Design for Impact: Public Space and Policy in the Global South

A project-based seminar on participatory design, urban governance, and civic transformation

This project-based seminar invites students to work directly with local governments across Peru to co-create public space interventions and/or policy tools that respond to pressing urban needs. Anchored in the Pacto por los Espacios Públicos [Public Space Pact] -a platform promoted by Ocupa Tu Calle [Occupy Your Street] that brings together 45 Peruvian municipalities committed to walkable, inclusive, and sustainable cities- students will form teams and collaborate with municipal partners to develop site-specific proposals grounded in real-world constraints, opportunities, and power dynamics.

But this is more than a design exercise. The course blends conceptual exploration with hands-on civic engagement. Through case studies, critical readings, and conversations with guest speakers from Latin America and beyond, students will examine how public space in the Global South functions as a site of negotiation, conflict, participation, and governance, often in contexts marked by inequality and limited budget and institutional capacity.

In addition to policy-aligned design, the course emphasizes the development of soft yet essential real-world skills: building trust with local actors, navigating institutional structures, communicating ideas through data and visuals, and learning how to advocate effectively within systems, without losing sight of people.

This course is ideal for students interested in impact-driven design, participatory planning, and civic innovation across diverse urban landscapes.