Susan Dieterlen

Design by Deficit Susan Dieterlen

Every city has a shadow: the unintentional consequences of tasks deferred and unfunded that shape the places we live and our lives within them. This neglect can be the primary designer of urban environments, and we never even see it.




With dynamic approachable style, Design by Deficit reveals neglect's impacts - accidental urban nature, crumbling infrastructure, abandoned spaces beyond rules - and some surprising benefits. There's crime and fear, but there's also stress relief and life-sustaining ecology.




As a longstanding trend already positioned in critical locations, neglect could be our secret weapon against climate change, inequality, and public health crises. Design by Deficit considers who will benefit, how to balance costs, and teaches a tactical approach that makes neglect work for policy, planning, and programming in the accidental city.