Diego Serna
ABOUT
Colombian architect passionate about architecture, the visual arts, geometric generation, artificial intelligence, and parametric modeling. I focus on exploring and applying technology to improve design outcomes. I consider myself highly inquisitive, always seeking new tools and approaches to achieve my goals.
EDUCATION
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Masters of Science in Computational Design (MSCD)
2026 — 2028
2 years
2 years
Universidad del Valle
Cali, Colombia
Cali, Colombia
Bachelor of Architectural Studies (B.Arch)
2017 — 2022
5 years
5 years
• Highly regarded public university in Colombia.
• School of Architecture focused on studio-based design, urbanism, and building.
• A five-year pre-professional architecture degree.
• Thesis: "Shade Structures System For Public Space: An Approach to Parametric Design Processes and Tools".
• School of Architecture focused on studio-based design, urbanism, and building.
• A five-year pre-professional architecture degree.
• Thesis: "Shade Structures System For Public Space: An Approach to Parametric Design Processes and Tools".
Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje SENA
Armenia, Colombia
Armenia, Colombia
Architectural Design Technician
2014 — 2015
2 years
2 years
• Technical training in architectural documentation and representation
AWARDS & HONORS
Playing Models
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Selected Work (Open Call)
2025
Image series from exploratory studies using LoRA in ComfyUI and 3D-to-Image pipelines. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).
Universidad del Valle
Cali, Colombia
Cali, Colombia
Academic Excellence Scholarship
2020
Awarded for outstanding academic performance in the Architecture program. Received on four occasions:
- June 2018
- April 2019
- December 2020
- March 2022
CERTIFICATIONS
Nvidia
Self-paced Course
Self-paced Course
Generative AI with Diffusion Models
07/2025 — 08/2025
1 month
1 month
Course Objectives: Build a U-Net to generate images from pure noise; improve the quality of generated images with the denoising diffusion process; control the image output with context embeddings; generate images from English text prompts using CLIP.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Stable Diffusion:
- ComfyUI / ForgeUI / Automatic1111
- Coding Languages:
- Python
- Parametric Modeling:
- Rhino / Grasshopper / Gh Python / 3ds Max / SketchUp / Blender
- CAD / BIM :
- AutoCAD / Revit
- Rendering :
- V-Ray (Rhino, 3ds max) / Corona (3ds max) / Lumion / Twinmotion
WORK EXPERIENCE
ARUP Colombia — Computational development / Architectural Designer
Bogotá, Colombia — full-time employment
03/2025 — 06/2025
3 months
3 months
- Perform advanced computational design tasks using tools such as Grasshopper, Python, and Stable Diffusion.
- Develop parametric scripts for large-scale urban analysis, focusing on urban geometry and individual statistical patterns for a project in the Dominican Republic.
- Generate AI-assisted renderings and photomontages by editing real environments and transforming architectural scenes.
DL320 Studio — Architectural Designer Co-founder
Boston, MA — part-time
01/2024 — 08/2025
1 year, 6 months
1 year, 6 months
- Establish a visualization and interior design studio delivering compelling visual solutions for architecture and real estate.
- Integrate emerging AI technologies into daily architectural workflows to enhance project development and creative experimentation.
- Conduct independent research on the development of AI-driven tools and create custom workflows in ComfyUI for image generation and visualization processes.
- Execute high-quality 3D modeling for design proposals, emphasizing precision and spatial storytelling.
- Manage the studio’s digital presence through strategic content creation for social media and website platforms.
Taller 77 — Architectural Designer
Cali, Colombia — full-time employment
05/2024 — 10/2024
6 months
6 months
- Designed innovative bamboo (guadua) structures with unconventional roof geometries, responding to the unique characteristics of this native material.
- Applied advanced 3D modeling techniques to manage complex geometries and support organic design approaches.
- Produced detailed planimetry and technical documentation for fabrication and on-site construction guidance.
CO-OP WORK EXPERIENCE
Universidad del Valle — Internship
Cali, Colombia
2022
6 months
6 months
Completed a research internship with the Group for Representation and Architecture (Observatorio de Arquitectura Contemporánea) under the project "RE-EXISTENCIA Y RE-HABITACIÓN VIRTUAL DIGITAL (2022)". Digitally reconstructed modernist housing from the 1950s in Cali, Colombia.
Recinto Estudio — Internship
Cali, Colombia
2021
5 months
5 months
Part of a design team reconstructing a hurricane-damaged home in Providencia; designed the timber structural system for hurricane conditions including lateral bracing, uplift-resistant connections, and corrosion-resistant hardware.
Pantoja Arquitectos — Internship
Cali, Colombia
2020
9 months
9 months
Worked with an architecture studio on multiple public design competitions for civic buildings — including museums and a music building — contributing to concept development, programming, massing studies, acoustic and code considerations, and presentation boards.
PRESENTATIONS / TALKS
ArmyOne Studio — Presented a talk on AI tools
Cali, Colombia
2025
Universidad del Valle — Guest at the Machinehaus design workshop
Cali, Colombia
2025
INEM Jose Celestino Mutis — Talk for high school students
Armenia, Colombia
2025
LANGUAGES
English — Professional
Spanish — Native
Spanish — Native