Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

Research has shown that an individual’s life expectancy is determined more by their Zip Code than by their own DNA. After decades of systemic disinvestment, communities across the country have seen their built environment contribute to unequal access to health, education, and development opportunities. Building upon theories of spatial agency, collective impact, and design advocacy, built environment practitioners in the field of public interest design have begun to serve communities as their clients in pursuit of equitable community development. As pre-design advocacy evolves beyond standard forms of community engagement, new methods of participatory design are necessary. These interdisciplinary methods present opportunities for communities to own the visioning and take part in the co-creation of a more equitable built environment. From co-developing and evaluating the impact of bilingual health promotion signage in public parks to forming a community council to develop and launch a mobile grocery store, the participatory design methods highlighted in this paper demonstrate how consent and consensus building can allow for greater representation and participation in design practice. By sharing power with communities the gateway of design possibilities expands, allowing for more diverse voices to be at the table from the beginning. The paper highlights three specific projects that utilized participatory design as a strategy to frame equitable development: addressing an urban waterway under a consent decree to alleviate environmental injustices; promoting greater health outcomes through food distribution advocacy; and empowering the next generation of built environment practitioners from youth in under-served communities.