Case Studies

The Business Challenge

A pair of prominent design organizations held an international design competition challenging entrants to propose a solution for the future of a downtrodden boulevard in New York City. Pervasive problems with inadequate housing, transportation, and green space were reflected in the roadway. Finalists’ entries would be displayed in the borough’s art museum for public viewing.

Solution

A team from MISI entered a proposal unique to all 400 entries in the competition: to gather observations and detailed feedback from the local community on their experience and desires for the space. They observed usage, interviewed local experts and community activists, and conducted street-surveys and interviews of 130 people on the boulevard itself. From the data, they created a flash-based interactive map and visuals illustrating community experiences and priorities for the roadway, as well as a brief video documentary and continuing online survey for the public.

Outcome

In a competition against architects and landscape designers, MISI’s community-centered-approach won us a place as a finalist, the opportunity to publicly display our findings in a city art museum, and accolades for focusing on a commonly-overlooked factor in design initiatives: the community. The interactive and visual display of findings and priorities allowed viewers to identify the true needs of the people using this boulevard, and provided evidence-based guidance for any future architectural initiative in that area.