Uncovering Inequality Through Design: A Conversation with Carmelo Ignaccolo

This week on EJB Talks, assistant professor Carmelo Ignaccolo shares with Stuart Shapiro how his path into urban design was both inevitable and accidental. A native of Sicily, he explains how its complex political and geographic history contributed to his appreciation of how cities form. At the same time, his educational and professional journey through architecture, engineering, and planning guided him toward an interdisciplinary approach to design. Carmelo also explains how, in both his research and teaching, he has focused on how design has had the power to shape inequality over time, showing how decisions such as highway placement or waterfront redevelopment leave long-lasting impacts on communities. He discusses how he incorporates these ideas into his book project, which explores how the design of port cities has historically masked inequality and how inherited infrastructure can be reimagined for climate resilience. Carmelo concludes with his teaching philosophy, explaining that he tells students that he believes the most visionary planners understand design, and the most impactful designers are those who understand policy.