Anahita Shadkam

I am a designer, urbanist, educator, and advocate for play. With a professional background in architectural design, I have spent the last decade studying the relationship between people and places. My recent research focuses on the playfulness of urban environments, examining public open spaces as sites for spontaneous play—not just for children, but for people of all ages. Over the past few years, I have taught courses such as planning theory, urban geography, social and community planning, and design studios to both undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Waterloo and Toronto Metropolitan University. My current academic project emphasizes the importance of integrating participatory action research into design education.