Bringing Young Girls Voices Into Public Space Design

What is it about?

This article explores how urban planning can become more inclusive and participatory, especially in the post-COVID-19 context, by using digital tools and platforms that allow diverse groups—especially girls and young women—to contribute to the design of public spaces. The authors focus on Her City, a project led by UN-Habitat and Global Utmaning that offers an open, digital “Toolbox” for urban actors to engage communities in urban design. As a case study, the article examines the application of the Her City Toolbox in Chania, Greece. Chania is a mid-sized city where city officials, urban practitioners, and community members piloted the tool to collect ideas, visualizations, and design proposals from girls and young women about how public spaces could be improved. The researchers looked at how the platform supported participation, whose voices it amplified, and what challenges emerged when trying to make planning processes more equitable.

Featured Image

Photo by Gunnar Ridderström on Unsplash

Photo by Gunnar Ridderström on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how unequal access to public space can be, especially for groups marginalized by gender, age, or economic status. Traditional planning often fails to include the perspectives of those who use spaces differently. This study highlights how digital participation tools like Her City can open new channels for voices that are typically under-represented in urban design. While the case in Chania shows that such tools are promising in integrating diverse community insights, the authors also note that challenges remain—especially in ensuring sustained engagement, bridging the digital divide, and adapting participatory platforms to local contexts.