When we hear the terms equity and inclusive design these days our ears perk up, but if you are like me you are left wondering, what does equity really look like in the built environment and how does a busy designer apply the concept of spatial justice to their practice? In this week’s episode we will look at:

• An overview of what spatial justice means
• Discuss the range of inclusion that should be considered
• Look closely at mobility and access to sharpen your design practice
• Discuss how to adopt a more spatially just practice

Let’s go from awareness to action in your design practice.

“Spatial justice is drilling it down to the individual experience within the design of space. In my mind, spatial justice is about how space is shared among people and how we have biased design. When we design for the “average” human, we really design for no one. It excludes so many experiences. Spatial justice is about bringing the benefits of good design to everybody, especially those who have been historically left out.” – Hannah Silver

Guest Summary

Hannah Silver is founder and inclusive design educator with Informal Function, LLC. I/F’s mission is to empower activist designers of the built environment through spatial justice education and project consultation.

• Formerly she was an inclusive design consultant with AllGo.
• She is an adjunct instructor at PSU in the School of Urban Studies and Architecture
• Previously a sustainability manager at an architectural firm. She is a LEED AP for Homes, EcoDistricts AP, WELL AP, and Fitwel Ambassador.
• Hannah fuses her degrees in architecture from University of Virginia with a focus in Global Sustainability to her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State with a focus in land use to her current venture with Informal/Function.

“Design won't save the world, but it can do a lot to shift whether people feel welcome or not in a space. There is a lot that comes from our business culture or social culture, and what we're doing to be inclusive in environments. The more that we have queer and trans people, folks with disabilities and representing neurodiversity, people of size, people of color, and other folks designing in the profession, the more that we will see design that is more inclusive.” – Hannah Silver

Check out the show notes and additional resource on equity in design.

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Till next time keep designing y'all.