Designing Connections: Unleashing Community Engagement with Tania Allen

In this episode, host Terrance Ruth welcomes Professor Tania Allen to explore the power of design as a catalyst for community engagement. Together, they delve into Tania's journey, the importance of community engagement, and practical ways to empower residents through design thinking.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Why Community Engagement Matters: Tania explains the significance of leveraging design to activate and engage communities, highlighting the importance of this approach in local government.
2. Participatory and Co-Creative Processes: Tania clarifies the concepts of participatory and co-creative processes, emphasizing how these approaches empower residents and foster a sense of ownership.
3. Social Change from the Ground Up: Terrance and Tania discuss the benefits of a "ground-up" approach in driving social change, particularly by focusing on the human experience at the community level.

About our Guest:
Tania Allen is an associate professor of media arts, Design, and Technology and director of graduate programs in media, arts, design, and technology.