David has provided the city of Blaine a variety of invaluable services in helping us achieve our goals.
Here is a few ways he helped guide us:
1) Create participant variety.
Include proponents, opponents, consultants, and regulatory officials. Do not exceed more than 15 to 30 participants.
2) Do pre-charette research.
Determine hidden agendas and pre-conceived ideas. Know local history. Provide participants with a homework list of issues.
3) Provide the facts.
Be prepared with important data regarding zoning, environmental issues, infrastructure, traffic, the market, competition, demographics, et cetera. Present reference maps and supporting graphics on the walls.
4) Encourage comparative thinking.
Provide an audio/visual presentation of projects from around the country to get the creative juices flowing. Follow the show with images of the subject site.
5) Consider wild ideas.
Evaluate all ideas. No concept is too crazy. Go down the list of facts specific to the site, and put ideas in graphic form. Engage all participants for their point of view! Do this activity in the morning. The facilitator must be theatrical and knowledgeable — and good at sketching.
6) Work to the deadline.
Summarize the program that would include all points of view, and determine a solution that is the best compromise. Be an excellent listener.
7) Draw fast!
Facilitator and consultants create graphic design(s) for review by participants within one or, at most, two days. The masterplan should reflect and/or acknowledge all points of view, the “whys,” and “why nots.”
8) Present the solution.
Frame the design in terms of comments from all participants. Listen to valid criticism, and revise the plan on the spot with new ideas.
From my experience in participating in a few design charettes with David, I have found that this process usually generates a plan that you didn’t know you wanted.
Yet, there is typically almost 100 percent approval by all participants because it is their plan. Following the guidelines presented above will get your program on the fast track toward project completion.
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