Become an Urban Designer
Streets decide how people live.
Few know how to design them.
Between architecture and city planning lies a profession that shapes the streets everyone walks. Find out what it takes and whether this path is truly yours.
City blocks and streets will bend to your thinking.
- See the city differently — understand the forces that shape streets, blocks, and public life
- Learn the core craft — grasp the fundamentals of shaping the space between buildings
- Understand the role — know exactly how this profession differs from its neighbors
- Find your entry point — discover the realistic paths from where you are into the field
- Build relevant skills — start developing the abilities employers in the field expect
- Choose with confidence — decide on this direction with a clear picture of the work
Built by one of the most-read architecture platforms in the world.
RTF | Rethinking The Future has spent over a decade publishing the ideas, projects and voices shaping architecture — and now brings that depth to learning. Every course is researched, written and produced by the RTF team.
Cities are begging for better streets. Answer.
A clear path. Eight steps.
Everything unlocks instantly with membership · learn at your own pace
If you see yourself here, start today.
A few hours from now, you could already see differently.
I knew I cared about streets more than buildings but did not know what to do with that. The course gave me the vocabulary, tools and portfolio direction for urban design. Six months later I am interning with a city design team.
Simple by design.
Watch
Short, focused video lessons — each one a single idea, clearly explained.
Apply
End every lesson with a small task that pushes your real project forward.
Transform
Watch your work develop a point of view that is unmistakably yours.
Answered simply.
What's the actual difference between urban design and urban planning?
Urban design shapes the physical public realm — streets, blocks, spaces — while planning sets policy and land use. This course is the design side, and it clarifies the boundary early.
Do I need a masters degree to work in urban design?
Formal study helps for some roles, but demonstrable urban design thinking opens doors too — and this course builds exactly that foundation.
Do I need any prior experience?
No. Every course starts from where you are and builds up step by step, in plain language.
Is this software training?
No — software changes yearly. The thinking you learn here lasts a career.
How does it work?
Short video lessons with a small practice task after each. Any device, your pace.
What does membership include?
One membership unlocks every course on RTF Academy — all 450+, nothing sold separately. And you stay in control: cancel anytime in one click, and you will never be charged again.
Ready to see your work change?
Your next project could be the one that feels truly yours.
- 8 Sections
- 25 Lessons
- 4 Hours
- Introduction to Urban Design3
- Urban History and Theory3
- Urban Planning Fundamentals3
- Public Realm and Place Making3
- Sustainable and Resilient Cities3
- Urban Design Tools and Representation3
- Urban Design Projects and Strategies3
- Professional Practice in Urban Design4
Reviews
Online and at your own pace.
Get access to all learning content
and every RTF Academy course with RTF Academy Pro
I knew I cared about streets more than buildings but did not know what to do with that. The course gave me the vocabulary, tools and portfolio direction for urban design. Six months later I am interning with a city design team.
You might be interested in
-
0 Students
-
25 Lessons
-
0 Students
-
25 Lessons
-
0 Students
-
25 Lessons
-
0 Students
-
25 Lessons
Sign up to receive our latest updates
Explore Courses
Policy
- © 2026 RTF Academy | Rethinking The Future. All Rights Reserved
- Connect with us