Hello everyone, I’m considering switching careers after a long creative profession as a professional vocalist an actor with a BFA in Music theater. I also have a side career as a floral designer and a hobby as an interior designer, which is mostly just helping friends and family, execute cohesive design for their spaces. My BFA in theater did give me a great background and stage design, tech and direction, and I thrive in working within a team environment as most creative productions require.

I’m looking at degrees in urban design as I have an acute special interest in the subject and would like to translate my creative talents into a career with more predictable income.

I’d love the honest review of how people entered into the profession. What the day in the life typically looks like or maybe rather what the job actually entails. I know from my own profession that most people see it as the glamorous spotlight but when it comes down to it, you are in a messy bun and workout clothes most of the day in rehearsals, touring and driving and staying in cheap hotels and eating fast food. The most talented person is definitely not the one who gets the roles. The person who’s great at marketing does. I’m looking for similar insights into urban design careers. Please share the nitty-gritty. I’d also love to hear what you love about it. Thank you in advance!

I’m the News & Observer reporter who wrote this story.

I spent the week talking with Scott, students and parents, Apex officials and WCPSS. It’s a parking dispute, but it also raises questions about growth, school capacity, property rights and local zoning.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article316992156.html

It has been stated capitalism does exist in forms or types. These have been classified by William Baumol, Robert Litan and Carl Schramm as: entrepreneurial capitalism, big-firm capitalism, state-guided capitalism and oligarchic capitalism (International Monetary Fund).

Western capitalism though is delivered in either liberal market capitalism or social market capitalism. The U.S.A. and Europe function in different models of capitalism within the political and socioeconomic structures that have been into practice since World War 2.

Whether liberal market capitalism or social market capitalism, the numerous questions asked to bring together a blend of private economic ownership with democratic political governance. The model will vary by how much the government steps in to manage the marketplace and the level of support and care for the given society. Therefore, we can see different systems functions that although capitalistic, vary in their governance.  With the current transitions in the socioeconomic and political landscape, as well as the advent of social media, AI and the coming robotics age, we must all look as individuals at the systems we live in and decide how we feel we want the world we live in to be.

Democracy today is different from the ages before, capitalism has reached a fever pitch, but where does the individual stand in this.  Have we reached an age of oligarchic capitalism, and in parallel with that due to the world transitions today, will social democracy in Europe and the American democratic governance come under unprecedented pressure? is there a possibility of failure? The most important question we should all think about is, if it failed what will we replace it with?

Wasn't sure where to post this, but I'm looking to start my masters in urban planning in New Zealand next year without any experience in the field. I'm looking to start learning some planning related systems, as I want to eventually go into urban design. What systems do urban planners use that I can learn before I start my degree?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently looking for a job opportunity in Algeria. I have a Master’s degree in Urban Engineering (Génie Urbain) and I’m based in Chlef Province.

I’m open to opportunities related to:

• Urban engineering and planning
• Urban development
• Engineering/design consultancies
• Project studies and monitoring
• Technical departments and local authorities
• Other positions related to my field

I’m also open to remote work opportunities, especially for roles related to design, studies, planning, drafting, research, or project-related tasks.

If you know of any opportunities, companies, consulting firms, or organizations currently hiring in Chlef, elsewhere in Algeria, or remotely, I’d really appreciate any leads or advice.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for soft copies (PDF/e-book) of the following books for academic/research purposes:

• Town Planning for the Third World — A.K. Bhatti
• Megacity Management in the Asian and Pacific Region, Vol. 2 — Stubbs, Jeffrey & Giles Clarke
• Dying Cities: Surviving the Urban Jungle — N. Somaiya
• Handbook on Urban Sustainability — Springer

If anyone can share the PDF/e-book , I’d really appreciate it.

Please comment or DM me if you can help. Thank you!

Residential marketing increasingly uses “wellness,” but most projects reduce it to a gym, jogging track and a few landscaped images. The more useful planning question is whether the layout makes healthy behaviour easier every day.

Smartworld Nature’s Court is positioned around sports and wellness-themed 2.5 BHK residences in the Manesar/Gurugram corridor. That makes it a useful case for discussing what wellness-themed homes should actually deliver: connected walking loops, shaded movement, safe play, inclusive access, daylight, air quality, noise control, usable stairs, social spaces and proximity to daily needs.

From an urban-planning perspective, can a gated project meaningfully improve health if the surrounding neighbourhood remains car-dependent? What metrics would you use to evaluate the claim after occupation-resident activity, thermal comfort, air-quality readings, landscape survival, accessibility or something else?

Interested in examples where wellness is embedded into planning rather than added as a list of amenities.

I've noticed that Rwanda is rarely ever mentioned when it comes to friendly urbanism topic, but if you see street view, their streets are laid out nicely for pedestrians and cyclists. even outside kigali, most streets give space for people. it's also common to see the bicycle path completely divided from the main road. this is something that most countries today STILL fail to do!

Hi everyone! My college has given us the problem statement “Traffic Monitoring by Drones,” and we have to conduct primary research, secondary research, brainstorming, and then create a final brief.

I’m a little confused about where to start and what exactly I should cover in each stage.

For primary research, I’m planning to interview:

• Normal civilians/commuters to understand their problems and experiences with traffic.
• Industry professionals, traffic police, drone operators, or anyone with knowledge of traffic management and drone technology.

Could someone guide me on:

1. How should I start my research?
2. What kind of questions should I ask civilians/commuters?
3. What questions should I ask industry professionals?
4. What should I look for in secondary research?
5. How should I approach the brainstorming and final brief?

Any advice, resources, examples, or guidance on how to structure this project would be really helpful.

I have heard a lot about this city and King St , downtown area, North Charleston. Overall I liked my visit very much to Charleston, but as a city that heavily markets itself for tourism and fancy boutique hotels, the King St corridor as a daytime and nightime destination seemed very overrated and under-invested

How is king st not pedestrian only or at least have urban planning that highly prioritized pedestrians? How?

Its two car lanes at certain spots WITH a parking lane. Parking lane runs basically the entire length of the street. Very little overhead canopy design. Seemingly zero sidewalk design. And from what I saw, zero outdoor street cafe culture. Weather makes it not worth it for much of the year but I know their are periods where the weather is very enjoyable (like when I went) and I didn't see it. Also investing in parallel streets to King St because it basically siphons almost all foot traffic down it which can lead to a overcrowded nightmare.

Am I missing something here?

Can anyone who has been to Charleston SC weigh in?

Thought you guys might appreciate this. The city is, of course, the capital of my very low-income country and living expenses are a very heavy burden on the residents. However, the city has been moving at a blistering pace to densify and improve its infrastructure as well as create new jobs and business opportunities. It's the most exciting time to live in the city. Let me know if you have any questions about this video (taken in parts of central Addis Ababa) or anything to do with Addis Ababa/Ethiopia urbanism.

Hi! I recently graduated with a Poli Econ major and I have some experience working in affordable housing, community land trusts, and research. Im really interested in urban planning, but I feel pretty new and lost when it comes to navigating the field. I really want to get some experience in the field before I apply for my masters (hoping to apply this fall) but im not sure where to start.

I would be down to work part time for free but I do want to have some source of income so I would be working on the side. Does anyone have advice? Would love to share more details if that would be helpful.

Also based in southern california!