City-Making 101

‘City Making 101’ is a base of knowledge for everyone to participate in the design of their cities. It is also a lively role-playing game to co-imagine, debate, then build consensus on design guidelines specific to your public space projects.

‘City Making 101’ is a card game and reference resource for designers and “citizen designers” to imagine, discuss and share ways to realize livable, lovable and walkable cities. The game approach offers each player a dynamic pathway into the complexity of city making. Players gain a base of knowledge about city design and, through reading, reflection, and debate, use the cards to produce a customized design guideline per their priorities and aspirations.

Framed under six categories, the 101 topics focus on fundamental domains of the public realm. Players imagine their ideal urban environment, debate issues on planning and public space, then build consensus on the design guidelines needed to realize their vision, taking into account best practice standards and performance parameters. The game opens up space for conversations, debates on priorities, stakeholder accountability and open-ended proposals on complex physical, social and economic issues.