How Music Works

When the right thing is in the right place, we are moved.

David Byrne

My childhood was very ‘Little Miss Sunshine.” I was not the performer. I was the little sis who got dragged to all the dance rehearsals and competitions.

I did my homework in the dance studio, and while there, I would watch the dance instructors mix records to play during warm-ups. I watched as my older sister kept a smile on her face in front of the judges and continued her dance routine even after her tap shoe came loose and ended up getting flung across the audience - never missing a beat - tapping away with one heeled shoe on, the other in point position.

The lessons I learned were invaluable. Keep a smile on your face through adversity, never let them see you sweat, improvise on the spot, and keep going.

Every year, Third Street Promenade hosts trick-or-treating, and tons of families come out to get their goods. Watching the parade of families dressed up is super fun.

This year, when I arrived on the scene, Jeremy, dressed up in his Toy Soldier attire, had taken over the DJ booth.

Jeremy is not a DJ.

In fact, he can barely manage the A/V equipment. That’s not a diss; it’s that he just recently learned how to utilize the system during our Cinema Series. To play movies.

But as he stood at the side of the stage where performers had just stepped off, manning the equipment as best he could, he found himself locked out of the provided iPad that was loaded with the Halloween playlist.

So what’s a toy soldier to do?

Smile, don’t break a sweat, and be as resourceful as quickly as humanly possible.

He put on Santa Monica Radio.

"Opportunity and availability are often the mother of invention."

How Music Works by David Byrne

While documenting the build of the Santa Monica Ice Rink, I needed something to occupy my time since I would be babysitting the time-lapse for eight or so hours a day. It seemed the perfect time to read Trauma Informed Placemaking - a monster of a book - and what I consider to be my Placemaking bible.

Doctors are prescribing Art Walks for mental wellbeing. Pop-up dance parties were a hit in the Quarantine-era Australian Laneways. And at the prom, spontaneous house music has become an absolute banger.

"Restoring relationships and community is central to restoring wellbeing. We can change social conditions to create environments in which children and adults can feel safe, and we can thrive."

Trauma-Informed Placemaking

Selfishly, I started a radio station so I could get a quick, easy dopamine hit whenever I wanted. (I'm listening to Santa Monica Radio right now as I need to get motivated to finish this blog and get my day started.)

I kept pursuing it because the vibes were good. Every time my radio station gets played on the promenade - for PRIDE, as a pre-funk at events, or as a spontaneous dance party, people are moved.

Their heads start bobbing, dancing breaks out, people LOVE it. And that makes me so fucking happy.

People enjoyed the vibe so much that they tried to tip Jeremy, unaware that he was streaming my station and adjusting the knobs for sound out of necessity.

If the vibes are good, people will stay. And dance. And enjoy the hell out of it.

And look forward to coming back soon.

Mandy Z.

President, Animated Minds

Public Space and Placemaking: What is CPTED?

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Principles work hand in hand with Placemaking, which is all about creating vibrant, community-oriented spaces. 

Unless the spaces in a building are arranged in a sequence that corresponds to their degrees of privacy, the visits made by strangers, friends, guests, clients, and family will always be a little awkward.

A pattern language

1. Design Harmony: Placemaking and CPTED are like two peas in a pod when it comes to designing spaces. They should be best friends from the start, working together to create environments where everyone feels safe and connected.

2. Open and Welcoming Spaces: Imagine places where you can easily see what's happening around you. Placemaking encourages friendly environments where everyone feels safe.

3. Tailoring to Needs: Every place is unique, just like every person. CPTED principles can be adapted to suit the specific character and needs of a place. It's all about making it feel just right.

4. Ownership and Community Pride: Placemaking thrives on the idea that people feel a sense of belonging to their spaces. "This place belongs to us." When people take pride in their surroundings, they tend to look out for each other.

5. Guiding the Flow: Placemaking celebrates the idea that spaces should be easy to navigate. It's like creating a welcoming path for everyone. 

6. Strong Foundations: Placemaking doesn't shy away from making places secure. Adding clever security measures will help ensure everyone can relax and enjoy the space without worrying about safety.

7. Ongoing Love and Care: Placemaking insists on well-loved and well-maintained spaces. Regular clean-up and maintenance are like giving a space a big, friendly hug. A clean and well-kept area sends a clear message that it's cherished and watched over.

8. Community Connection: Placemaking is all about bringing people together. Encourage everyone to be a part of making decisions about their spaces. When a community works together, it creates a stronger sense of safety and belonging.

9. Continuous Improvement: Placemaking is a journey, not a destination. Keep checking how well our space is working and listen to what the community has to say. 

By combining Placemaking and CPTED principles, we can create friendly, vibrant spaces that look beautiful and where everyone feels safe, welcome, and connected. 

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Christopher Alexander: A Pattern Language

Christopher Alexander (1936–2022) flipped architecture on its head by asking a simple question: how do places actually feel to the people who live in them? His book A Pattern Language laid out practical design "patterns" that make spaces more human, more alive, and more healing.

