Buddhi Kanishka Guluwita

La Trobe University · Department of Archaeology, Environment and Community Planning

Ozawa and Seltzer (1999) through an extensive survey, attempted to produce a list of skills and competencies a planning graduate should possess, which Alexander (2005) consequently refined into skill-based categories. Both these studies identify ‘Synthesis, Creativity and Design’ to be a major skill set within a planner’s competence. Keeping in mind that a spatial planner’s ultimate object is creating or shaping physical form or spaces, what sort of ‘Design’ does this refer to? Is it the ‘Design’ that I emphasised on my previous post? I do not think so. Then, what sort of ‘Design’ it is?

It is my view that I should elaborate on what sort of ‘Design’ that I intend discuss about. As most of you have already agreed upon or would agree, design fore mostly is a problem solving exercise. Reading into Christopher Alexander’s work on Notes on the Synthesis of Form (1964) design as a problem solving activity, can be broadly understood have three constituents or components. Based on this premise Munasinghe (2007) conceptualises a design activity or ‘an act of design’ can be witnessed in the presence of,

1. A cognitive act that deals with identifying and envisaging patterns on a given problem or situation

2. A process of both problem solving and realizing form with regard to these patterns

3. A product (physical or functional) with which its designer’s thinking can be traced.

Alexander (1964) also extends his argument by stating

“...before we can ourselves turn a problem into form, because we are self-conscious, we need to make explicit maps of the problem structure…”

Hence, a designer in order to achieve physical clarity in a form, must achieve some form of programmatic clarity in his or hers mind and actions. From a spatial planners’ point of view, it is then critical that they have higher capacities in visualising and envisaging the particular ‘physical form’ that they intend to create of shape. Their task in achieving such ‘form’ in this sense, doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘sitting on a drawing board’ composing plans, sections or visuals, although it is an important part of the process, for which they can seek assistance from allied experts. The above mentioned ‘product’ from a planner’s point of view can be a policy decision, a regulation, a charter, a contract, (urban) design guidelines, an assessment and the list goes on… Yet, it is the responsibility of a planners to have clarity of thought especially their spatial thinking ability, on the particular ‘design product’ they intend to achieve. In the absence of such clarity in mind, planner’s identity as a ‘designer of space’ would inevitably extinct, leaving behind a bureaucrat whose task is restricted to the mere application of technical knowledge. Emerging specialities of city designing—the so-called ‘qualified designers’, certainly making this difficult for spatial planners.

If it is clarity of thought or skills of visualisation and envisaging what spatial planners are seeking, there is a wealth of knowledge that they can utilise. Numerous ‘thinking models’ or ‘methods of structured thinking’—Strategic Thinking, Systems Thinking, Design Thinking etc. are already proved effective in uncovering and enhancing cognitive capacities of professionals. It may necessarily mean that spatial planning graduates and students should adapt ‘Design’ thinking at an early stage of their careers within their multi-disciplinary concerns of space, in becoming expert ‘Designers’ of space.

According to Tonkinwise (2011) however, such thinking expertise cannot exist in isolation of being a designer—what Cross (2004) states as ‘designerly ways of being’. Within his explanation, it is quite clear that such state of being is something that has to be manifested within a person, through conscious and deliberate being. It requires both structured way of thinking and acting accordingly. It then inevitably becomes a way of life; a part of who that person is; and his or hers actions then, becomes a part of what that person is. It may be then the need of the day for Spatial Planners and planning students to develop such understanding and act accordingly.

As this is my first ever post on any online media, I thought of keeping it simple. Yet, the question I pose within this writing may be deep and broad enough to even do a PhD research.

So, as the title speaks it self, can a ‘Planner’ (Town/ Urban or Spatial Planner) become a ‘Designer’?

Conceptually and theoretically, ‘Planning’ itself is understood as a ‘Design’ discipline; and its practitioners as ‘Designers’ (Levin 1966, Owen, 2007, Lawson, 2005, Razzaouk and Shute, 2012 etc.). This is commonly accepted on the basis that the ultimate object of ‘Spatial Planning’ (I would refer to term spatial in covering a wide array of specialities) is achieving physical form or space—be it urban, rural or in between. In this sense, a Spatial Planner’s contribution irrespective of being involved in strategic or statutory planning activities, would be to shape the intended physical form, directly or indirectly. It is at this point that I intend to view the title question to be two fold, of which I would write focussing only on the first premise within this post.

As a Town Planner who is immensely passionate about urban design practice, yet never was fortunate (or unfortunate?) enough to have formal specialization in Urban Design, I have often felt a weak designer. I have been hesitant and less confident in composing smooth diagrams, lines, curves and visuals that are supposed to communicate the great planning proposals I have in my mind. I often compare my ‘urban design’ work to that of architects (and students who usually have gone through intensive training in those areas) and realize how far behind I am. This is strongly evident when it comes to designing smaller spaces, the finer details of a typical urban space, that I feel I am incapable of doing so. But, I must state that I possess above-par skills in sketching and drawing compared to my fellow planning colleagues. I’m also confident that similar to any spatial planner, I too understand the language of spatial thinking.

I would present a second premise in the following Part-2 of this post, which focuses on a concept that is considered rather unfamiliar, at least within planners.

All types of responses are welcome and I would be delighted to develop a discussion that would benefit everyone.

And if so, to what extent? Planners can be seen as designers of urban space among many other designers such as Architects, Landscape Architects and Urban Designers. Hence, what should be a planners role in design?

Urban Design, Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture are acknowledged as independent disciplines (by now) that deal with designing spaces. In practice, each above discipline has strongly institutionalized professional demarcations. Yet, spatial design projects within urban environment done by Architects, Planners or Landscape Architects, are commonly labelled as 'Urban Design Projects'.