The Point CDC , Dave Remedios

Strategic Design  ·  Project 02

The Point

A community-embedded design research project collaborating with The Point CDC to revitalise the annual Fish Parade in Hunts Point, The Bronx, through rigorous social, cultural and economic research.

Project Details 02

Role

Design Researcher & Community Strategist

Skills

Community Research Sociogram Co-design Stakeholder Mapping Social Impact

Challenge

Conduct comprehensive social, cultural and economic research within Hunts Point to propose activities that enrich participation at the 2024 Fish Parade.

Partner

The Point CDC, Hunts Point, The Bronx

Team

Dave Remedios & Annette Guerra-Armendariz

Year

2024  ·  Parsons School of Design, NY

Type

Community Design Research

Institution

Parsons School of Design, NY

Disciplines

Social Impact · Community Design · Co-design

Duration

One semester · 2024

Fish Parade Hunts Point

Introduction

Community service
in the Bronx

We were actively engaged in community service for the residents of the Bronx. Through this initiative, we collaborated closely with local communities to revamp and organise the annual Fish Parade in Hunts Point, aimed at fostering community engagement.

Our objective was to conduct comprehensive social, cultural and economic research within the locality to deepen our understanding of the community. Once we gained a nuanced insight into local sentiment, we proposed a range of activities tailored to enrich participation at the 2024 Fish Parade.

Community context

0

Residents in Hunts Point

~75% Latino

Dominican 35%  ·  Puerto Rican 30%

World's Largest

Food distribution hub, feeding an estimated 22 million people

$0

Avg household income

35.6% poverty

City-wide average 18.2%

6% college degree

41% have not completed high school

Single-mother households

Among the highest concentrations in the country

Research

Three lenses on
the community

We employed three distinct research methodologies to build a layered understanding of Hunts Point before proposing any design interventions.

01

Sociogram

We identified all potential stakeholders in collaboration with The Point and mapped their interconnectedness, revealing the full network of community resources and relationships available to support the parade.

Sociogram
Stakeholder mappingNetwork analysis
02

Socio-Cultural Analysis

We delved into demographic statistics, analysing population size, predominant ethnicities, average age and more, identifying potential issues that could be addressed through the design work we were undertaking.

Socio-cultural analysis
DemographicsCultural mapping
03

Economic Ecology

We catalogued all available resources within the community, including their roles and physical locations, determining the most effective utilisation of these resources in supporting the organisation of the parade.

Economic ecology
Resource mappingAsset inventory

Key Observations

What the research
revealed

Nine key findings emerged from the research phase, each pointing to a specific community asset or leverage point for the parade design.

Faith community

Churches as promotion hubs to gather traction and build community momentum

Green spaces

The Parks (Lungs of Hunts Point) as natural hubs for community gathering

Education

Educational institutes and cultural organisations as talent sources

Healthcare

Healthcare institutes to provide emergency assistance on the day

Social services

Social service organisations as a ready source of volunteers

Local business

Major businesses as contributors of resources and supplies

Industry

Auto part companies as donors of old parts for community sculpture creation

Government

Government offices to provide clearances, permits and logistical support

Public safety

Police Precinct to maintain law, order and a safe environment

Recommendations

Three design
interventions

With research complete, the team proposed three community-led design interventions for the 2024 Fish Parade, each rooted in the assets and relationships identified during the research phase.

01

Community Kitchen on Wheels

A community-led food truck initiative fostering unity through a shared public kitchen program, exchanging recipes, cultural identities and flavours. Leveraging the transient population that frequents Hunts Point for work, the goal is to generate revenue through active community engagement.

Community food truck

02

Junkart Community Sculpture

Community engagement through a collective art activity promoting co-designing. Auto parts collected from local stores are used by the public to build a community sculpture. A pre-parade workshop constructs them, and on the day community members paint them together.

Junkart sculpture

03

Social Media Campaign

A dedicated Instagram and Facebook page enables real-time updates leading up to and during the parade. A recurring annual theme competition invites students to design the year's logo, fostering ongoing engagement and creative ownership within the community.

Social media campaign

Social Impact

Design that starts with listening
builds communities that last.

By grounding every recommendation in the lived experience of Hunts Point residents, this project demonstrated that design research is most powerful when it serves the community it studies.

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