Stories of awe

Cities are shaped not only by infrastructure, but by memory, identity, and lived experience. The Stories of Awe tool helps uncover how people experience their city and their neighborhoods — what they value, what inspires them, and what they hope will change. By inviting residents to share their stories, we gain insight into the emotional and cultural dimensions of place that are often invisible in traditional urban analysis. This tool centers community voice as an invaluable form of knowledge.

What you gain from using this tool

Experiential
A platform for voice: Residents are recognized as experts of their own lived experience.
Reflection on place: The interview process invites people to articulate what makes their neighborhood meaningful.
Recognition of awe: Participants begin to notice and name what inspires wonder, pride, or connection in their community.
Shared understanding: The conversation strengthens awareness of collective identity and belonging.
Data + Insights
Deep qualitative insight: The tool captures stories, memories, values, and aspirations that cannot be measured through surveys alone.
Community priorities: It reveals what people care about — what they value, and what they want to protect or change.
Emotional mapping of place: Beyond physical infrastructure, this tool surfaces social and cultural layers of the neighborhood.
Design intelligence: Stories of awe reveal what spatial, social, and cultural elements generate meaning — informing more human-centered urban design.
Trust & relationship building: The interview process itself builds rapport and strengthens community engagement.

Preview the tool

How to make a field guide booklet

Follow the instructions to have a field guide in booklet format. Booklets are easier for taking tools out in the field. If you prefer to print regular pages, that works too, just download and hit print.

Download the document and print from Adobe Acrobat (free), select ‘Booklet’ in Page Sizing & Handling
Stack all sheets and fold them together in half along the center line.
Staple along the fold line to bind the booklet.