Pop Quiz: What Kind of Post-2020 City-Maker Are You?

The State of Place blog is offering a pop quiz designed to help you diagnose the kind of post-2020 city-maker you are.

1 minute read

February 5, 2021, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


With so many tough lessons learned (fingers crossed!) in 2020, State of Place offers the quiz as an opportunity to take stock of how the world is changing—and how the roles of planners and designers are changing in response.

"So the question is, who will you be as a Citymaker in 2021 and beyond? What approaches or tools will you adopt? What new challenges will you face head on? What will be your role in creating a new narrative around what is - and should be - normal?"

The quiz is intended to be both fun and informative, with a focus on placemaking, technology, and equity. The author of this post took the quiz and the results were that I am a "Whole is Bigger than the Sum of its Parts" planner.

[Update: The quiz does not require an email to complete. Use the grey option under the big orange button on the quiz.]

Thursday, February 4, 2021 in State of Place

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

A cluster of wind turbines beneath a stormy sky, above a forest where the leaves are beginning to change colors.

5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project

Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.

September 16 - Inside Climate News

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

September 16 - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

September 16 - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.