawing and model-making. We were always encouraged to put pen to paper first. Aside from that, it meant I got to study in the light-filled studios on the top floors of the Arts Tower, the city's iconic Miesian tower with one of only two paternoster lifts in the UK!

You started writing for Dezeen straight out of architecture school. How did this come about, and how did you make the choice to go into media after a foundation in design?

Throughout architecture school, I gradually realized I was far more interested in reading and writing about architecture than designing it. Towards the end of my degree, while most of my friends were spending late nights in the studio, I was often finding respite down in the library, combing through books for my dissertation.

After a placement at an architecture firm left me feeling unfulfilled, it occurred to me that being an architect wasn't going to work for me. It felt quite scary to admit after spending so much time — and money — working towards this, but today I'm very grateful for trusting my instincts.

In my last term, I confessed this to my dissertation tutor, which felt like a cardinal sin at the time. He explained that at the age of fifty, he still wasn’t sure if he wanted to be an architect either, and so excitedly encouraged me to explore the interest in writing I had developed. Shortly after, an internship at Dezeen popped up and I immediately applied. Thankfully the stars aligned, and the team saw me as a good fit.

“I’ve learned that you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to have an impact.”

— Lizzie Crook

You then joined YCN. Tell me about what you learned there.

YCN was a former creative agency where I worked after my internship at Dezeen. One of my main focuses there was working on its print magazine, for which I interviewed and wrote about the brands and illustrators in its network. My role here was a big adjustment. The pace was slower than I was used to, coming out of architecture school and the news room at Dezeen, and my focus was on illustration and advertising rather than buildings.

I quickly realised how much I missed writing about architecture, and that working in a fast-paced environment where every day is different was better suited to me, which led me back to Dezeen.

You've now been at Dezeen for almost eight years total, and starting as an intern! Tell me how you've grown personally and professionally through those years. Where do you feel like you are in your career today?

I've spent a lot of that time out of my comfort zone, often battling with imposter syndrome. I'm an introverted person, and for a long time, I saw this as a weakness. Today though, I'm proud of it and know it’s a strength of mine. It can often feel like society favors extroverts, but I’ve learned that you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to have an impact.

Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or setbacks?

As with many women, the biggest challenge for me has always been imposter syndrome, which has often led me to overwork or set unrealistic standards for myself. Over time, I realised this was hindering my progress rather than facilitating it. This hasn't been helped by being a young woman in a field that can feel dominated by men. I've been on work trips where male architects have failed to introduce themselves to me as they’ve mistaken me for an assistant to someone else, and one once asked me "if I know much about architecture".

In an interview, I asked White CEO Alexandra Hagen how she has navigated working as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and she told me she learned to enjoy being the one who's different in the room. Since then, I've been trying to do the same in these scenarios, and it's getting easier.

“Trust your instincts and own your differences.”

— Lizzie Crook

Who are you admiring now and why?

The Dezeen editorial team, always! They're a joy to work with and some of the most fun and intelligent people I know. We're also a women-dominated team, which is an energising environment to work in.

The two people I admire and look up to the most are my sisters. They are both hugely successful at work but also lead very fulfilling lives outside of their jobs. They've taught me the importance of working and playing hard, and taking on challenges both inside and outside of work. They're always my first point of call when I want advice. Those who know us well often describe me as their hybrid — they have shaped who I am, and I know they always will.

What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?

As a writer, I hope I can use my platform to inform, provoke thought, inspire people and help amplify the voices of the people who deserve it most. As I mentioned earlier, the climate crisis is always at the forefront of my mind, so I feel a particular responsibility to support and report on those in our field who are courageously leading the way in mitigating this.

Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career?

Trust your instincts and own your differences. Pursue your interests and develop specialisms, but take your time and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Make time to help others in return. Step out of your comfort zone, but always remember there's so much to life outside of work — dedicating time to this will only make you better at your job!

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.