I’ve been a firm believer in the value of studying user behaviour when approaching the design of something new ever since I first encountered the theory of Product Semantics, along with human factors in design, while a student. To me this is applicable equally to the design of products, services, websites, buildings or places. When it comes to great placemaking it can become an invaluable tool for assessing what a community needs/wants from their public spaces going far beyond the … Continue reading →
A second post in my ‘Favourite Places’ series today, detailing some of my best loved public space design from around the world. As a country of outstanding and varied natural beauty the challenge of creating great urban spaces in New Zealand might seem all the more acute. I first visited, and experienced, the Wellington Waterfront development in New Zealand’s capital city back in 2007, shortly after a redevelopment headed by Athfield Architects had been completed. What I liked most about … Continue reading →
A short post today to tell you about one of my favourite websites for information and inspiration on all things to do with the design of public spaces. Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is about placemaking. No inverted commas used there, placemaking might not be a word that spell-checkers like but it defines perfectly the art of creating functioning spaces and buildings which enable communities to thrive. As stated on the site the project itself was originally founded (by current … Continue reading →
Make it better. Make it for everyone. It’s a noble mantra for any designer. It is the utopian zenith for creating product or space. Yet it is something that is rarely, if ever truly, achieved.
A brief post today as I return from a long weekend in the fabulous city of Barcelona. I only mention where I’ve been because my return to this city reminded me of something that is so apparent in the design language of that place – communicated throughout it’s buildings, public spaces, it’s art and products – Barcelona’s spirit.
