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Crafting Community: How Placemaking Shapes Our Neighborhoods
Wrap-Up: 03
Robert Vidaure
April 12, 2024
Placemaking is vital as it transforms public spaces into vibrant community hubs, enhancing the quality of life and fostering deeper connections among residents. It not only boosts the local economy by attracting tourism and business but also promotes environmental sustainability and cultural expression, making cities more livable and inclusive.
“The Place Man” (2024) is a documentary by Guillermo Bernal that delves into the placemaking movement by chronicling the life of Fred Kent, a pioneer in creating engaging public spaces aimed at enhancing community and social connections. It traces his journey from his early initiatives during New York City’s urban crisis in the 1960s and 1970s through his foundational work with the Project for Public Spaces, illustrating his influence on spaces like Bryant Park and Campus Martius. The film portrays Fred as a humble visionary driven by a deep-seated belief in the power of well-designed public spaces to address broader societal challenges and foster community cohesion.
A discussion on the complexities of city branding through graphic design, highlighting the delicate balance between creating a distinctive and inclusive identity that resonates both locally and globally. Designers share insights on the importance of reflecting a city's character and community values in its branding, demonstrating through examples like New York and Christchurch how well-executed city brands can foster pride, attract tourism, and stimulate economic development.
ArchDaily has announced the winners of its 2024 Building of the Year Awards, celebrating architectural ingenuity across various categories globally. From the integration of nature in urban settings like the Solar Trees Marketplace in China to innovative educational designs such as the Lung Vai School in Vietnam, these awards showcase groundbreaking ideas and sustainability in modern architecture. Each winner exemplifies unique design solutions that respond to environmental and cultural contexts, setting new standards in the architectural world.
 | Design Systems Podcast interviews industry leaders and product makers to share best practices and explore the areas where design and development come together. |
The Palisades Parks Conservancy provides programming and assistance to over 25 parks and historic sites across New York and New Jersey.
Order updated their identity to more accurately reflect their mission to preserve, protect, and support the parks.
Arts Council Santa Cruz County has served as a connector between artists, arts networks, government leaders, arts advocates, arts education, and arts organizations since 1979.
The resulting visual brand system, updated messaging, website, and digital and physical collateral showcase the organization as one centered on equity and community. The impactful brand system showcases artists as much as art itself and encourages county-wide participation (Cosmic).
 A network of placemaking thought leaders, public space activists, regional network leaders, and professionals from all over the world. Their vision: To make the spaces we live into places we love. Create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable world through the convergence of values, passion, and action around our public spaces. |  Civic Service Design Tools + Tactics is an introduction to service design for public servants and a set of practical ways to include design methods in your work. Use this collection of tools and tactics to see your service in context, talk with people who use it, and try out ideas in low-risk ways. |
International Placemaking Week
June 5–8, 2024
Join public space leaders from around the world for a week of experiential learning, networking, and inspiration. Project for Public Spaces’ 4th International Placemaking Week conference on June 5–8, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, co-hosted by the Neighborhood Design Center.
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