The School of Planning Designer in Residence Endowment Fund provides students with unique opportunities to learn from practicing professionals, explore innovative design approaches, and strengthen the integration of design thinking into the future of planning.
This fund was launched through a seed gift from Karen Bowles Hammond, whose years of teaching and service in design have made a lasting impact on the School of Planning and the Faculty of Environment. In recognition of her contributions as both an educator and benefactor, the fund will help advance excellence in design within planning education.
What the Designer in Residence (DIR) will do:
- Teach a new project-based studio course that leverages the DIR’s unique expertise
- Mentor students and foster interdisciplinary collaboration
- Enrich classroom learning by applying cutting-edge tools used in the profession
- Collaborate with the Planner in Residence, faculty, and community partners on training events, design competitions, and other experiential learning activities.
To bring this vision fully to life, we need to grow the fund. The initial gift created a strong foundation and will allow the School of Planning to launch the program in Fall 2026, however, additional support from alumni, industry partners, and friends is essential to sustain and expand the program for future generations.
Why Design Training Matters: Voices from Practice
Catherine Jay, Principal & Head of Urban Design, SGL Planning & Design Inc
“Much of planning focuses on delivering sites, but the work becomes transformative when planners understand how architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design intersect. When we see how these disciplines shape context, streets, and public spaces, we move beyond processing plans to creating meaningful places. A Designer in Residence would help students develop this integrated perspective, bringing real-world design insight into the classroom, strengthening their ability to shape thoughtful, well-connected communities.”
Oliver Frayne, PhD '28
“Designers collaborate in the spaces between disciplines, constraints, and contested values — where new ideas emerge. When practitioners join our classrooms, they open up conversations that expose us to new tools, perspectives, and case studies. Their insights help us extend our thinking and explore the kind of designers and planners we want to become. With donor support, the Designer in Residence initiative would give students ongoing access to a practicing designer who encourages us to inquire, ideate, and innovate with confidence — preparing us to contribute critically to a better-planned world.”
Shane Morgan, Principal & Design Lead, Weston Consulting
"Design is where planning policy becomes real. It’s the moment when regulations are translated into buildings, streets, and public spaces that people will experience and remember. Even a setback can become a place of connection for people, reminding us that urban design carries a responsibility to ensure these spaces and places are meaningful."
Ron McIntyre, Partner, DIALOG, BES' 85
“Throughout my career I have found that innovation lies at the intersection of traditional disciplines and practices, leveraging knowledge and applying it in new and interesting ways. Design thinking is central to that – exploring the art of the possible. Waterloo taught me how to challenge, think and explore ideas. The Designer in Residence program will continue to instill the idea that design thinking happens at all scales from the macro to the micro – the more we think about design and its role in our society, the better we can shape our future environments.”
Ryan Guetter, President, Weston Consulting, BES' 03
“The best outcomes in community building are realized when intentional vision and policy combine with design principles and guidelines to see outcomes realized in tangible ways. The experiences we have in the communities we live work and play in are shaped by the ongoing collaboration between planners and designers, which is key to ensuring that good outcomes will last for generations.”