The Urban Prototyping (UP) Festival is a global movement exploring how rapidly-prototyped design, art and technology projects can improve cities. In 2012, the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA), the 5M Project and Intersection for the Arts developed the Urban Prototyping Festival, held in October 2012 in San Francisco. Matthew Passmore served as a critical project collaborator and curator, helping guide the core mission of the festival.

One of the key outcomes of the UP Festival was to generate prototypes that could subsequently be deployed as fully-formed projects in cities around the country. To date, two projects have been implemented: The Pulse of the City (public heart monitors) in Boston, and the PPPlanter (a combination of public urinal and biofiltration unit).

UP Festivals are being developed around the world, including in global cities such as Singapore and London, to inspire and showcase the next generation of creative projects that address local issues.

Emily Badger at Atlantic Cities wrote a great article on the UP Festival San Francisco and be sure to check out the Festival video.