MDes Design Innovation & Citizenship School of Innovation & Technology
Peisi Bai
I am a cross-disciplinary designer who enjoys integrating service design, spatial design, and social research. This is because it is related to how our design communicates and interacts with people, how it is implemented, and how it addresses social injustice. In the past, my projects have covered topics such as food equity, women’s rights, eco-tourism for national development (group work), and coastal community development(group work). I have achieved project goals through various forms of design. Even though these projects belong to different fields, from a broader perspective, I believe that everything is inherently related. This is also why I enjoy interdisciplinary research. Such research allows me to gradually expand and refine my logical and cognitive map, which is very helpful for engaging in social research and system design.
My graduate project is about the Feminist City, which explores how feminist ideas can guide urban planning, equity, and the provision of services and space for everyone. As a student majoring in Citizenship, this project fundamentally discusses the issue of citizens’ urban rights. It concerns whether every citizen has the power, rights, and how to effectively participate in urban planning decisions, researching who cities are designed for now and whether it leads to social inequality. Thereby transforming cities from economically oriented urban planning to equality-centered, inclusive, diverse, and dynamic cities.
As a designer, I believe that design innovation always involves challenging existing narratives.
Feminist City: Imagination of the Future Civic Innovation in Public Life
Feminist urbanism ‘ is creating a feminist approach to urban planning with the aim of creating environments that are safe, accessible, and open to everyone equally.’
Public spaces and services should be equitable and accessible to all, without adding extra burdens. It is especially important for marginalized groups like women and minorities, who may already face discrimination and bias.
Safe and better public space, especially streets, are the places closest to everyone; they are shared and need effective measures. The purpose of the purpose of the project is to create safe and inclusive spaces that meet essential needs and provide convenient and secure services. This promotes inclusivity and diversity, creating a dynamic and vibrant city.
This project is based on research conducted by Govanhill in Glasgow. Its long-term goals are to make Glasgow a city that welcomes everyone, regardless of gender, and has the same opportunities, resources, and access to safe public spaces. It aims to ensure safety and convenience for all residents, with a particular focus on women and marginalized groups. Additionally, it creates welcoming public spaces and encourages public interaction and social cohesion. Therefore, people can use the service systems I designed, which include Civic Corners and Civic Theatre, to innovate urban design and imagine the future of cities.
