The Periodic Table of City Planning Elements

Break out the Bunsen burner: Ric Stephens has broken down the science of city planning into this handy chart of elements.

1 minute read

May 6, 2010, 5:00 AM PDT

By Ric Stephens

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Ric Stephens writes, "Much of my work in the past several years has been overseas, so I use symbols rather than text for maps and plans. I am also focusing on systems approaches to land use and planning with individual elements ignores the true value of their relationships. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Of course, this is way too serious a line of thinking for something that is meant to be fun."


Ric Stephens is a Senior Project Manager for Cogan Owens Cogan in Portland, Oregon. He also is a planning advisor for international development with his own practice, Stephens Planning & Design. He teaches at Portland State University and serves on the Beaverton Planning Commission.

This poster is part of a series of planning parodies with movie posters, games and others some of which are online at http//www.stephensplanning.com/media.htm


portrait of professional woman

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 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 Planner

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