Portraits of Impact
A collection of community photographs and stories from projects at WRT
layout, storytelling
Planning and urban design can feel abstract, especially to the people most affected by it. WRT created Portraits of Impact to change that narrative, putting faces and stories to the work by spotlighting the business owners, residents, activists, healers, and community leaders whose lives have been shaped by thoughtful planning and design. The challenge was creating a format that honored the weight and humanity of those stories without getting in the way of them.
My role was to curate the photographs and develop the visual style and layout of the book. The design needed to feel editorial and considered, giving each portrait and story the space it deserved. In the end, I created a book that felt less like a portfolio piece and more like a genuine tribute to the people at the center of the work.
"We are building something here. We have a purpose and we know that we are part of a community, part of something positive. The streets of Scranton keep us in business."
Alfred Robinson, Co-owner, Pop’s Tires
Pine Brook Neighborhood Plan
Location: Scranton, PA
Project type: Neighborhood Planning
Location: Scranton, PA
Project type: Neighborhood Planning
Photo by Annie Grossinger
"We’re all in this together. We all have our challenges, so we all have to paddle. I know that every once in a while we’re all too weak to paddle, even though we’re all in the same boat. If you’re too weak to paddle, I’ll paddle for you. Just do me a favor and don’t drill a hole in the bottom of the boat, and we’ll all be okay."
Elizabeth Coffey Williams, LGBTQ+ Affordable Housing Advocate
Photo by Steve Weinik
"The impact of GreenPlan Philadelphia is at least two layers. So if you’re in a clean and green lot in North Philadelphia hearing the birds sing and looking at a beautiful tree, you also know that that lot has helped reduce violent crime by up to 30%, has helped improve people’s emotional well-being by up to 70%, and has built pride, connection, and ownership in a community that really wanted that."
Matt Rader, President, Philadelphia Horticultural Society
Photo by Ben Lehman