Designing with empathy: Emily’s urban design journey
Designing with empathy: Emily’s urban design journey
From plans to places
“I might be drawing a line on a plan, but that line becomes a road, and that road becomes a street, and that street becomes the place where someone takes their first steps, or a little kid might learn how to ride their bike,” says Emily Vongsaraphanh, Senior Urban Designer at Spiire.
For Emily, urban design is about more than drawings—it’s about creating communities where people feel at home. “I want to create streets and parks, neighbourhoods where people walk around, and it’s their favourite place to be.”
Why Monash?
Emily chose Monash’s Master of Urban Planning and Design (MUPD) after hearing about its industry-focused, studio-based approach at a Planning Institute of Australia event. “I was drawn to the practical studio-based focus at Monash University and decided to transfer from another university,” she recalls.
That decision proved pivotal. “I really appreciated how grounded the course was in real world outcomes. The lecturers and teaching staff consistently connected our work to its real life impact. Even when we were working on university assignments, they never felt abstract or disconnected—everything felt relevant, meaningful and rooted in reality.”
She also valued the combined approach of planning and design. “I liked that Monash was the Masters of Urban Planning and Design, because in the built environment they’re so interlinked. Having a background in planning makes me a better urban designer.”
A dynamic career
Since graduating, Emily has embraced the diversity of urban design. “The best part of urban design is there is no typical day. One day I could be designing a small residential pocket, another day a strategic document for the council. Sometimes it’s 10 lots, sometimes 500.”
Emily also enjoys the collaborative aspect of the profession. “At Spiire I’m constantly working with planners and engineers, arborists, water engineers or First Nations cultural heritage experts—it’s a very collaborative job.”
Career highlights
Emily’s specialty lies in outer suburban residential developments, where she is passionate about thoughtful, community-focused design.
She has already contributed to large-scale projects, including a placemaking project at Essendon Fields and Aviator Fields in Point Cook—a 400-hectare wetland development.
“Aviator Fields combined sustainability with residential development. We designed pocket parks so that every resident would have access to a park within 200 metres of their home—less than a five-minute walk.”
The standout project for Emily was at Essendon Fields, a site rich with history but disconnected in form. “It was really fun unlocking the layers of history and bringing that into the urban design fabric,” she reflects. These experiences have sharpened her focus on placemaking, sustainability, and community connection.
Principles and advice
Empathy underpins Emily’s philosophy. She draws on the ‘8 to 80 principle’: “If you design a site that is safe for an 8-year-old and enriching for an 80-year-old, you’ve got a site that works for everyone.”
Her advice for aspiring designers is simple: “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to follow a set path. Follow your passion. Everyone’s journey is different—mine is residential development, but yours might be solar farms or infrastructure. Don’t compare yourself to others.”