ABSTRACT -

The urban environment consists of a rich fabric both structurally and spatially. The use of photographic images to represent this fabric is one of many tools that can be used to elicit public participation in the design process. How effective is this tool? It is not only dependent on the actual content of the photographic image, but on many other variables. This thesis, reviews the methods, including visual preference surveys, using photographic images to stimulate public participation in the design process, and the inclusion of questioning techniques to gather this information. A local case study, "The City of Everett Community Image Preference Report," by Nelessen and Associates, implementing these techniques was evaluated based on follow-up interviews done with some of the original participants in that study. Conclusions are made on the success of that study, and on the potential uses of this tool in the future.