Designed By:

DesignedBy:

Designed By will introduce you to the awesome creatives, events, and organizations right under your nose. We'll talk to people who are actively working to make our community a better place through the power of design, and how they got to where they are. Whether it's for the environment, for our neighborhoods, for our schools, for our designers, and more, we'll learn more about the people and things that make Saint Louis unique. 

  1. SPECIAL EP 001 // Know The City

    07/30/2024

    SPECIAL EP 001 // Know The City

    Season 1 of DesignedBy: may be done, but the work sure aint! Recently, a report was released by a panel of international real estate, placemaking, and urban planning experts that recommends how St. Louis can improve the heart of our downtown district. Here are 10 general takeaways that this report emphasizes: Transformation into a Central Social District: Downtown St. Louis should pivot from a central business district to a central social district focused on culture, creativity, and community engagementEconomic and Cultural Resilience: Emphasize the creation of a diverse, mixed-use district to enhance economic resilience and attract both residents and visitorsReal Estate Strategy: Acquire key properties around the Gateway Mall to control and activate spaces, encouraging cultural and economic activityEquitable Development: Focus on inclusive economic development by involving BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities in ownership and decision-making processes to create long-term community wealthPublic and Private Collaboration: Establish partnerships with various stakeholders, including public entities and private developers, to support the district’s transformation and ensure sustained investment and programming.Activation and Programming: Implement a consistent schedule of events and activations to keep the area vibrant and engaging throughout the yearPlacemaking and Placekeeping: Utilize placemaking strategies to create spaces that are inviting, safe, and culturally rich, ensuring they reflect the community's history and diversityCommunity Involvement: Engage local artists, entrepreneurs, and residents in the planning and activation processes to ensure the district meets the needs and desires of the communityEnhanced Public Spaces: Improve the streetscape and pedestrian experience to make downtown more walkable and bike-friendly, enhancing connectivity and accessibilityLong-term Vision and Planning: Adopt a phased approach to development, starting with temporary activations that can evolve into permanent fixtures, creating a sustainable and dynamic urban environment Any of this sound familiar :) ? Since it's easy to rely on reports without action, we put this to the test -- we dove into a workshop, created by one of our co-hosts and supported by the other,  in which we examine how to use the takeaways from this report to galvanize our community to start doing some really cool stuff in, with, and for the city of St. Louis. THIS episode is part 1 :) Send us a text Follow us at @designedbypod on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Have an idea for a guest? Shoot us a DM!

    19 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Designed By will introduce you to the awesome creatives, events, and organizations right under your nose. We'll talk to people who are actively working to make our community a better place through the power of design, and how they got to where they are. Whether it's for the environment, for our neighborhoods, for our schools, for our designers, and more, we'll learn more about the people and things that make Saint Louis unique.