Placemaking Design

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Large Tustin Legacy logo and 30 foot arch logo mark as gateway entry over pedestrian trail with two people on a bike ride

Placemaking That Brings Communities Together

Placemaking design is a collaborative process of designing public spaces that are functional and reflective of the community's culture and identity. RSM Design helps create places that are meaningful and resonate with the core values and history of the community, ultimately fostering a sense of belonging and pride.

The goal of placemaking is to create public spaces that enhance the story’s character and personality of the community, beyond their direct needs. Branding, public art, wayfinding signage design, landmarks, landscape treatments, and specialty graphics are just a few examples of the many design components that we use to create a unique and effective environment.

The foundation of great placemaking is about creative collaboration, working with the expertise of stakeholders, the client, the community, and the design team. Together we can gain an understanding of the project’s unique voice and personality, grounding them in the needs, goals, and expectations of the team. 

Obtaining engagement from the stakeholders is essential for the enduring success of the project, discovering the uniqueness of each destination. The work of RSM Design helps craft the story and design vocabulary using graphics, patterns, typography, color, materials, and form, creating meaningful and memorable places that connect the community and the people within it.

Placemaking Projects

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What Makes Placemaking Effective?

Welcoming

Create an impactful first impression with enhanced entryways that set the tone for meaningful community interactions.

The Human Scale

Putting people first in design to facilitate their connection with the built environment.

Engaging Multiple Senses

Placemaking is most powerful when it goes beyond only visual elements, appealing to users’ senses—visual, kinesthetic, auditory, and olfactory—to fully immerse themselves in their environment.

"My Favorite Bench"

Design gathering places that feel familiar, connect with users, and encourage people to socialize.

Comfort

Thoughtful design can create comfortable and inviting spaces, promoting community well-being.

Certainty

Emphasize design elements that contribute to the overall confidence and comfort of the community.

Quiet Reflection

Integration of peaceful spaces within the urban fabric demonstrates how placemaking can provide respites for reflection and relaxation.

Shared Experiences

Encourage the creation of inclusive environments that foster interaction and a sense of togetherness.

Transformation

Changing the ordinary to extraordinary. Endless potential exists for design to turn everyday spaces into vibrant, memorable, and community-centric places.

What are the Benefits of Placemaking?

Creating inviting public spaces

Placemaking fosters a sense of certainty and encourages active participation, transforming public areas into welcoming environments. People prefer places that are engaging with quality lighting, clear paths, and places to explore.

Gene Leahy Mall

Promoting social interaction and community cohesion

We foster inclusive public spaces for people to gather and connect in shared experiences. Placemaking creates a sense of belonging and strengthens social ties in the community through engagement and local involvement.

Ovation Hollywood

Encouraging physical activity and healthy lifestyles

Thoughtful design and planning creates environments that inspire movement and well-being. By creating a variety of distinctive paths to destinations and experiences in a project, we encourage walkability and exploration with the broader environment. This invites people to discover accessible parks, recreational facilities, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly pathways that promote good health and support overall vitality.

Wai Kai

Boosting local economic development and tourism

Well-designed places attract people and create opportunities for a thriving commercial environment. Events and cultural attractions in public areas help local businesses and boost economic growth for the whole community.

Hotel Drover

Placemaking is Transformative

Placemaking design is an essential process for creating public spaces that are functional, engaging, and reflective of the community. It can enhance a traditional experience in cities or urban areas into a transformational destination. Placemaking goes beyond the physical redesign of spaces; it is a holistic approach that considers the social, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions of a community. Ultimately, placemaking can shape the way people experience and engage with their surroundings.

Successful Placemaking Examples

Liberty Station

San Diego, CA

Liberty Station is a mixed-use development located in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego, California. The development is situated on the site of the former Naval Training Center San Diego and is now home to a variety of businesses, arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, and residential units.

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5th + Broadway

Nashville, TN

The 6.2 acre development is adjacent to popular attractions such as Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Bridgestone Arena. It's a popular place for locals and tourists with shops, restaurants, entertainment, and homes. We created a series of typographic placemaking murals that made the path of travel an experience for visitors.

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Great Park Neighborhoods

Irvine, CA

Great Park Neighborhoods is a planned community near Orange County Great Park, one of the biggest parks in the US. Residents can use the swimming pool, playgrounds, sports courts, picnic areas, and other amenities scattered throughout the community.

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Articles on Placemaking

Placemaking design article series poster design with location icon graphics

The Placemaking Power of Ten

Connecting People to Place at LBX

Cultural Districts for People

Global Placemaking

Placemaking Markets

Placemaking design is proven effective in places large and small, public and private, new and old. Each  requires a unique approach with the common goal of creating places people enjoy by connecting to innate human needs. Placemaking design creates vibrant and engaging environments that foster community, enhance experiences, and promote well-being for all.

Retail

Effective retail placemaking involves designing environments to enhance customer experiences, encourage longer dwell times, and foster a sense of community and brand loyalty.

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Hospitality

Hospitality environments benefit from placemaking that enhances guest experiences, promotes relaxation, fosters social interaction, and creates memorable stays that reflect the brand.

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Sports & Entertainment

For these projects, we build environments that enhance the fan experience and cultivate a sense of excitement and community around sporting and cultural events.

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Parks

Park placemaking involves designing public spaces to enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings while promoting recreation, relaxation, and social interaction.

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Cultural

Through thoughtful design, we create inclusive spaces that cultivate a sense of belonging and strengthen community bonds.

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Mixed-Use

Our goal is to enhance quality of life for residents and visitors alike by blending residential, commercial, retail, and recreational spaces into urban hubs that are dynamic yet still cohesive.

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Residential

RSM Design encourages social interaction, safety, physical activity, and a sense of belonging for residents with placemaking strategies in their community.

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Workplace

Effective workplace placemaking enhances employee experiences, fosters connection and culture, and supports productivity and engagement.

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Get in Touch

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RSM Design focuses on creating comprehensive and enduring placemaking services that not only enrich user experiences, but also contribute positively to the broader well-being of the community.

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