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At CivicBrand we love data. We use it in the engagement phase to ensure we're reaching everyone, in the strategy and design phase to test ideas, and in the implementation phase to measure what's working and what is not.However, there is a problem with data, especially in the civic space. In this episode Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand dive into the problems with data.Far too many use data as a shield in the decision-making process. They look for data to make the decisions for them so that it shields them from any potential blowback.  Additionally, many often focus only on one type of data and overly value quantitative data over qualitative data. 

In this episode, CivicBrand senior strategist Brisa Byford talks to Dr. David D. Perlmutter, Dean of Communications at Texas Tech University.  Brisa and Dr. Perlmutter discuss what truly makes a place authentic,  how communities are now competing globally for talent and residents, and the generational impacts on place identity. Dr. Perlmutter has authored ten books on political communication, new media technologies, and higher education published by, among others, Palgrave, Oxford, and Harvard University Press. 

Get some valuable and free legal advice as CivicBrand CEO Ryan Short and trademark and patent attorney Grady Bergen discuss trademarks. Understand the difference between trademarks and copyrights, what rights you have by common law and what rights are extended when you federally register and the steps you need to take to protect your mark.Your brand is one of your most valuable assets and there is a lot of nuance and detail to managing and protecting your brand.  If you'd like to hire Grady Bergen to help with a trademark search or registration you can contact him at grady@inventlegal.com.

Public engagement is all about listening. Whether that's through surveys, focus groups, interviews, or on-the-street engagement we've found that too many cities and consultants are simply asking the wrong questions. In this episode, Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand discuss what those wrong questions are and how to dive deeper and get at the real issues. 

In this episode of Eyes On The Street, Ryan Short is joined by other members of the CivicBrand team Layne Ferguson, Landon Ferguson and Connor Cox to discuss Placemaking. They discuss what placemaking is, the types of placemaking from large projects to small and the many goals of placemaking from beautification, activation, safety, economic development, civic pride and public engagement. They discuss  common barriers or pitfalls that keep cities from doing these projects and how to measure the impact and importance of  placemaking.

In this special live episode of Eyes On The Street, the CivicBrand team sits down with Waco Mayor Dillion Meek as well as Wendy Gragg and Jeffrey Vitarius of City Center Waco at the Summer of Downtown launch party in the brand new 7th Street Pedestrian Plaza. The CivicBrand team was hired by Waco to do a parking study, brand audit as well as design and implement two placemaking interventions in Downtown Waco. The first was a 4 block pedestrian walkway to connect the Silos to Austin Avenue and create a safer, more visible and experience for pedestrians. The second was a Pedestrian Plaza on 7th street that turned an under utilized street into a thriving community space. The episode is two conversations live at the launch event with a band playing and Capri Suns in-hand, enjoy!

Developing a place brand always starts with listening and together with the community crafting a brand story that is authentic. This collaborative and inclusive process doesn't end when the brand has been developed as implementation is key. In today's episode of 'Eyes On The Street' we sit down with Andrea Haley of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada to discuss their journey in developing and implementing their place brand. 

Marketing a region, whether it's a county or other collection of cities comes with a unique set of challenges in both brand architecture and the role destination marketing. In brand architecture it's ensuring you create a common place identity while still allowing individual communities within to have their own unique identity. In destination marketing it's about evolving beyond simply promoting an area to actively managing and advocating for your local community. In today's episode we're joined but Chuck Davison of Visit SLO CAL to talk about just that.

What exactly is a place brand? When done right it is not just about marketing or tourism but rather a clear definition of values that can be used as a filter for policy, strategy and decision making. This focus helps communities both manage growth and attract businesses, residents and visitors that share those values. In this episode of Eyes on the Street we speak to Clare Dewhirst of City Nation Place to discuss how place branding has evolved, challenges and opportunities place brands face coming out of COVID and the upcoming City Nation Place Americas conference.

Schools are one of the most important aspects of a city and greatly impact its economic development efforts. The problem is, simply put, school ratings are biased. Most school ratings focus on test scores which data shows are driven by parents income not the quality of the school. When school ratings are not truly rating the school's performance it can have serious impacts on a community. It perpetuates sprawl, robs parents of time with their children, robs children of valuable diversity experiences, impacts real estate prices, tax revenues and can undercut a city's entire economic development efforts. In today's episode we're joined by Tom Brown, founder of School Sparrow, to discuss just that.

What makes a successful community? While there are many definitions and metrics, I'd argue a successful community is one that is both fiscally resilient and has a strong identity of who they are and who they are not - all while providing real opportunity (and not just the veneer of opportunity as today's guest points out). In today's episode, we're joined by Chuck Marohn of Strong Towns to discuss just that. 

From statistically valid surveys to focus groups and conversations, what are the roles of both quantitative and qualitative research? What role does equity play in each? Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand are joined by Adam Probolsky of Probolsky Research to discuss engagement and research in community branding and destination marketing projects. 

In today's episode we sit down with James Kunke, the Community Relations & Tourism Director, with the City of Lewisville, TX to discuss the role of history in shaping a community's identity. From the International Pop Festival in 1969 to the city's history as a farming community we discuss ways your history can shape your community in the future.

We all know how political differences can pull us apart but those same differences could be exactly what our communities need. In today's episode we speak with Sarah O'Brien of Collaborative Development Collective about political divisiveness and local economies. 

As a follow-up to the previous episode the CivicBrand team (Kinsey Stewart, Brisa Byford, Colin Coolidge, and Ryan Short) discuss ways that cities can foster civic pride.

Jeff Siegler of Revitalize, or Die sat down with CivicBrand founder Ryan Short at the recent Texas Downtowns Conference. They discuss civic pride and how place shapes us. 

Branding, while something we're all aware of is something that is so misunderstood. A brand is a promise that has to be lived up to every day. It is built through a series of consistent and ongoing cumulative experiences.  Skeptics of branding think it is just a logo, tagline or lipstick on a pig -  unfortunately they are right in far too many cases. Very few approach branding the right way and develop a system and structure that allows them to truly live the brand.  In today's episode we'll be talking with Jason Thorne with the City of Hamilton, ON about real and practical ways that cities can identify, implement and live their brand on a daily basis. 

Letecia McNatt, the downtown coordinator with the City of Garland sat down with CivicBrand founder, Ryan Short at the recent Texas Downtowns conference to discuss managing downtowns and fostering the relationships between business owners, the city and residents. 

Real estate developer Derek Avery sits down with CivicBrand founder Ryan Short to discuss revitalization without gentrification and the role of preservation in development. 

Cities are dynamic places, full of contrast.  Young people, older people, those who are new the community and those who have been there for generations. Those who want things to stay the same and those who want change.  How does a city - whether for branding or planning projects - ever build consensus amongst such a diverse community? Diversity is what makes our cities great. So how do we embrace that diversity and contrast to create something that is better together. That's what we'll be talking about on today's episode of Eyes on The Street.Alan Webber, the mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Ryan Short, the founder of CivicBrand discuss the idea of contrast and how cities can embrace contrast and opposing ideas to create something even better.