Five tips for top training in urban design

Renaissance, regeneration and growth has necessitated a re-birth of skills training for the built environment, and today there is a range of useful courses available from myriad professional bodies and the private and public sector. However, it is important to understand what makes a good training event. The following tips aim to ensure your next training venture becomes a valuable and rewarding experience:

Be realistic about what you can achieve

Although courses can introduce to you the basic urban design principles – which can range from understanding a place to facilitating the delivery of a plan – short and sharp urban design training events won’t make you an urban designer overnight. Most can effectively improve design awareness and enhance skills while highlighting additional support facilities available. However, courses on the whole are focused on either the general process and approach to urban design or to specific ingredients required to create successful places.

Know what you are looking for

Urban design underpins the ultimate goal of creating desirable and lasting places and should be championed during the entire masterplanning and delivery process. A wide range of professions are involved in delivering the built environment and it is essential to know where you are most effective in this process during your day to day tasks.

The course you choose should build off your existing knowledge and lead you towards where you want to focus. This may start at general awareness and policy and lead to more specific topics in subsequent courses such as environmental sustainability, design at appeal or economic and legal structures. The primary focus should be to enhance your skill set within your personal needs.

Check out the professional institutes

Due to the cross-cutting nature of urban design and its increasing importance in the planning system, relevant professional institutes continue to develop training and education programmes as the urban agenda evolves. The Royal Town Planning Institute, RIBA, RICS are all promoting urban design and trying to address the skills gap we face. To learn what issues are relevant to your profession and find out where you can improve your skills, visit the various professional institutes.

Keep an eye-out for events

With events now catering to a wider audience, it becomes much more difficult for organisers to target the specific delegates they wish to reach. Don’t choose your training course merely on the email and magazine fliers you receive. You need to be active, even it if it as simple as a few internet searches.

Engage with the networks

Consider joining some of the various virtual networks for regeneration and design. The RTPI provides a useful series of networks that are accessible by members and non-members alike. Typically such networks offer a range of opportunities that include social networking events, lectures as well as online learning and blogging resources. Leading up to a training event, such networks can offer a portal to continue your learning and development.

Conclusion

Make sure you engage with others and share contact information. Often these contacts become useful links for advice, sources of information and new job leads.