About Us
Dr. Rachael Black is the founder of Plan and Place. She holds a Masters in Urban Design and a PhD in Planning from Queen's University Belfast where she developed emoji mapping as a creative method for capturing children's perspectives.
Her background combines design expertise with research innovation, allowing her to bridge creative engagement methods with robust, evidence-based outputs.
Rachael has been working with children and communities for over 10 years and has partnered with community organisations, local authorities and Queen's University Belfast in delivering educational place-making programmes.
Who We Are
Community Engagement & Consultation
Community Engagement & Consultation
Community Engagement & Consultation
We design and deliver meaningful engagement processes that bring local voices into planning. From pop-up street conversations to co-design workshops, we ensure every perspective is heard.
Child-Inclusive Planning
Community Engagement & Consultation
Community Engagement & Consultation
Children experience streets, parks and town centres differently. We use creative methods such as emoji mapping and photography to capture their everyday journeys, feelings and priorities and translate that into practical insights for policy and design.
Placemaking Education & Programmes
Community Engagement & Consultation
Placemaking Education & Programmes
We run summer schools, academies and workshops that bring planning and urban design to life. These programmes give young people and communities the tools to shape their environment while inspiring the next generation of placemakers.