How can you avoid common mistakes when conducting urban design research and evaluation in LA?

1 Define your goals and questions

Before you start any research project, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you want to learn. Define your goals and questions in relation to the specific context, scope, and purpose of your design project. For example, are you trying to assess the feasibility, usability, or sustainability of a design solution? Are you trying to explore the needs, preferences, or experiences of the users or residents? Are you trying to measure the impacts or outcomes of a design intervention on the environment, society, or economy?

2 Choose appropriate methods and tools

Depending on your goals and questions, you need to select the most suitable methods and tools for your research. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, as different methods and tools have different strengths and limitations. For example, some methods are more quantitative, such as surveys, experiments, or simulations, while others are more qualitative, such as interviews, observations, or focus groups. Some tools are more traditional, such as paper maps, sketches, or photos, while others are more innovative, such as digital platforms, sensors, or drones. You need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each method and tool in terms of validity, reliability, efficiency, and ethics.

3 Involve relevant stakeholders

One of the key aspects of urban design research and evaluation is to involve the relevant stakeholders in the process. Stakeholders are the people who have an interest or influence in the design project, such as clients, users, residents, experts, authorities, or partners. By engaging them in your research, you can gain valuable insights, feedback, and support for your design project. You can involve stakeholders in different ways, such as co-designing, co-researching, or co-evaluating the design project. However, you also need to be aware of the challenges and risks of stakeholder involvement, such as conflicting interests, power dynamics, or ethical issues.

4 Use multiple sources and perspectives

Another important aspect of urban design research and evaluation is to use multiple sources and perspectives to inform your design project. This means that you should not rely on a single method, tool, stakeholder, or data source, but rather triangulate and compare different types of information and viewpoints. By doing so, you can enhance the credibility, validity, and richness of your research findings and design decisions. You can use multiple sources and perspectives at different stages of your research, such as literature review, data collection, data analysis, or data presentation.

5 Communicate clearly and effectively

Once you have conducted your research and evaluation, you need to communicate your findings and recommendations clearly and effectively to your target audience. This can be done in various formats and channels, such as reports, presentations, posters, or websites. However, regardless of the format and channel, you need to consider some key elements of effective communication, such as clarity, simplicity, relevance, accuracy, and visual appeal. You also need to tailor your communication to the specific needs, expectations, and preferences of your audience, such as language, tone, style, and level of detail.

6 Reflect and learn from your experience

Finally, after you have completed your research and evaluation, you need to reflect and learn from your experience. This means that you should not only focus on the results and outcomes of your research, but also on the process and challenges of your research. By reflecting and learning from your experience, you can identify the strengths and weaknesses of your research, the lessons and insights that you gained, and the areas and opportunities for improvement. You can also share your experience and feedback with others, such as your colleagues, peers, or mentors, to enhance your professional development and practice.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?