We can’t wait to welcome Paola Aguirre Serrano, EPIC2023 keynote speaker, and hear her talk “Designing With: Collaboration Frameworks for Spatial Justice & Equitable Design.” To get ready to engage with this crucial topic, we talked with Paola about the challenges and rewards of multidisciplinary work, ethnographic perspectives and practices that have been important to her, how she thinks about friction, and what she’s most looking forward to at EPIC2023.
You’re the founder of Borderless Studio, an urban design and research studio focused on approaches and collaboration frameworks addressing spatial justice and equitable design while cultivating collaborative design agency. What do borders and the concept of “borderless” mean to you?
Borderless for me is a practice of resistance against fragmentation, silos and compartmentalized perspectives. Borderless is an invitation to collaborate, grounded in values of openness, civicness and publicness – and to use design as a tool to practice generosity, empathy and service as guiding principles working with communities.
What are the biggest challenges of multidisciplinary work, and what are some mindsets or strategies that have made you successful?
One of the challenges of multidisciplinary work is finding alignments and connections. Every project experience has made more relevant the need to focus on collaborative frameworks and shared values where the design process is as valuable as the final outcome – either as a plan or as a building. Every project is also an opportunity to advocate for spatial justice and equitable design, and to reclaim spaces and shape new narratives. Significant energy in my work is invested in creating spaces for reflection, value alignment and collective visioning. I understand my role in design processes as a connector and interpreter, and helping others to shape their visions.
Ethnography explores and crosses borders. What kinds of ethnographic perspectives and practices have been significant for you?
As a woman of color, as a Latina, as an immigrant, and as an urban designer, I am very aware that designing with communities requires a multicultural and multidisciplinary mindset. Because I am also invested in spatial justice and centering community perspectives in design processes, I prioritize engagement practices that are accessible, meaningful and inclusive.
The EPIC2023 theme is Friction. What are some ways you think about friction in your work?
I think of friction as an opportunity for reflection. Reflection powers a significant part of our dialogues and exchanges. Beyond data and knowledge, how we process and communicate our value system happens through moments of reflection. The complexities and frictions of being in dialogue with communities are also opportunities to identify alignments and common ground. I believe in the power of collective action where friction is a generator of continued reflection.
What are you looking forward to at EPIC2023?
I’m excited to connect with the EPIC community! There’s so much power and value in spaces such as the one EPIC creates by assembling a wealth of stories, approaches, and perspectives for exchange and mutual learning that can help us to collaborate with our communities in meaningful and inclusive ways.
Join Paola and the EPIC community at EPIC2023!
Our keenest insight and most powerful impact come when we cross boundaries, forge partnerships, and challenge conventional wisdom. Those moments both embrace friction and are friction. At EPIC2023 we will grapple with and harness friction for all its complex and productive powers. Join us for Learning & Networking Week (online, September 18–22) and the Main Program (online & in Chicago, October 22–25).
Related Resources
Tutorial: Power Tools for Equity in Research & Design, Chelsea Mauldin & Natalia Radywyl
Tutorial: Spatial Ethnography: A Place-Based Approach to Research, Gemma John & Sophie Goodman
Article: Amplifying Resilient Communities: Identifying Resilient Community Practices to Better Inform Health System Design, Romit Raj et al
Article: Service Designing the City, Natalia Radywyl
Article: Futures in Things: Locating the Promise of Infrastructures in Public Libraries, Sandjar Kozubev & Carl Disalvo
Article: Shared Ethnography of Shared Cities, Robert Potts et al