Virtual Lab
Storytelling for Street Regeneration
Too often, our streets signal to us that they are places for cars. And so, that’s what we get.
You can change the story.
Communicate with intent. Become a storyteller.
This 90-minute workshop, facilitated by Dr Laura Aston, is for people with a vision for flourishing streets to discover how you can craft compelling narratives to help any audience connect with your vision.
Monday 29 September (90 minutes)
Is this familiar?
You have great ideas for people-centred streets but struggle to get buy-in.
You put lots of effort into researching and writing detailed reports, proposals, strategies and documents with great ideas for streets, but don’t see results materialise.
You’ve heard the word storytelling thrown around but aren’t sure how it applies to your work.
You know people need to be able to imagine something different if they are to get on board, but you’re not sure how to do that.
If so, it’s time to nail those narratives.
It’s time to tell a better story
Join Laura for a 90-minute virtual laboratory that will help you sharpen the narratives you already share.
During the session you will:
Explore the ubiquity of stories that reinforce the norms and behaviours related to how we use streets.
Reflect on the narratives that influence you and your work
Explore the power of questions to spark curiosity, earn trust and learn what matters to your audience as you get to know your lab partners.
Learn how marketers, authors and business case writers harness narrative to draw in their audience and drive action.
Practice defining goals for your writing and communication, and identifying the needs and motivations of the audience you wish to influence
Develop a narrative plan and choose tactics to drive the action you wish to influence.
Virtual labs offer a small group setting in which to learn, exchange perspectives, develop empathy and practice the skills needed to regenerate streets.
About your facilitator
I am a transport planner, systems thinker, designer and facilitator. With experience across government, research, consulting and advocacy, I have worked in transport and sustainability from many angles, giving me a sense of both the opportunity as well as the challenges of cultivating systemic change.
I completed a PhD at Monash University that explored the impact of urban design and land use on public transport ridership. For all that urban design and land use can do to remove barriers to inclusive mobility, norms lie under the surface, reinforcing how we use streets.
In 2024, I founded Wayfinder Labs with the mission of helping communities reclaim streets as the place we go to connect as citizens. Cultivating empathy with the users of transport systems has helped me unlock the power of everyday storytelling. The key? Questions. Curiosity. Narrative.
I’ve studied creative writing and copy writing. I’ve learned the tropes of marketing and put them through the lens of values-based communication to create inspiring, paradigm-shifting narratives. I am an accredited investment logic facilitator, with experience using questioning to surface assumptions and help teams tell a story about how to solve a deeply-rooted social needs.
Now, I want to help street designers recognise their inner storyteller and bring inspiring narratives to the stages you already have. Before we can reclaim streets we must change the story about what they are for.
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“Everything we build, literally and metaphorically, from the physical infrastructure of our society to our institutions and all the products of our culture, have their roots in the story and reflect its logic back to us. The story surrounds us on a daily basis, providing near constant conditioning.”
Recognise the opportunities you have to tell stories and listen to those of the people you design for, every day.
Know how to use language to connect with people emotionally to spur action.
Simplify the task of writing reports or compiling presentation.
Write reports, strategies and business cases that get buy-in.
This is your opportunity to influence people-centred streets.
After the session you will:
“I am part of the system I want to change. So are you. ”