Guide to
Govering for Design Excellence
Putting the Principles for City Design Leadership into action
OVERVIEW
Explore the Guide
01 | Design Excellence Models
Mayors can put MICD’s Principles for City Design Leadership into practice by building internal capacity, extending that capacity through partnerships, and improving the processes that shape how decisions are made.
02 | Self Assessment
Evaluate your city’s starting point in terms of authority, capacity, and partnerships to identify where you have leverage and what kinds of moves are most likely to succeed.
03 | Case Studies
Explore how eight cities have built capacity and improved processes in order to bring out the best in design and development projects.
Key Takeaways
- Takeaway 1
- Takeaway 2
- Takeaway 3
Explore referenced projects
- Boston Planning Advisory Council, Boston, MA: To cut through red tape and fragmented decision-making processes, the city established a Planning Advisory Council that brings together leaders from across departments involved in planning, development, and the built environment. Read more
- Claiborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District, New Orleans, LA: To close the gap between grand vision and daily decisions, the mayor hired a senior advisor responsible for the built environment, serving as a trusted source of guidance on design-related decisions and providing a clear point of accountability within the administration. Read more
- Tulsa Department of City Experience, Tulsa, OK: The creation of a new department brought together planning, design, community engagement, and related functions under a single structure aligned around resident experience. Read more
- Charleston Civic Design Center, Charleston, SC: To sustain its legacy of design excellence, the city established a civic design center that over time transitioned from a civic partner to a unit of government, now serving as a hub for design leadership and public engagement. Read more
- NYC Public Design Commission, New York, NY: To safeguard city aesthetics during rapid growth, this commission emerged as an independent oversight body protecting the long-term civic and visual quality of public buildings, infrastructure, and streetscapes. Read more
- Nashville Civic Design Center, Nashville, TN: This center emerged from concerns that Nashville lacked a strong civic vision for urban growth and public space, and it continues to advance design excellence through collaborative planning initiatives, research-driven urban design studies, public engagement, and partnerships with academic institutions. Read more
- Simon and Helen Director Park, Portland, OR: The city partnered with the Portland Parks Foundation, downtown business organizations, and design professionals to create both a civic amenity and an economic catalyst for downtown Portland. Read more
- Milwaukee Mayor’s Design Awards, Milwaukee, WI: Relying on civic partnerships and public recognition rather than major funding commitments, the program celebrates projects that strengthen streetscapes, housing, public spaces, and community-serving infrastructure — while building civic pride across administrations. Read more
Principles for City Design Leadership
Lead
with design
Design
for meaningful change across your city
01
Lead
to improve people's lives
Design
to connect communities
02
Lead
for economic opportunity
Design
to create and capture value
03
Lead
to foster health + resiliency
Design
to create a beautiful city
04
Lead
collaboratively
Design
with all
05
let’s talk
We are here to help.
Our team is happy to help you strategize ways to utilize these resources. Contact our office to set up a time to discuss.
MICD is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors. Since 1986, MICD has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities.
Join our Mailing List
Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest resources.
©️2026. Mayors’ Institute of City Design. All Rights Reserved.
