Publications
Research Report
March 31, 2025
Terrain Leveling
Design Strategies for Improving Higher Education in Prisons
Tommaso Bardelli, Sam Johnson, Tammy Ortiz, Elizabeth Austin, Laura Brown, Catharine Bond Hill, Sindy Lopez, Molly McGowan, Amy Mielke, Ess Pokornowski
A growing body of research documents the barriers faced by incarcerated students—such as limited access to technology and conflicts with correctional staff—but far less attention has been paid to the role of the built environment in shaping educational experiences. This project, led by Ennead Lab and Ithaka S+R, examines how spatial, architecture, and design features impact learning inside prisons. It draws on qualitative interviews and site visits to advance both research findings and a portfolio of design interventions.
Research Report
January 13, 2025
Preserving Their Stories
Making (and Sharing) Art Under Mass Incarceration
While a handful of initiatives have recently begun to systematically collect materials created by people impacted by incarceration, anecdotal evidence suggests that most incarcerated artists and writers entrust their work to grassroots and volunteer-led organizations. Thus, if we are to begin to address archival silences around people who have experienced incarceration, it will be critical to understand the role community organizations can play in creating more inclusive and holistic collections and supporting humanistic inquiry.