Design+Civic Leadership

The relationship between design and civic leadership is particularly relevant today as we navigate the development and management of our cities in the changing 21st century.

In this gathering, leaders in architecture, urban planning, development and civic agencies discussed the challenges and successes in civic engagement and design. The exchange explored the many facets of civic participation, from “compromises that result from engaging the public” to “cultivating an educated citizen in order to participate fully and helpfully in a design dialogue and public review process.”

The participants agreed that architects, planners and civic leaders should work together to build an appetite for good design in communities by reframing public dialogues about “design” into dialogues about the quality of life we want the city to offer. Successful development will serve the public need for a livable, dynamic city where civic leaders support a long-term, planning-oriented view.

Direct public participation offers planners and the decision-makers opportunities to learn from the public about how they want to live in the city. An investment in education was underscored as a way to improve the public engagement process, with environmental literacy held up as a model for design literacy. Kids are successful ambassadors for sustainability, energy conservation and recycling. Through educational initiatives, they can also become advocates for design excellence.