We want to make cities work better for the people who use them. We want cities to reflect the identities, cultures, and creativity of the people who live in them. We believe there is an urgent need to involve communities far more in the design process for their environments. We believe inclusion, diversity, equity, and sustainability are important features to great cities. And we believe we have the tools to get us there, together.
Chris chiaravalli,
Principal Design REsearcher
An eclectic and creative young person, Chris is endlessly curious about the world around him. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, but found his subsequent experience in the working world to be abysmally lacking in the consideration of the human user for which the products and machines the teams he was on were making. This led him to pursue his masters degree in the field of design science, focusing in user centered design research and urban design. Chris founded Studio Chiaravalli to put his experience and training to use directly making a positive change in cities through his work. Chris strives to solve problems in cities to make them more equitable, accessible, and work better for the human residents in general through the design of digital, physical, and service based products.
Alicia chiaravalli,
Principal designer for play
Alicia is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector, life-long Artist-Designer, and thinker. Alicia’s personal research of theory, approaches to, and history of playful public spaces spans over 8-years. Her work dances a line between abstract sculpture and less conventional playground design, with attention to environmental and cultural integration of built structure with physical context. Alicia’s education in Art and Design, Environmental Studies, and Industrial Design for Play, as well as her lived experiences- extensive travel, advocacy for nature, work as an environmental consultant, attention to issues for social justice- continue to inform her philosophy and work.