Tempe Futures 2050

"How do you make 30-year city planning feel personally relevant to someone who has never been asked to participate before?"

1. 01Aug–Oct 2024

   Community Pop-Up Events

   "I didn't wait for people to come to us."

   We designed interactive pop-up stations at ASU campus, South Mill Ave farmers market, and neighborhood parks — meeting residents where they already were. Flash-card prompts sparked conversations about what Tempe should look like in 2050.

   What I did

   Facilitated 5+ events. Collected 127 signals across 8 themes from 300+ residents.

   What I learned

   The most powerful insights came from a 62-year-old resident at a farmers market, not a formal session. Informal spaces unlock authentic answers.

   

   

2. 02Sept–Oct 2024

   Survey Design & Signal Collection

   "85% completion — because we met people where they were."

   We developed structured survey instruments to capture community values, concerns, and preferences at scale. The high completion rate validated our approach of going to neighborhoods rather than expecting people to come to us.

   127 signals collected8 themes identified15 key insights

   What I learned

   Key signal categories — Career Pathways (jobs for young graduates), Heat Adaptation (tech + nature-based solutions), Retention Factors (what makes people stay), Infrastructure Needs (transit, cooling, green corridors).

   

3. 03Oct 2024

   City Panel Discussion

   "City officials gave us the reality check we needed."

   Event 1 — We presented our collected signals to department heads across Transportation, Police, Economic Development, Career Services, Sustainability, and Community Services. Our first reality check on what was feasible, what faced regulatory barriers, and where budget aligned.

   What I did

   I presented career-focused signals — especially the e-waste/semiconductor opportunity. City feedback directly shaped how we developed AI Pioneers vs Green Innovators.

   "The panel discussion was pivotal. City feedback directly shaped how we developed AI Pioneers vs Green Innovators — grounding speculative futures in real-world constraints."

   

4. 04Oct–Nov 2024

   From Signals to Scenarios

   "We chose two divergent futures — not to pick one, but to reveal what people actually wanted."

   After City Panel feedback, we created two scenario visions. 🤖 AI Pioneers — autonomous cooling networks, AI-optimized urban planning, smart career pathways in tech. 🌱 Green Innovators — urban forest expansion, e-waste career pathways (my focus), community cooling gardens.

   What I did

   I contributed e-waste/semiconductor career pathway specifics for both scenarios, with focus on Green Innovators. Iterative refinement based on team feedback, professor guidance, and visual materials for community testing.

   

5. 05Nov 16, 2024

   Open House at Tempe Public Library

   "180+ people. 89% wanted a hybrid approach. That changed everything."

   Event 2 — We tested both scenarios with real community members through 4 activities: 1–10 scale rating, map marking exercise, preference questions, concerns & hopes.

   180+ participants62% preferred Green Innovators47 locations marked on map89% wanted hybrid approach

   What I did

   I facilitated Green Innovators discussions, explaining e-waste career pathways and engaging residents in conversations about sustainable futures.

   What I learned

   People wanted HYBRID approaches — not either/or thinking. This reframing became our final recommendation.

   

6. 06Dec 7, 2024

   City Council Presentation

   "Standing in front of the Mayor of Tempe with research I'd gathered from farmers markets."

   Event 3 — The culminating event at City Hall. We presented to Mayor Corey D. Woods, City Council members, department heads, Professor Whitcomb, and Alison Almand — bringing the full research cycle to completion.

   What I did

   Presented the e-waste/semiconductor career pathway. Connected it to Green Innovators scenario. Showed community validation data from Open House. Made the case for priority career development investment.

   What I learned

   City officials responded positively to the hybrid approach. Informed 2025 budget priorities. Pilot programs in development. Integration into 2050 master plan.

   

   

• "Facilitating a community event is a design act. Every activity, prompt, and physical layout is a UX decision."
• "The e-waste concept emerged from listening — not from a brief. That's the real value of participatory design."
• "Working with city officials taught me how to translate design outcomes into language that drives policy decisions."