What we do

Conduct research, analysis, and reporting.

Gathering information is often the most time-consuming part of implementing new projects or programs. Then once you have the information that you need, it must be analyzed, organized, and formatted. We simplify this work by sourcing information for you, whether by developing neighborhood surveys, performing primary source research, or parsing quantitative data. Our approach focuses on deriving content from research that is both actionable and meaningful.

Visualize information.

A famous philosopher once noted that "the world is a picture" -- an observation never truer than in our current time. Translating information about the world into visual forms is critical to achieving goals. We storify data by using maps, charts, diagrams, and interactive web content to analyze and share information.

Design and build interactive web-based applications.

Making actionable outcomes of data analysis available to public audiences is key to building public awareness and trust in the work you do. We translate research findings into easily-digestible interactive content and invite cross-constituency interactions through creative digital interfaces. This is how we make big data meaningful.

Provide strategic planning services for mission-driven organizations.

Are you looking to roll out a new project or program? Do you want to grow your organization and build greater capacity? Do you know you need something different, but you're not sure how or where to start? Let us help you make a plan for your organization.

Develop workshops and trainings on spatial data research, design, and visualization.

We love to share our knowledge, especially by bringing together technologists, humanists, and designers to discuss how we can make our cities better places to work and live. We also offer private workshops on data visualization, spatial research, and application design.

Projects + Resources

Map of the Campau-Banglatown neighborhood in Detroit.

Campau-Banglatown Neighborhood Development Plan

This neighborhood development plan emerged from a comprehensive research process based on an evaluation of historical and existing conditions of the Campau-Banglatown Neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. Using data gathered from national and local sources, a series of maps developed during the initial Creative Analysis phase of the project revealed intersections of cultural, social, economic, and political needs and assets that in turn served as the basis for the ensuing equitable planning efforts.

Black Spaces Matter

Beacon Hill, home to the Massachusetts State House and some of Boston’s oldest historic buildings, was also the home of Boston’s largest African-American community in the 18th century. This interactive map was part of the Black Spaces Matter initiative by the Boston Architectural College, which sought to map and thus make visible historic African-American communities in and around Boston. The dashboard amasses publicly available data on land, property, and development plans in and around Beacon Hill to make this information accessible to the communities affected by it.

Urban Form Impact Climate Dashboard

Urban development is the largest contributor to climate change. This interactive data dashboard was developed to analyze social and spatial data to explore the impacts of urban form on social capital, environment, climate change resilience, and health. The data offer detailed granular analysis of climate change events, down to the scale of the urban block, in order to assess which demographic communities are most vulnerable to climate change events. The data displayed in turn help urban change makers assess the impacts of proposed urban developments.

Calculating the Cost of Plastic Bags

As part of its campaign to institute a state-wide ban on plastic grocery bags (which succeeded in 2018), we created this interactive map for the Mass Green Network so that residents could see the economic and environmental impact of plastic bags on their local communities.

Urban Open Data

UOD gathers the open data sites of cities and countries around the world into a single interactive map. The map grew out of our commitment to information sharing and reflects our contribution to making publicly generated data publicly accessible.

The Great Migration

Between 1910 and 1970, over 6 million African Americans in the U.S. migrated from southern towns to northern cities. This interactive maps the African-American population in each county between 1790 and 2010.

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People

Jay Cephas, PhD
Director

As Director of Studio Plat, Jay leads projects that help organizations to bring their impact capacity in alignment with their mission, vision, and goals. He brings to these projects 20 years of research and design experience along with a deep passion for social equity and justice. Jay has taught and lectured extensively on equitable planning, histories of spatial and social justice, and the value of taking a data humanist approach to design.

Get in touch

We'd love to hear from you.