Environmental Design and Planning
EDP 307 Assignments Prompt
Each assignment should be separated by the date shown. Each should have the
numbered question then answer written under. All the necessary material will be
included below.
April 7, 2020: Urban design and inequality
After reading, watching and listening to all of today’s materials, please answer the following three
questions.
POWERPOINT:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hcvgann1d1eeqvo/EDP307_SPRING_2020_Equity_UD.mov?dl=0 (30
minutes)
VIDEO – 50 Years Later: Reflections on Whitney Young Jr.’s Speech to the AIA (3 min)
VIDEO – Walter Hood, Macarthur Foundation profile (4 min)
https://www.macfound.org/fellows/1040/
VIDEO – Emmanuel Pratt, Macarthur Foundation profile (3 min)
https://www.macfound.org/fellows/1047/
VIDEO – Building Stories: City Planning With James Rojas (3 min)
READ – How Urban Design Perpetuates Racial Inequality–And What We Can Do About It:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3061873/how-urban-design-perpetuates-racial-inequality-and-whatwe-can-do-about-it
PODCAST – The Inequality Of Urban Design (49 minutes)
1. Please answer the following question in 3 or 4 paragraphs or so: Based on all of today’s
materials, what are some of the best ways that you think urban designers (and allied
professions) can address issues of social equity in their practice? In other words, as an
urban designer, what are some of the things you need to think about or do as you go
about the process of creating your designs so that the resulting places are fair, equitable
and just? Use at least 3 examples from today’s materials to explain your response.
2. Please answer the following question in 2 paragraphs or so: In your opinion, how can a
focus on environmental sustainability in urban design help increase social equity?
Examples of sustainability elements in urban design might mean preserving or adding
natural elements (e.g. trees, rain gardens, drought tolerant plants, etc.), using
sustainable materials (e.g. recycled materials, nontoxic materials, etc.), emphasizing
walking, biking and transit over car use, etc. Please use examples from today’s materials
to support your answers.
3. Please answer the following question in 2 paragraphs or so: What are some of the ways
that existing urban design decisions may impede social equity? In other words, using
examples from today’s course materials and your own knowledge, how might the
existing designs of most American neighborhoods, parks, towns, downtowns, etc. serve
to marginalize or exclude some kinds of people in an unfair way. I address this question
from a historical context in the day’s Powerpoint, but please think of some other
examples as well. Again, please use examples from today’s materials to support your
argument.
April 9, 2020: Universal Design
Please watch/listen to the following items, then answer the following questions in 1 or 2 paragraphs
per question. I am looking for some evidence of engagement and critical thinking. It is also a good
idea to use examples or refer to information you learned from the materials in your answers.
READ – Design for Everybody:
https://www.planning.org/planning/2016/mar/designforeverybody/
READ- The Seven Principles of Universal Design
https://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/seven_principles_of_universal_design.pdf
VIDEO – Why We Need Universal Design (11 minutes)
VIDEO – The 7 Principles of Universal Design / Ed Roberts Campus (6 minutes)
VIDEO – How architecture changes for the Deaf (5 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNGp1aviGvE
VIDEO – Why Is Accessible Design Good for Everyone? (video: 7 minutes)
PODCAST – Curb Cuts (53 minutes)
1. Increasingly in architecture, urban design, product design and communication
technology/interface desig
