As Smart Places Lead for the Edinburgh Futures Institute I led a series of projects integrating data, digital, urban analytics, engagement and collaborative approaches for cities and the built environment. These focused on how data-driven approaches can integrate with human-centred design to deliver positive impact.
These projects included a series of illustrated 'Smart Places' thought leadership pieces, leading an urban research project that piloted novel approaches to monitoring and evaluation for temporary street interventions, and designing and leading project Future of the High Street.
Illustration by Jack Daly to accompany Sally Kerr’s thought leadership article ‘Why local data is the key to successful placemaking’.
Illustration by Miranda Smith to accompany Sarah Frood’s thought leadership article ‘Digital and Face to Face’.
Illustration by Katie Quinn to accompany Daisy Narayanan’s thought leadership article ‘Shaping a Resilient Future for Edinburgh’.
Illustration by Katie Chappell to accompany Kate Carter’s thought leadership article ‘Housing to 2040 - Present Voices Future Lives Exhibition’.
I curated the Smart Places illustrated series of thought pieces and events through my work with the Edinburgh Futures Institute and Edinburgh Living Lab, in collaboration with the Data-Driven Innovation programme.
This series of illustrated thought pieces by diverse leaders on the topic of Smart Places over summer 2020, discussed challenges and future opportunities for the built environment, and the ways that data and digital approaches could be integrated with design and engagement processes to deliver positive impact.
As part of this work I worked with 7 different thought leaders on topics from digital placemaking to data-driven decision-making for the built environment and resilient cities, identifying key challenges and opportunities for the future. To visually communicate these concepts I engaged 7 different local illustrators (in addition to my own illustration for the overall series - shown above), whose editorial illustrations accompany each article. Key themes were discussed via 6 online events held live via Twitter as well as an webinar panel discussion. These events engaged over 400 people, with over 3000 reading the Medium articles.
Read the complete illustrated blog article series via Medium, and view or download the booklet summarising the series. Find out more.
Illustration by Victoria Rose Ball to accompany Euan Mills thought leadership article ‘Design with Data’.
Illustration by Laura Sayers to accompany Jo Morrison’s thought leadership article ‘Digital Placemaking for More Inclusive and Accessible Cities’.
I also led project Future of the High Street whilst Smart Places Lead at Edinburgh Futures Institute. This project was based on a collaborative design and evaluation approach, merging design, research and practice to test whether small tweaks to the high street could deliver big impact.
It used a collaborative, project process documented through blogs, film, webinars, illustration and reports. You can find out more about the project here or via the project blog.