Unlike the Bauhaus, which leaned toward abstraction, Alexander pushed for warmth and emotional resonance. Where Bauhaus stripped things down to pure function, Alexander rebuilt the human side, arguing that beauty and comfort aren't luxuries; they're survival tools.

That's why his work resonates today in placemaking: it's not just about buildings, it's about belonging. He understood that bad design can trigger stress, isolation, and even trauma. Good design, on the other hand, can restore a sense of safety and ease, which is essential for anyone navigating PTSD or just the chaos of daily life.

Alexander's big idea? Design should come from the people who use a space, not imposed from above. That shift continues to guide community-driven projects everywhere.

Book suggestion: 

Christopher Alexander: Pattern Language 

THE ECONOMIC POWER OF PLACEMAKING

Elevating Public Spaces Through Creative Direction.

The Power of Placemaking

What is Placemaking?

At its core, Placemaking is the art and science of shaping public spaces to reflect the community's identity, foster connection, and enhance the overall human experience. It's about creating environments that people not only visit but cherish and return to.

The Role of a Placemaker:

As a Placemaker, my role is to orchestrate a symphony of creativity, functionality, and community engagement. I am the visionary who brings your public space to life, turning it into a destination rather than just a location.

Why Placemaking Matters:

1. Community Building. Placemaking builds a sense of community by providing spaces that cater to diverse interests and activities, fostering a strong sense of belonging.

2. Economic Vitality: A well-designed public space attracts foot traffic, supporting local businesses and driving economic growth.

3. Cultural Expression: Placemaking celebrates local culture, history, and art, transforming public spaces into living canvases that tell the story of a community.

4. Health and Well-being: Accessible, green, and engaging spaces promote physical activity, mental well-being, and a healthier lifestyle for residents.

The End Result:

Picture a public space transcending its physical boundaries, becoming a dynamic, lively, and cherished part of the community. 

Jeremy@AnimatedMinds.org

Placemaking Professional

Creative placemaking harnesses the power of arts and culture to allow for more genuine public engagement.

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REFERENCE BOOKS

Christopher Alexander: A Pattern Language

The Disney Way: Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Trauma Informed Placemaking

What do Creative Placemakers Actually Do?

“Placemaking is essential—not just for wellbeing and a sense of safety, but also as a way to counter feelings of disconnection and displacement.” Matè, Trauma-Informed Placemaking

Jeremy likes to say that placemaking is about belonging, whereas I see creative placemaking as the sprinkle of joy after a long work week. It's attracting the people who bring the vibe. It's creating an environment where kids and parents feel relaxed enough to sit down and stay awhile.

It's providing a space where everyone feels safe enough to relax and enjoy themselves.

Being a Placemaker is like being an Ambassador of a place. It could be a city or region, or an unofficial Arts District, or, as I like to say, to be a Creative Placemaker is to be a taste maker.

There are a few different kinds of placemaking that include trauma-informed placemaking and things such as place branding - which is my favorite - and typically, there are four recognized types of Placemaking, which are:

Standard, Strategic, Tactical, and Creative - those who set the tone and branding of events and cities.

The DJs, the Eleven Madison Parks, and the Weiden + Kennedy's of the bunch, if you will.

Standard Placemaking is the unsexy one, but it's the most important one, and that is the management of space. It usually takes a group of people to pull everything off. However, to gain the best understanding of "Standard Placemaking", it is essential to comprehend Public Space Operations, Place Management, and other community fundamentals, such as parks and open spaces, transportation, local economy, culture, and arts.

DO YOU NEED A DEGREE IN SOMETHING? 

You don't need a degree for Standard Placemaking. Oftentimes, a place needs several "Standard Placemakers".

Strategic is long-range planning. Think Downtown Plans. This one needs a degree.

Tactical is short-term, low risk, and no cost. Anybody can do this one.

Creative Placemaking is the zuzh. It's Art, Culture + Design.

It's a monthly Third Thursday Block Party in your neighborhood. It's a weekly Cinema Sunday on the Prom with your neighbs. It's the choice of music that sets the tone in your establishment, at your event, or in your home.

It's the vibe for me.

Is this cool? Am I safe? Do I want to stay awhile?

It can be digital.

It can be a walkable Instagram feed of art locations in your area - a super fun + free walk; scroll Instagram for the tour. It can be a website like I created for Santa Monica Radio (www.santamonicaradio.com) - a free silent disco + stroll around Santa Monica. It can be you volunteering to create a newsletter or graphics for the next community event.

So how do you become a placemaker? You might already be one.

New experiences are good for the brain (+ your community!)

We need our communities more than ever. According to  Trauma-Informed Placemaking, ARTwalks have been prescribed by physicians, and Alleyway dance pop-ups are a hit in Australia.

There is a power in communal dancing, which is why I love that DJs are considered Placemakers. You can start with placemaking right now in your own community from the comfort of your bed by being a digital placemaker!