Can our cities be designed to make us happier? What is the role of public space in fostering a more civil society? Can street design foster trust – or even romance?

Mitchell Reardon, a senior urban planner, lecturer, and leader at Happy Cities. Happy Cities is an interdisciplinary firm working at the intersection of urban design, policy, engagement and human wellbeing. They turn evidence into action for happier, healthier and more inclusive communities.

Mitchell’s experiments, projects and research have helped clients achieve high standards in health, wellbeing and sociability in cities around the world, including Vancouver, Wuhan, Mexico City and Stockholm. Mitchell co-founded Metropolitan Collective, a group of tactical urbanists who have transformed unloved and overlooked spaces in Vancouver and beyond. He is a board member for the Vancouver Public Space Network. Mitchell is a compelling lecturer whose paradigm-shifting keynotes on the link between urban design, sustainable planning and human health have moved audiences in Canada and in Europe.

Mitchell received his Masters of Science in Urban and Regional Planning at Stockholm University in Sweden. His work and insights have been published or broadcast on Next City, CBC News, StarMetro, CBC Radio and more.

In this episode we talk about:

- How snow boarding shaped how his lens on design

- Why design for social well-being matters

- Measuring the impact of interventions 

- How to create an inclusive process

- The role of policy is making happy, healthy design a reality

- Why and how to connect with local communities