Megan Oliver, AICP, WELL AP, is an urban designer, planner, and independent researcher exploring the deep emotional impacts of place. Megan is tuned in to the influence that environments have in driving choices, behaviors, and feelings. Believing in the power of our surroundings to profoundly influence our mood and behavior, she is driven to design and shape spaces that foster healing and joy. She is a frequent speaker at the American Planning Association’s national planning conferences and was the 2023 Keynote Speaker for the American Planning Association Washington state chapter conference.

Through her research-informed design practice, Megan connects the science of human experience and perception to urban design and planning strategies. As an urban designer and planner, Megan tailors strategies to be particularly relevant in our present-day, ever-evolving global circumstances. She is a passionate advocate for under-represented voices. Megan employs humanistic design, storytelling, public art, placekeeping, livability planning, and responsive spatial design interventions to foster strong communities and cultivate happier, restorative, and more inclusive places.

She shares her work on her website, hellohappy.design