ARCT_Citizen Science

ARCT_Citizen Science

ARCT_Citizen Science

Co-design an art residency program based in Milan Corvetto, which welcomes artists periodically, in order to carry out a project for the citizens and bring science closer to them by data visualisation and digital services.

Co-design an art residency program based in Milan Corvetto, which welcomes artists periodically, in order to carry out a project for the citizens and bring science closer to them by data visualisation and digital services.

Co-design an art residency program based in Milan Corvetto, which welcomes artists periodically, in order to carry out a project for the citizens and bring science closer to them by data visualisation and digital services.

Service design (Intervention), UX design

Service design (Intervention), UX design

Service design (Intervention), UX design

PROJECT BIO

A university case study developed as part of an academic course

Source of inspiration: @villa_clea

PROJECT DURATION

2022-2023

2022-2023

SERVICE AND OFFER

Product Design

Product Design

Product Design

Strategy and Service design

Strategy and Service design

Strategy and Service design

My role

I worked as a UX researcher and service designer throughout the project, also planning, designing, and facilitating the co-creation sessions. And the delivery phases of the project cycle, including the entire service system and the production of all the digital media assets.

I worked as a UX researcher and service designer throughout the project, also planning, designing, and facilitating the co-creation sessions. And the delivery phases of the project cycle, including the entire service system and the production of all the digital media assets.

I worked as a UX researcher and service designer throughout the project, also planning, designing, and facilitating the co-creation sessions. And the delivery phases of the project cycle, including the entire service system and the production of all the digital media assets.

Approach

Primary and secondary / field and desk research, collecting and organizing all the insights with lateral thinking, co-design with experts, and innovators from the art residency. Promote deep and accurate development of the ideas into product-service-system solutions.

Primary and secondary / field and desk research, collecting and organizing all the insights with lateral thinking, co-design with experts, and innovators from the art residency. Promote deep and accurate development of the ideas into product-service-system solutions.

Primary and secondary / field and desk research, collecting and organizing all the insights with lateral thinking, co-design with experts, and innovators from the art residency. Promote deep and accurate development of the ideas into product-service-system solutions.

Value delivered

Consists of the full development of the idea from multiple perspectives, creating project summaries, delivering product-service systems using articulate narration, and developing prototypes.

Consists of the full development of the idea from multiple perspectives, creating project summaries, delivering product-service systems using articulate narration, and developing prototypes.

Consists of the full development of the idea from multiple perspectives, creating project summaries, delivering product-service systems using articulate narration, and developing prototypes.

Design challenge

Design challenge

Design challenge

How could a space for an art residency in the Corvetto neighbourhood be transformed into a new hub of social interaction, where hosted artists can collaborate with researchers to bring science closer to the people and raise awareness about sustainability?

How could a space for an art residency in the Corvetto neighbourhood be transformed into a new hub of social interaction, where hosted artists can collaborate with researchers to bring science closer to the people and raise awareness about sustainability?

How could a space for an art residency in the Corvetto neighbourhood be transformed into a new hub of social interaction, where hosted artists can collaborate with researchers to bring science closer to the people and raise awareness about sustainability?

01

01

01

Research to uncover current issuses

Research to uncover current issuses

Research to uncover current issuses

In this phase, qualitative and quantitative research was conducted (including desk and field research, interviews, and observation). The information was analysed, and several insights and conclusions were constructed.

In this phase, qualitative and quantitative research was conducted (including desk and field research, interviews, and observation). The information was analysed, and several insights and conclusions were constructed.

In this phase, qualitative and quantitative research was conducted (including desk and field research, interviews, and observation). The information was analysed, and several insights and conclusions were constructed.

Mapping the neighbourhood

The hidden relationships

A sense of contrast

What people are saying

What people are saying

What people are saying

Underlying issues

Underlying issues

Underlying issues

Environment crisis

Environment crisis

Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it is happening even more quickly than we feared.

As the infinite cost of climate change reaches irreversible highs, now is the time for bold collective action.

Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it is happening even more quickly than we feared.

As the infinite cost of climate change reaches irreversible highs, now is the time for bold collective action.

Environment crisis

Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it is happening even more quickly than we feared.

