Studio: Service Design and Urban Needs
In this Urban Technology studio (UT 360), juniors engaged in an innovative collaboration with Let’s Grow Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to unveil projects that featured service concepts to ease and enhance the “onboarding experience” of new Michiganders. The outputs of the course were three design concepts that proposed new ways in which Michigan might tout cultural heritage diversity, better use disused spaces in towns and cities and celebrate the unique qualities of its midsized cities.
The goal of Fourth Spaces is to enhance the utilization of space across Michigan, beginning with local businesses in Ann Arbor, by hosting small pop-ups within existing business locations. Fourth Spaces is a resource optimization service that connects existing resources (storefronts) with new opportunities for economic and social engagement with niche audiences. To better understand the usage practices of spaces and the needs of stakeholders intending to use these spaces for various purposes, interviews were conducted with space owners, activity planners, and individuals interested in attending these events. The project seeks to rejuvenate these spaces and integrate individuals into communities by fostering mutually beneficial relationships between residents and space owners, thereby supporting the process of making connections and increasing participation in local life.
Students
Aakash Narayan, Jenna Li, My Dao, Odiso Obiora, Sibora Berisha, Siya Shah, Urja Kaushik, Yichen Hu