MUD Seminar: The Practice of Urban Design

This course introduces students to the practice of urban design. The course focuses on key issues addressed by urban designers using completed projects, presentations by guest speakers on specialized topics, and a visit to an urban design practice. Students are given weekly reading assignments and prepare a series of presentations based on a research project. Attendance is mandatory, and students are encouraged to engage in discussions about the topics during class.

In the course we explore the roles urban designers play in the design of cities and their leadership responsibilities. Weekly topics include the nature of urban design as a profession, urban spatial structure and systems, designing the urban design process, public engagement, visualization of urbanism, building typologies, long- and short-range plans, design guidelines, pattern books, and an introduction to land use regulation.