On hostile design: Theoretical and empirical prospects

Instances of ‘hostile design’ appear across urban space, aimed at pushing particular behaviour – and, ultimately, particular people – out of public areas. But notions of hostile design and related concepts require theoretical clarification. Empirical study is also urgently needed on how such designs influence attitudes, behaviours and health, with implications for cities’ approaches to everything from homelessness to heatwave relief. This critical commentary reviews the main examples of hostile design, considers what, at minimum, must be addressed by theoretical accounts of this phenomenon, and identifies empirical research projects that are just waiting to be performed.