By Stephen Burton | Featuring Daniel Hewitt, FutureLabs
When we hear the words “Digital Placemaking,” we often think of massive LED advertising screens or the metaverse.
But for Daniel Hewitt, co-founder of FutureLabs, it is something far more subtle and functional.
It is about using technology to solve human problems in physical places.
In this episode of The Placemakers, Daniel breaks down the myths of digital design. He explains why the best technology is often invisible, how digital tools are bringing birds back to urban areas, and why a “smart” city must first be an inclusive one.
Key Takeaways for Urban Designers:
🎧 Listen to the Episode
We discuss the rise of AI in design, the future of AR glasses, and how to pitch digital ideas to hesitant councils.
📄 Accessibility & Reference
Prefer to read? Download the full word-for-word transcript of this interview.
One of the most fascinating examples Daniel shares is not about neon lights, but about birdsong.
The City of Melbourne invited FutureLabs to look at Fisherman’s Bend, an old industrial area turned residential precinct, to address a dwindling bird population.
The solution wasn’t just planting trees; it was listening.
“We came up with the idea of… creating these beautiful-looking wooden totems,” Daniel explains.
These totems use technology to listen to the environment and analyze the data. But they also act back upon the space.
“We can then play different types of bird song to attract birds back into the area,” he says.
This is a prime example of technology acting as a steward for nature, rather than a distraction from it.
The ‘Nighttime Economy’ Fix
A common challenge for local councils is the “5 PM death”—where a bustling square becomes a ghost town (and a vandalism hotspot) once the shops close.
Daniel describes a project with a regional council facing this exact issue. The solution was to create a “free destination” that comes alive after dark.
By installing interactive lighting, water misters for cooling, and interactive sound, they transformed a security liability into a community asset.
“It’s bringing that sense of community back into that space after hours,” Daniel notes.
This approach helps local retailers by extending the trading hours of the precinct and attracting the “right crowd” rather than leaving the space to vandals.
Accessibility: The Audio Easter Egg
Digital placemaking also offers profound opportunities for inclusion. Daniel recounts working with a famous chocolate brand to solve a simple but difficult problem: How do visually impaired children participate in an Easter egg hunt?
“We created… an Easter egg that had sensors in it and audio in it,” he explains.
As the children got closer to the hidden egg, the audio cues would change, guiding them to the prize.
“It is about looking at the whole diverse range of audiences… and carefully planning,” Daniel says.
The Future: AI and Augmented Reality
Looking forward, Daniel predicts that Augmented Reality (AR) will move from our phones to our faces via smart glasses within the next 5-10 years.
He also touches on the controversial but inevitable rise of AI.
“AI is really good right now at creating efficiencies,” Daniel says.
Whether it is analyzing urban data to predict usage patterns or creating ever-evolving digital art pieces for museums, AI is set to speed up the design process significantly.
But ultimately, the technology is just a tool. The goal remains the same as traditional placemaking: to create a place where people want to be.
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