UDesign Justice Initiative

Did you know May is Asian Heritage Month (AHM)?!

AHM recognizes the long-standing, diverse contributions of people of Asian descent to Canada. The 2026 theme is “Honouring Asian Canadians: Stories that Built Canada,” celebrating cultural richness while fighting anti-Asian racism.

Youth are often positioned as future leaders, but already they are shaping the present. Their lived experiences offer critical insight into how communities function—and where they fail.

A design justice approach asks: Who is included in decision-making?

If youth are among the most impacted, they should be among the most empowered.

Youth are not just participants, but co-creators of the spaces they move through every day.

Did you know that our Founding Director Dr. Marie Cecile Kotyk was featured in a few months ago?!

Read about Dr. Kotyk's vision for Calgary, experience and impact, and the UDesign Justice Initative!

https://www.avenuecalgary.com/city-life/cecile-kotyk-equity-social-justice-calgarys-urban-development/

How we grow matters.
Urban sprawl increases car dependence and limits access to jobs, services, and transit—deepening inequality.
From a design justice perspective, who is Calgary being designed for?

This is a reminder to all members of the design community that your voice is important.

It is easy to feel that your contributions are small amid changing environments and perspectives. In these moments, take a step back, acknowledge your efforts, and remember that your unique insights and support can drive meaningful change.

You have the ability to make a difference!

Design justice reconsiders design practices by centring community and prioritizing equity and inclusion. This approach empowers and gives agency to those directly impacted by design decisions.

Through thoughtful city planning focused on design thinking, we can work together with love, kindness, and generosity in mind for all. It is important to understand that design actively represents different perceptions, and that inclusive spaces can only be achieved by collaborating with those who live in and use the environment.

From Design Injustice to Design Justice: Why the Built Environment Must Change •

📣La conférence publique sera prononcée par Marie Cecile Kotyk, professeure adjointe et titulaire de la chaire de recherche Design Justice, à la School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL), de l'Université de Calgary. La conférence est organisée par le laboratoire Leap Architecture.
🗓️Le mercredi 18 mars 2026 à 17h30, à l'amphithéâtre 1120, de l'École d'architecture de l'Université de Montréal.

L'architecture et l'urbanisme ont historiquement produit des inégalités mais la conception du projet du point de vue de la « justice spatiale » permet d’envisager des environnements bâtis plus équitables, inclusifs et communautaires.
Le design n'est jamais neutre. De la pure discrimination par la rénovation urbaine à l'architecture hostile et au zonage exclusif, l'environnement bâti a de tout temps été utilisé pour renforcer les inégalités en matière d'accès au logement, à la sécurité, à la mobilité et aux opportunités. Cette présentation introduit la notion « justice par le design » comme cadre critique pour affronter cet héritage et transformer la manière dont nous planifions, concevons et gouvernons les villes. Des exemples historiques, des études de cas contemporains et des initiatives communautaires, dans les domaines du logement, des espaces publics, de la résilience climatique et de l'éducation, montrent comment le projet peut passer du maintien de l'injustice à la redistribution active du pouvoir. Fondée sur l'expérience vécue et la pratique participative, la conférence explique pourquoi la justice dans le design n'est pas facultative, mais essentielle à la création de communautés inclusives, équitables et justes.

Marie Cecile Kotyk est une urbaniste primée, une professionnelle du logement et une chercheuse en justice spatiale qui compte plus de 15 années d'expérience dans la promotion de l'équité dans les secteurs public et à but non lucratif. En tant que figure de proue de la recherche communautaire et de la justice spatiale, son travail s'attaque aux forces systémiques qui produisent des inégalités raciales dans l'environnement bâti, en particulier pour les communautés noires, autochtones et structurellement marginalisées. Ses recherches doctorales ont conduit à la création du Black Housing Equity Framework visant à lutter contre le racisme anti-Noirs dans les politiques et la conception du logement. Grâce à son leadership dans la création de l'UDesign Justice Initiative à l'université de Calgary, Dr Kotyk met en place un centre transdisciplinaire qui rassemble des universitaires, des membres de la communauté et des praticiens afin de co-créer des solutions axées sur l'équité pour une transformation spatiale, sociale et systémique.

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Why is design justice actually important? 🤔

It doesn't hurt to learn and/or remind ourselves of the impact of the design justice movement!

Design justice reshapes our environment, spaces, and mindsets to better support inclusivity and challenge oppression, which ultimately puts the power of design into the hands of the communities which are directly being impacted.

A notable figure in early advocacy for equitable city planning, Samuel J. Cullers (1918–2005) is recognized as one of the first professionally trained Black urban planners in the United States. He earned his degree at MIT at a time when the profession largely excluded people of colour.

Cullers worked in cities including Chicago and Toronto, focusing on public housing and community-centered development. During an era when urban renewal often displaced Black neighbourhoods, he pushed for planning that addressed the social, racial, and economic effects of redevelopment. Today, there exist organizations that are actively working to eliminate racism in housing decisions, continuing his legacy fighting gentrification, advocating for changes in planning and zoning laws, and increasing Black homeownership and general access to quality housing.

He is remembered both for breaking racial barriers in the field of design and for challenging unfair systems within urban planning.

UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. (n.d.). Fighting racism through urban planning: Samuel J Cullers. University College London. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/about/EDI/race-and-space/black-perspectives-built-environment/fighting-racism-through-urban-planning-samuel-j-cullers

MIT Black History Project. (n.d.). Samuel Cullers, 1974. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://www.blackhistory.mit.edu/archive/samuel-cullers-1974

Black History Month Spotlight: Afaina de Jong!🌟

Afaina de Jong is an influential Dutch architect that worked in international firms before founding her own firm, AFARAI. She educates and advocates for feminism, spatial justice, and interdisciplinary practices through her architecture.