Student Design Challenge webinars: Designing safer, more inclusive public spaces
24th April 2025
As part of the ongoing Student Design Challenge (SDC), E2i recently hosted a series of webinars centered around one key question:
How can design contribute to creating safer public spaces?
Bringing together students, educators, and design professionals from around the world, the webinars offered a platform to explore innovative approaches to safety and security through design. With a strong focus on real-world impact, each session featured expert speakers, case studies, and open discussions on the challenges and opportunities in rethinking how public environments can serve all communities better.
The series kicked off with a session titled “Crime, Criminology, and Urban Space”, where leading experts—including Prof. David Weisburd, Dr. Gal Herz, and Profs. Caroline Davey & Andrew B. Wootton—offered deep insights into the connections between urban design and criminal behavior. From the criminology of place to the psychological dimensions of safety, participants gained actionable tools for integrating crime prevention strategies into their design thinking.
The second webinar on “Design for security“ introduced the perspective of end users and emergency responders, with speakers such as Arch. Julia Hall (Greater Manchester Police), Dr. Anke Schröder (LKA Lower Saxony), and Chaim Rafalowski (Magen David Adom) offering practical, field-based insights on designing for real-life safety needs.
As the Student Design Challenge progresses, students will start implementing their concepts, and we’ll continue to share updates on their work and the evolution of the project.
All sessions have been recorded and are available on the E2i YouTube channel, offering continued access to this growing body of knowledge.
Don’t miss your chance to submit your ideas to the student design challenge – submission closes April 30th 2025.
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