Contents

New projects, new skills

Twenty-five years later, urban design is a mainstream professional activity, which local and central government and local communities greatly value. But urban design has not turned into a new profession somewhere between architecture and planning. Urban design is more than that: it is a set of skills, a state of mind and a way of thinking.

Some urban designers have a background in planning, some in architecture or landscape architecture, some in geography, engineering or economics, and many in more than one field. Urban designers do not have a standard set of skills that, once learned, can be applied mechanically for the rest of their careers. The best urban design involves working in teams with groups of professionals with a wide range of complementary skills, and with non-professionals who have their own knowledge and expertise. Urban designers learn new skills and aptitudes with each project.

Why is urban design important?

Urban design is a key to making places that are successful both socially and economically, good to live in, and attractive to visit. Urban design is essential in creating community identity. It effective planning in the widest sense, and it can help to deliver better public services. It also helps to achieve value for money in new developments, and to make good use of scarce resources. Careful urban design may contribute to a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour.

What do urban designers do?

Developing ‘visions’ for places – using creativity and imagination to invent or re-invent the environments we live and work in.
Designing built spaces – from whole towns and neighbourhoods to individual streets or squares.
Advising on the design of developments and regeneration projects.
Researching and analysing places and people – understanding the physical, political, economic, spatial and psychological context of the places you work with and the people who use them.
Influencing people by using your skills and knowledge to help others make better decisions and teach them how to make successful places.
Developing guidance and policies relating to the built environment.
Community consultation – helping the public to take part in planning and designing their neighbourhoods.
Graphic representation – from sketching and technical drawing to using the latest technologies and packages in visualisation and computer aided design.

« Back | Next »