GRID TALK
This project investigates how, why, and where energy is produced, the systems which distribute it, and how we might better understand this essential, life-sustaining infrastructure—one that is both ubiquitous and largely invisible within the public realm.
How can we cultivate greater awareness and appreciation for the systems that sustain contemporary life? And what role can designers play as advocates for more informed and equitable energy policies?
This graduate thesis traces a journey across interconnected energy landscapes, from sites of generation to regional transmission networks within the New England power system and the New York Independent System Operator. The project culminates in New York City, where it engages with the historically complex New York Steam System—an infrastructural network that is at once both astonishing and overlooked.
The investigation concludes with a focused design intervention that brings visibility to an otherwise hidden underground energy system, amplifying its presence and significance within the urban environment. Ultimately, this work calls for a more engaged approach to energy infrastructure—one that positions designers as advocates for dynamic systems and the communities they support.
