So much public communication is packed with jargon, acronyms, and technical language that quietly tells people: this isn’t really for you. That confusion isn’t accidental—it’s a barrier. And removing barriers is a radical act of love.

STOLO in Practice is a FordMomentum! blog series that translates values into action.

The Standard of LOVE (STOLO) is a working methodology used to design communication systems, engagement strategies, and decision-making processes that are fair, inclusive, and effective. This series explores how each STOLO pillar shows up in real-world projects across housing, infrastructure, planning, climate, and community development.

Singapore’s infrastructure shows us that love can be institutionalized. When I saw the Supertrees at Marina Bay Gardens, I asked myself, “Who’s children designed this? What goodness was instilled in them to be able to innovate this way? And, what type of leader had the values and esteem to honor this vision?” When viewed through STOLO’s five pillars, I marvelled at how this is made feasible in the work we do.

At its core, my work treats communication as civic architecture: a system that shapes access, participation, and power. By designing communication infrastructures alongside physical ones, we are actively informing—and building—a more fair, inclusive, and equitable world.