Our Approach

Praxis uses a proprietary process that we call SITE IQ to guide our planning for everything from marketing strategy to placemaking installations to restaurant concepting. SITE IQ is the driver for decision-making and we use this tool to check back on progress as strategies are implemented and recommendations are employed.

Our guiding principles are inclusivity, equity, collaboration and curiosity.

  • Define the scale, goals, programming, zones, and overall understanding of the space or project.

  • Define the purpose, usage, functionality, dwell time. What are the quantifiable intentions for the space or project?

  • Who is occupying, stewarding, and operating? Who is this for? Who is the target audience, and what are their needs/wants?

  • What do we want the target audience to experience before, during, and after?


  • What are we building, designing, and implementing? What is the intervention?


  • How do we measure success? What are the metrics & KPIs? How do they reinforce the quantifiable intentions?


Our Nine Tenets of Placemaking

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Our Nine Tenets of Placemaking ↓

Community First

It all starts with people. Through workshops, surveys, focus groups, charettes, and intake sessions, learn what makes your community tick first and foremost. Define what’s working, what’s not, and what can be improved. Give them a voice by allowing input through the design process — creating a feedback loop where the community is a part of the conversation. 


01

Inventory Your Assets

Looking at physical assets to cultural touchpoints. From historic architecture, geological features, indigenous flora / fauna, climate and seasonality, attractions and community points of pride, cultural events to local cuisine. Review funding sources - what is in place, what's possible? 


02

Find Your Differientiator

Synthesis and define the common thread, put your thumb on it. Every place has a vibe, a history and a culture. Answer the question “What makes our town unique? How are you different from the next town over or the next major metro?

03

Define the Brand

Based on the first three steps, answer the question “What is our brand?” Are we young and funky, are we hip and chic, are we laid back and relaxed? Are we out-dated? Are we wine bars or pool halls, family dining or takeout? Are we buttoned up or are we gritty?


04

Develop the Environment

Municipal infrastructure - sidewalks, light poles, trash, water drainage and sewage. Get your infrastructure up to snuff. A city is only as good as its worst sidewalk. Consider storefront updates and facade improvements. 


05

Get the Glowup

Placemaking, temporary and permanent installations, public art, parks, benches, seating, planters, street pole banners, painted crosswalks, murals, wayfinding, and gateway signage. And most importantly, gathering spaces.

06

Events & Programming

Develop a full calendar year of reasons to bring people downtown. From small weekly activations like farmer’s markets, yoga in the park, movie nights to semi-annual and annual signature events that address cumulative audiences from hyper-local to regional to inbound tourism drivers.


07

Economic & Community Development

Start with a data dashboard so you can understand your metrics and include workforce development, jobs, task revenue, and foot traffic. Look to attract people to the district. Community development should be focused on fundraiser dinner events, tapping into local creatives, creating opportunities to pull local talent. Community pride. Find your community leaders and work to make them longstanding.


08

Storytelling

How you market and communicate matters. Brand rollout beyond community. Everything in town should be branded. The place management organization is actively cultivating followers, subscribers, and building a fanbase. They are working with influencers, PR, and media entities to promote the destination. Start small and grow outward in concentric rings to continue to obtain earned media promoting your place.

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