HEY! Imagineable Design Guide (Book)

Published by YEM Yayın, the book was prepared with the idea that those who cannot participate in the game should also be able to access the content of the 101 cards included in the HEY! A Design Guide for Imaginable Futures cards, created by Alexis Şanal (SANALarc).

Beyond learning the content of the 'card game,' the book also serves as a reference for those studying architecture, interior architecture, urban and regional planning, and urban design, as well as for urban decision-makers (residents, experts, investors, NGOs, municipalities) and anyone interested in learning and understanding the fundamental concepts that define 'the city.' In this context, the book can even be described as a "contemporary urban design dictionary."

HEY! A Design Guide for Imaginable Futures offers a transdisciplinary methodology for city-making, aiming to achieve an spontaneously organized urban design that nourishes a dynamic public life and emphasizes neighborhood cohesion. The 'card deck,' consisting of 101 topics under six categories addressing the fundamental components of public space, serves as an indispensable reference that prioritizes, negotiates, and tests expert support, good practice standards, and success parameters in urban design initiatives. Ultimately, everything from heated conversations to discussions on priorities, stakeholder accountability, and open-ended suggestions regarding physical, social, and economic issues are part of this 'card game.' In this game, facilitators of NGO workshops, decision-makers in local governments, and design professionals can establish a 'imaginative' role-playing simulation where exploration and strategic thinking develop in parallel. This can lead to a 'winning solution' (a personalized guide) based on stakeholder consensus, discussion, and priorities.

The book consists of six main categories (chapters):

Physical Elements (Pedestrians, human scale, crosswalks, sidewalk dimensions, lighting, street furniture, connecting elements, etc.; users and products in public spaces; natural and artificial elements)

Ecology (Daylight and shade, trees, light pollution, heat island effect, rainwater, urban athletes, etc.; practices and elements necessary to create a sustainable environment)

Technology and Innovation (Energy saving, water features, tracking systems, mobile applications, innovative infrastructure systems, etc.; contemporary, forward-looking, and pioneering initiatives, applications, systems)

Socio-economics (Local identity, urban branding, festivals, maintenance, property value, etc.; urban values that increase economic and social well-being)

Governance (Accessibility for all, spillover, time-based management, waste, pedestrian safety, urban amenities, waste management, etc.; laws, rules, and regulations that create a functional order in public space and our neighborhoods)

Vibrancy (Spatial diversity, intermediate spaces, urban permeability, characters, waiting, resting, physical comfort, security, street vendors, street art, information access, pedestrian flow, etc.; all elements that are energetic, lively, unique, and express the spirit of the place)

The HEY! project is based on SANALarc's ongoing research into 'spontaneous urbanization' for cities like Istanbul. Micro-scale intervention practices, disseminated through methods such as Tactical Urbanism, Do-It-Yourself City, Pop-Up City, Fluid City-Making, and Bottom-Up Planning, guide this research. First and foremost, new participatory design tools and educational resources are needed for co-creating the city. This approach prioritizes the development of a common language and knowledge base that will trigger effective citizen participation and comprehensive collaboration.

The innovative approach offered by this project enables the formation of a collective imagination that successfully blends analytical, practical, and creative thinking necessary for the development of sustainable urban design. The content of the project was created through crowd-sourced work with contributions from experts in Istanbul, design activism NGOs, and art practitioners, in alignment with the 21st-century economy defined by phenomena such as the sharing economy, knowledge-centric work, and creative gross national product (GNP), and its resources were made available online for free. These generous contributions, a method of collective resourcing and incremental progress, resulted in a detailed, non-linear urban design tool that will support citizens in moving towards their common future.

The art direction and graphic design of HEY! A Design Guide for Imaginable Futures were done by Okay Karadayılar, illustrations by Mrnië Godanca, logo design by Memed Erdener, text editors are Linda Shahinian and Serhan Ada, and the pedagogy consultant is Simon Johnson.