Megan Milano
collective creativity: a social design project re-imagining third places with and for young people in both Aotearoa New Zealand and Connecticut U.S.A
Young people have the same rights as other citizens to use and enjoy public space, yet their presence is often perceived as “anti-social.” For young people, public space functions as a crucial ‘third place’ beyond home and school, offering greater potential for agency, autonomy, and self-determination. Despite this importance, young people are frequently under-considered and under-served in public space design, with environments that rarely reflect their needs, desires, or everyday experiences.
This research addresses that gap by centring young people within creative, collaborative design processes to reimagine public space. Collective Creativity is a creative-practice research project in social design involving students aged 13–18 in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Newtown, Connecticut, USA. Through these collaborations, the project develops a ‘social designer-in-residence’ model in which the researcher is embedded within two high schools over several months. Working alongside students, the research facilitates collective design projects and community-engaging events. The project aims to reveal the possibilities that emerge when young people are supported to co-create and reimagine public and third places in their communities through care-informed social design practice.
Supervisor
Previous Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Champlain College - Burlington, Vermont, USA - May 2019
Master of Design Innovation: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington - December 2024