The design of public space in our cities needs participation and ownership. Public space plays an important role in the definition and collective identity of every place. As cities and towns grow, public space contributes to a culture of change. Inhabitants need to be collaborators in the development and design of these spaces to realize their catalytic nature, providing space for public gathering and shared experience.
Let’s discuss the issues that need to be considered as well as the motivations of stakeholders, developers, and politics in relationship to the role of the designers in creating places that imbue the culture of the neighborhood and city to reflect an investment in the success of public space.
By connecting the dots to establish how and why public space is needed and created, we can chart a future that defines how a community can participate in the process more effectively.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]