Florence Parent-Beaudin

BLOSSOM OF THE CIVIC COMMON:
Collaborative-design as a Medium of Knowledge Sharing and Space Making

This thesis proposes an inversion of the typical design production strategy toward inclusive collaborative design which engages a range of people who are all facing different aspects of the same issues.  Including all the individuals effected by the designed projects can help communication and apply the wisdom of the users of a project to make it more relevant and meaningful. The magic of finding community occurs during the sharing of diverse perspectives, as individuals no longer face the problems alone, but together. My project seeks to present the possibility of an accessible, shared creative space which connects the community and design professionals in a way that allows a realistic approach for the community’s unique needs and contexts: a community design hub grounded in a larger network of collaborative culture with the mission of equal access and agency in issues of the built environment.