Mumtaz Hammad works across urban planning, sound design, and writing to explore spatial justice, cultural preservation, and community-centered mapping. They hold an M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University's GSAPP and an M.A. in South Asian Studies from UT Austin.
Their trans-disciplinary practice investigates how community spaces are located, interpellated, and experienced through processes of planning, performance, and sonic composition.
Their writings have been published in EFNIKS, Spy Kids Review, URBAN Magazine, Cordite Magazine, and Rest for Resistance.
CV may be provided upon request.
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CultureFlow: Cultural Space Accessibility Platform, Community-Centered Spatial Analysis & UI Design
UI Prototype
Columbia University GSAPP 2024
Role: Spatial Analyst, User Researcher, UI/UX DesignerProject Overview
CultureFlow translates spatial analysis of NYC cultural spaces into an accessible digital interface addressing community awareness and accessibility gaps. Through community interviews, spatial research, and user-centered design, this prototype demonstrates how GIS analysis can inform community-facing planning tools that improve equitable access to cultural resources.
Software: Figma, FigJam, [GIS tools if used]
Methods: Community interviews, user research, spatial analysis, UI/UX prototyping
Research Base: 50+ community interviews across NYC neighborhoods
Deliverable: Interactive UI prototype addressing cultural accessibility
Challenge
Despite NYC's rich cultural infrastructure, many residents—particularly in marginalized communities—lack awareness of accessible cultural spaces in their neighborhoods. Existing cultural directories are fragmented, not user-friendly, and don't address specific community needs around transportation access, cost, cultural programming types, or language accessibility.
This project sought to translate complex spatial data about cultural spaces into an intuitive, community-centered interface that improves cultural accessibility and addresses equity gaps in cultural participation.
Approach
Community Research: Conducted 50+ interviews with NYC residents across diverse neighborhoods to understand barriers to cultural space access, wayfinding challenges, and information needs. Research revealed key themes: transportation barriers, cost concerns, lack of multilingual information, and desire for community-curated recommendations.
User-Centered Design: Developed UI prototype in Figma translating spatial data and community insights into accessible interface. Design prioritizes: multilingual accessibility, transit-oriented wayfinding, cost transparency, community-driven content, and culturally specific filtering.
Planning Applications
This project demonstrates how digital tools can bridge gaps between spatial planning analysis and community accessibility. By translating GIS and spatial cultural data into user-friendly interfaces, planners can:
- Improve equitable access to public resources and cultural infrastructure
- Center community voices in planning tool development
- Address information barriers that perpetuate spatial inequities
- Create participatory platforms for community asset documentation
Skills: Community engagement • User research • Spatial analysis • UI/UX design • Planning communication • Digital tool development