Representing and Understanding the City Graphically

She joins Ryan Sullivan, a designer and planner at Boston-based Utile, Inc. They explore the importance of abstract graphic representation.

"My goal was to understand the importance of graphic representation in his day-to-day work. As an example, Sullivan pointed to the Stuart Street Planning Study, a project that Utile carried out for the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) in 2007-2008. By examining this specific case, I came to understand that graphic representation not only helps designers like Sullivan analyze a particular problem or set of problems. It also aids them in constructing a coherent narrative and convincing argument about the area at hand that can be easily communicated to others-a crucial part of the planning process."