Designing with Communities: A Framework for a Collaborative Public Engagement Process

Abstract

This research explores approaches to public engagement processes in the field of Urban Planning, as well as the relationship between Urban Planners and Community Members through that process. A series of interviews was conducted with practicing Urban Planners to determine their current approaches to public engagement, as well as their rationale for using those approaches. Data from the interviews was used to design the objectives and methods for a participatory design session. The participatory design session was held with a group of Urban Planners, Community Advocates, and Community Members as participants. Participants were facilitated through activities to elicit the values each of these groups can offer to the public engagement process, as well as generating ideas for how they might collaborate more effectively. The session was informed by the Asset-based Community Development methodology. Data from literature review, interviews, and the participatory design session were then analyzed and synthesized to generate further insights for development of prototypes for possible solutions. Several iterations of prototypes were created and tested, in order to arrive at a conceptual framework to proceed with designing.A conceptual framework was created as the solution for this thesis, in order to facilitate Urban Planners in gaining a deeper level of understanding of the opportunities and challenges of involving Community Members through a public engagement process. By more effectively understanding these factors and variables included in the framework, a stronger collaborative relationship might be developed, to achieve a higher quality of engagement. Doing so would result in a mutually beneficial project for both groups. might be attained for both groups. The intended audience for the framework is Urban Planners who are interested in shifting from a prescriptive approach to a collaborative approach, yet might not know what underlies and contributes to a collaborative approach well enough to make the shift. Going forward, Urban Planners who are interested in making a shift might use the understanding gained from the framework, to develop specific methods and a plan of action for implementing a collaborative approach to public engagement.