We love to publish items from Claudia Bullmore. Her insights about downtown Phoenix and its future are thoughtful and often provacative. This letter to the editor of the Phoenix Business Journal is no exception. All we can say is... you go girl. Tell em what you think.
Gene Urban
The Urban Team
www.UrbanTeamAZ.com
Letter to the Editor
Kudos to the Business Journal for stepping up and hosting the
STRUCTURES event on June 10th . It provided a wonderful opportunity for
the design community to come together to discuss critical issues involving our
growth. And one could see by the attendance there is tremendous interest in why
great design matters to our city.
In my opinion, the forum sounded flat and one-dimensional instead
of being provocative and engaging. By having a panel consisting only of
architects you are limiting the conversation and it ends up sounding like a
“preaching to the choir” scenario. Designers ought not be having this
discussion in isolation. This is the time for real transformation and
discussion that includes cross pollination of ideas and input. My suggestion
for your next event is to include other disciplines and related organizations.
Perhaps invite a city official, zoning attorney, landscape architect, someone
from Morrison Institute, etc. I would also consider a “meet the press format” to
make it more interactive between the participants themselves.
I would also suggest linking with related organizations such
as the AIA, Valley Forward, Valley Partnership and ULI and address some of
their key issues. For example, a few weeks ago I participated in an interactive
workshop that ULI hosted called Reality Check AZ that identified some key concerns
involving our cities future growth that included infrastructure, lack of
regional vision, preserving open space and quality of life etc. I think building
on the insights gained from that exercise and bringing it to the Structures
panel would have been opportune and timely.
Again, I commend the Business Journal for recognizing the impact
of design to the character of our community and inviting this dialogue. The
next step is to educate others outside the “bubble” to see it’s relevance—for
that is how you create a solid structure from which to build.
Claudia
Bullmore
________________
Claudia Bullmore is chief strategist of SKY Marketing, a consulting practice focused on
professional service firms including architects, landscape design and interior
designers. Companies select from a menu of marketing and communications
programs developed to achieve better business results by design.
www.Skymarketingaz.com or 602-909-0157
Claudia’s passion for anything forward-thinking, creative
and urban was the inspiration behind IGNITE phoenix, a networking group aimed
to stimulate spirited dialogue among cultural creatives who care about how
Phoenix
evolves. If you
would like to learn more about joining this discussion group, go to
IGNITEphoenix.net.
