Telling untold stories of sustainability in Austin Parks

Fall 2025

See the final presentation and deliverable here >

Last Spring (’25), wkrm students learned how human-centered design could be applied to civic problems. This Fall, a new cohort once again worked with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation. The central question driving our work: “What is the public-facing communication platform for sustainability and resilience that enables City of Austin Parks and Recreation to articulate, demonstrate, prompt, and support sustainability practices in their public spaces?”

The team developed a reference design system that includes an initial library of sustainability icons and signage types, along with a simple attachment strategy for parking signage. These assets work together to explain sustainable features in parks such as rain gardens, pollinator habitats, and grow zones, while helping Austin Parks & Recreation reach sustainability certifications for parks and park projects.

We are excited to continue our project in the Spring, advancing the work to help Austin communities and residents understand how sustainable parks, buildings, and behaviors benefit them, promote healthier behaviors, and strengthen community stewardship in sustainability.