Visioning: Did Anybody See Where It Came from?

Vision and several related terms are now common in planning discourse. This article surveys a wide range of planning-related periodical literature and analyzes the history, rise, and geographic distribution of the use of the terms vision and visioning. Vision has evolved from a product, a pronouncement about the ftiture made by special people, into a visioning process in which whole communities participate. Vision has also come to have a metaphorical as well as a literal meaning. Pitfalls and cautionary points for planners are discussed because little critical thought has accompanied the profession's adoption cf vision and visioning.