The Third Place Revolution: Designing for Community in a Fragmented World

As public spaces close and digital spaces grow more isolating, there’s an urgent need to reimagine ‘third places’—the spaces where community happens beyond work and home. Drawing lessons from The Star of Greenwich and community hubs, this session explores how designers can create spaces (physical and digital) that build social capital, foster belonging, and combat isolation. Actionable strategies will include designing with community ownership models and leveraging participatory design for more inclusive outcomes.

About the speaker:

James leads digital and strategic thinking at William Joseph, helping charities, universities and public institutions design more accessible, equitable, and impactful services. He combines deep experience in user-centred design with a passion for practical change, making sure the work we do genuinely improves lives, especially for people often left out of the conversation.