Shaping Places Shapes People: A Radical Manifesto for Youth Agency in Placemaking and Design

Synopsis

This wotkshop presents a radical manifesto advocating for youth agency in placemaking, arguing that empowering young people to shape their environments is not only a matter of justice but a transformative psychosocial, wellbeing and civic intervention. Drawing on extensive research and case studies from Essex and Worthing, the paper explores how systemic exclusion from civic and spatial decision-making disproportionately affects disadvantaged youth, particularly in coastal towns and underserved communities.
The manifesto reframes youth participation as agency—the power and resources to influence change—rather than mere inclusion. It outlines five core arguments: (1) placemaking and design as a justice issue to counter spatial inequalities; (2) placemaking and design as a psychosocial intervention that fosters mattering, belonging, and wellbeing; (3) placemaking as a design imperative informed by youth spatial practices and liminality; (4) placemaking and design as a civic tool to cultivate custodianship and democratic engagement; and (5) placemaking as a curriculum for life, especially for disadvantaged youth.
The workshop calls for a paradigm shift in urban design and planning, urging policymakers to embed youth-led placemaking projects into school curricula and local development frameworks. By doing so, we can unlock the potential of young people not only to shape their communities but to shape themselves as empowered, connected, and future-ready citizens.