What Would Jane Do

We’re back with a new episode of What Would Jane Do where Meghan McCollum of Blank Space Bham joins us to talk about her experience as a muralist and urbanist in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States. Meghan has applied her background in geography and urbanism so beautifully into her work. In October 2021 Blank Space Bham is hosing Magic City Mural Fest featuring seven women from Birmingham to Los Angeles who together with community partners will activate an alley in Woodlawn with public art and placemaking. We also spend some time talking to Meghan about her favorite space in Birmingham and hearing about her experience studying for her masters degree in London.

Get to know the voices behind What Would Jane Do and Kollectivo Design Group as we recap our conversations so far. We'll share some of our favorite moments and a little more about our favorite spaces at home and abroad. 

Let us know what you think about the podcast so far! Leave us a rating or review on Apple podcasts or connect with us on social media. We would love to hear from you!

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Just before we all went into lockdown in March, we spoke with our friend Hannah Ratzlaff about her work as an Exterior Design Consultant with Main Street Arkansas within the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. We chat about what it’s like learning architecture building by building, helping small business owners improve their space, and conceptual design can sometimes be misleading. As a newer resident of Little Rock Hannah also shared with us some of the spaces she’s been loving in the city and what makes her excited to live there.

In this episode we are joined by Camila Baquero who shares her experience moving from emblematic architecture to urban design and planning in Colombia. We chat with her about Cali and hear about her concept to alter gated communities to better fit the urban landscape and serve residents of the city, as well as what it's like working as an urban designer in the planning department for a city that includes large tracts of rural land⁠.

Back in the spring we had a chance to speak to Chin Chin Lam, who recently completed her masters in urban planning in London. After graduating from University College London, she chose to move back to her home country, Hong Kong, to start her new career. In this episode we are catching up with her about her experience returning home, how it is to practice urban design in a country topographically and culturally different to the UK, and how much the Placemaking theory fits into the context of an Asian mega city.

Join us as we hear everyday stories from women, early in their careers, working in cities and urban design around the world.