Source: https://www.boredpanda.com/urban-planning-built-environment/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

You’re driving down a road so familiar to you, that it almost feels like an extension of your own home. The signs, the intersections, and even the patterns of the bricks on the buildings lining the street all form a part of a larger narrative.

Now imagine being in a foreign city, negotiating unfamiliar roads, baffled by cryptic signs, feeling the tension mounting with each passing mile.

Why do we feel so different in these two scenarios?

Let’s take a look at how urban design intersects with UX as our cities become more than just spaces. They transform into storytellers. These narratives profoundly shape our decisions and emotions when we drive, turning an ordinary commute into an extraordinary interplay of cognition, emotion, and behavior.

From the ancient grid plan of the Indus Valley Civilization to the intricate web of canals in Amsterdam, our cities reflect humanity’s attempts to harmonize with nature and co-exist with fellow beings.

As we stand on the brink of the “smart city” revolution, we have the opportunity to mold our urban landscapes to enhance our interactions, including our driving experiences.

How have our cities evolved in their design approach? What principles guide the planning of our urban landscapes? And how do these choices shape our driving decisions and emotions?

Historical Context

There’s an often overlooked narrative inscribed within the roads we travel. This narrative is etched in every cobblestone street, seen in the sprawl of interconnecting highways, and heard in the hum of city traffic. To truly understand how urban design influences our driving decisions and emotions, we must look back in time and revisit the evolution of our cities.

In the cradle of ancient civilizations, city planning was a divine task, often guided by astronomical or religious principles. The ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley. Built around 2500 BCE, its grid-like arrangement of streets showcased an early appreciation for order…