Design and the Just City Exhibition

Imagine that the issues of race, income, education and unemployment inequality, and the resulting segregation, isolation and fear, could be addressed by designing for greater access, agency, ownership, beauty or empowerment.

Now imagine the Just City — the cities, neighborhoods and public spaces where all people, but especially the ‘least not’ are included, have equitable and inclusive access to opportunities and tools that allow them to be productive, thrive and advance through the ranks of social and economic mobility.

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The Just City Lab investigates the concept of the Just City, and how design and planning contribute to the conditions of justice and injustice in cities, neighborhoods and the public realm. This exhibition presents our interrogation of whether design can have an impact on correcting urban injustice, inequality and disparity. By presenting our Just City Index, four project case studies and video conversations with prominent voices, this exhibition asks us all to contemplate the intention and effectiveness of design practice to address issues of social and spatial justice, and examine our own values for a Just City.

—Toni L. Griffin, Professor in Practice of Urban Planning and Director of Just City Lab

Research Assistants:
Caroline Lauer
Milan Outlaw
Meghan Venable-Thomas
Natasha Hicks
Emily Marsh
Nerali Patel
Chandra Rouse
Mayu Takeda