The Collective Canvas: Turning Data into an Experience
Municipal data is often overwhelming, impersonal, and inaccessible. Citizens struggle to engage with complex reports and bureaucratic language, leaving them disconnected from city planning. The Collective Canvas challenges this by transforming data into an interactive experience—one that invites participation, curiosity, and personalization.
Client:
The Hague Municipality, Lectoraat Civic Technology
Timeline:
2024, Q2
(15 weeks)
Responsibilities:
Research, UX Strategy, Prototyping
Project Type:
Experiential & Service Design
Problem: Civic Data Feels Inaccessible
70% of citizens struggled to engage with city planning data.
Traditional platforms lacked interaction, limiting participation.
No physical touchpoint existed for engaging with urban development.
Research Methodology
Contextual Inquiry & Behavioral Mapping – Tracked user movement in the library to determine optimal placement.
User-Centered Data Mapping – Identified top 5 data topics most relevant to citizens.
Semi-Structured Interviews – Gathered qualitative insights on engagement barriers with city data.
Key Insights
Libraries are ideal for engagement – Trusted, high-traffic spaces.
Tactile interaction increases participation – Users engage more with physical controls over digital interfaces.
Personalization improves retention – AI-generated customized city visuals make data relevant.
From 36 Ideas to One Vision
36 initial concepts – 18 manually sketched, 18 AI-assisted.
Filtered down to 3 through usability testing & client feedback.
Prototyping & Testing Phases
Parallel Prototyping – Explored multiple interaction models simultaneously.
Body Storming & Walkthroughs – Validated user journey, accessibility, and engagement flow.
Usability Testing – Iterated wheels, scales, and AI projections based on real-world interaction.
Final Concept
Hexagonal installation for structured user flow.
Themis-inspired scales to visualize data balance.
AI-generated urban projections adapting in real-time
Final Design: How It Works
Turn the wheel — Select a city data topic (housing, mobility).
Themis scales shift — Data updates in real-time.
AI-generated city visuals — See personalized urban projections.
Printed Takeaway — Users receive a postcard summarizing their contribution.
Location: High-traffic library entrance — Maximizing natural engagement.
Stakeholder Response & Validation
Endorsed by The Hague Municipality – Recognized as a successful model for interactive civic engagement.
Praised for Symbolism & Accessibility – The integration of Themis and the tangible interaction model was highly praised for making complex data more relatable.
Inspired Ongoing Initiatives – The installation has served as creative inspiration for current municipal installations exploring citizen participation.
Reflection: Lessons Learned
Physical > Digital in Public Spaces – Tactile engagement beats screens alone.
Iteration Is Key – Parallel prototyping helped refine the interaction model.
Placement Drives Engagement – A familiar, trusted space reduced hesitation.
AI Personalization Works – Users connected more with custom city projections than with static data.
