by Mokena Makeka and Rory Williams
Our politicians have been quick to latch onto the idea that design is part of the city-building process, and that public transport is something that should be designed to create a more equitable and inclusive city.
This is true, of course, but what the World Design Capital (WDC) brings to the exploration of our future is the concept of a design-led approach that responds to the needs of residents in meaningful ways. Designers need to be at the foc’sle of the ship, watching for hazards and routes to our destination.
It’s not enough to say that we need better public transport, or more tourism and foreign investment. What are the drivers, the forces that we can harness in designing the city?
Read the full article, entitled “A new way to think about our city”, which originally appeared on 24 November 2011 at The Cape Times website.
l Makeka is founder trustee for the Museum of Design, Innovation, Leadership and Art (MoDILA), and a Cape Town Design Network committee member. Williams is a transport planner with Arup. Together they write the weekly Cape Times column Men about Town.