Abstract：Many smart city initiatives rely too heavily on the objects of technological innovation (usually under the purview of
technology companies with scant urban or design expertise) and largely ignore the built form of buildings and infrastructure
as a medium for inquiry. Furthermore, the introduction of “smart” urban technology doesn’t automatically
precipitate better urban environments or absolve planners and governments of their responsibilities to foster and manage
enjoyable, equitable, and sustainable cities. By designing with data, we can embed intelligence directly into the
built fabric of the city, unlike many smart city technologies which are grafted (often haphazardly) onto the existing
city. Designers leading with data are in the position to fundamentally change how we shape the cities of the future. By
embracing an approach to design that is rich in analytics and computation, designers can regain agency over how smart
cities are conceived, planned, and programmed.
