Ombuds is an Urban Lab + Consultancy
We work with clients to address complex urban challenges and “wicked problems,” while also conceiving and developing our own projects around topics, issues, and questions that light us up.
As both a consultancy and a think-and-do-tank, we are innovative disruptors challenging the status quo, and we are wicked savvy at using Thesaurus.com.
the bottom line?
We thrive in collaborative spaces — whether building on an existing idea or crafting something new. And if you’re reading this thinking, I’d love to work with them — well, ditto.
we do…..
Urban Planning Consulting
For clients looking to address complex urban challenges, we conduct in-depth research, generate data-driven insights, and design practical, impact-driven interventions.
Services include needs assessments, community engagement, placemaking strategies, policy analysis, and plan-making.
Collaborative Design Research
We partner with organizations, institutions, and community groups to co-design and develop projects that respond to unique urban issues.
Whether ideating from scratch or building on existing concepts, we bring our expertise in creative problem-solving and strategic implementation.
Our Own Projects + Experiments
As a think-and-do-tank, we develop and prototype our own projects around topics that light us up. We employ a multi-disciplinary approach that challenges conventional approaches to pressing issues.
We invite partners, funders, and collaborators to help us bring these visionary ideas to life.
topics that move us
Migration + Displacement
We explore the experiences of refugees, asylum seekers, and climate migrants to understand the intersections of migration, place, and belonging. Our work considers how cities can create supportive, inclusive environments that address the immediate and long-term needs of those displaced by crisis.
Cultural Integration
The exploration of design strategies that facilitate cultural exchange, mutual understanding, empathy, and social cohesion in host communities. By creating spaces and initiatives that bring diverse communities together, we aim to bridge divides in a way that can leverage cultural identities to strengthen the collective identity of belonging to place.
Design for Wellness
We advocate for trauma-informed public spaces and built environments that prioritize physical and mental well-being. By considering the psychological and physiological impacts of design, we create environments that support healing, resilience, and a sense of safety.
