The function of images in the development of urban guiding principles
Project Description
Urban guiding principles (städtebauliche Leitbilder) are a noncommittal instrument of urban planning that achieves its effect by the persuasion and consensus-building in a discussion process. They act as a mediator between government ministries, authorities and other stakeholders. The communication of the basic urban issues plays therefore a decisive role. Ideas, goals and interests are expressed in guiding principles (Leitbilder) not only by words, but are conceptualized and displayed through a set of images (sketches, photos, charts and visualizations). As in advertising, it is important to choose the adequate image function depending on the view of the receiver when communicating guiding principles.
Although there has been a few research projects on the development and the functions of guiding principles, there is a poor understanding of what functions images have within the process of developing guiding principles.
The research project deals with the role images have in the communication within a process of establishing urban guiding principles.
The functions of images in the different phases of a development process (idea generation, elaboration, stabilization) are examined on the basis of selected case studies of urban guiding principles in Switzerland. In the focus of the inquiry stands the analysis of existing documents (protocols, interim reports and discussion papers) and the questioning of involved actors (urban planners, consultants, communications experts and the public) about the use/function of images.
The goal of the research is to promote an increased awareness when dealing with images as a designing- and communication tool in the process of developing guiding principles. With the gained knowledge about the function of images in the various stages of a guiding principle-process, the images can in the future be implemented even more precisely.
Although there has been a few research projects on the development and the functions of guiding principles, there is a poor understanding of what functions images have within the process of developing guiding principles.
The research project deals with the role images have in the communication within a process of establishing urban guiding principles.
The functions of images in the different phases of a development process (idea generation, elaboration, stabilization) are examined on the basis of selected case studies of urban guiding principles in Switzerland. In the focus of the inquiry stands the analysis of existing documents (protocols, interim reports and discussion papers) and the questioning of involved actors (urban planners, consultants, communications experts and the public) about the use/function of images.
The goal of the research is to promote an increased awareness when dealing with images as a designing- and communication tool in the process of developing guiding principles. With the gained knowledge about the function of images in the various stages of a guiding principle-process, the images can in the future be implemented even more precisely.