As the infinite cost of climate change reaches irreversible highs, now is the time for bold collective action.

Citizens' detachment from
science

Citizens' detachment from
science

Lack of knowledge about science and sustainability. They find a wall between their lives and what goes on in research.

A sense of disconnection with natural resources.

Lack of knowledge about science and sustainability. They find a wall between their lives and what goes on in research.

A sense of disconnection with natural resources.

Citizens' detachment from
science

Lack of knowledge about science and sustainability. They find a wall between their lives and what goes on in research.

A sense of disconnection with natural resources.

Artists creative isolation

Artists creative isolation

Young artists have limited opportunities to connect with local residents and build valuable networks, which further restrict their ability to grow within their communities and the art world at large. These obstacles hinder their creative potential and prevent them from fully engaging in collaborative or professional opportunities.

Young artists have limited opportunities to connect with local residents and build valuable networks, which further restrict their ability to grow within their communities and the art world at large. These obstacles hinder their creative potential and prevent them from fully engaging in collaborative or professional opportunities.

Artists creative isolation

Young artists have limited opportunities to connect with local residents and build valuable networks, which further restrict their ability to grow within their communities and the art world at large. These obstacles hinder their creative potential and prevent them from fully engaging in collaborative or professional opportunities.

Check out our research report

Check out our research report

02

02

02

Insights diggeingout

Insights diggeingout

Insights diggeingout

By synthesising our research insights, we were prompted to adopt a "thinking out of the box" approach to explore innovative solutions. This process led to the discovery of three potential resolutions that mitigate the current issues.

By synthesising our research insights, we were prompted to adopt a "thinking out of the box" approach to explore innovative solutions. This process led to the discovery of three potential resolutions that mitigate the current issues.

By synthesising our research insights, we were prompted to adopt a "thinking out of the box" approach to explore innovative solutions. This process led to the discovery of three potential resolutions that mitigate the current issues.

Tranferring into new opportunities

Tranferring into new opportunities

Tranferring into new opportunities

Environment

Environment

Empowerment through citizen science

Empowerment through citizen science

Empowerment through citizen science

Citizen science mobilizes communities to contribute directly to understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change. It bridges the gap between science and everyday life.

Citizen science mobilizes communities to contribute directly to understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change. It bridges the gap between science and everyday life.

Citizens

Citizens

Strengthen the desire of participation

Strengthen the desire of participation

There are a lot of residents that are actively participating in the improvement of the area, starting new initiatives and ideas that many neighbors welcome.

There are a lot of residents that are actively participating in the improvement of the area, starting new initiatives and ideas that many neighbors welcome.

Artists

Artists

Act in a transformative role

Act in a transformative role

Actively engaging artists in collaborative or professional opportunities, to bridge the gap between scientific data and public perception, artists can also shape how citizens understand and respond to the environmental crisis, amplifying the voices of communities and sparking meaningful change.

Actively engaging artists in collaborative or professional opportunities, to bridge the gap between scientific data and public perception, artists can also shape how citizens understand and respond to the environmental crisis, amplifying the voices of communities and sparking meaningful change.

Creative exploration

Creative exploration

Creative exploration

Breathing Corvetto-Ideating the intersection of art and science in natural creation

Breathing Corvetto-Ideating the intersection of art and science in natural creation

Breathing Corvetto-Ideating the intersection of art and science in natural creation

03

03

03

Co-design informing more acceptable concepts

Co-design informing more acceptable concepts

Co-design informing more acceptable concepts

Through co-design workshops with experts, target users, and other relevant stakeholders, we discussed, reoriented, and refined our ideas to arrive at a sounder solution among the three creative concepts.

Through co-design workshops with experts, target users, and other relevant stakeholders, we discussed, reoriented, and refined our ideas to arrive at a sounder solution among the three creative concepts.

Through co-design workshops with experts, target users, and other relevant stakeholders, we discussed, reoriented, and refined our ideas to arrive at a sounder solution among the three creative concepts.

  • Arct

    Arct

    Arct

    Arct

    Arct

    Arct

  • Arct

  • Arct

    Arct

    Arct

    Arct

    Arct

    Arct

Co-design sessions with 2 groups of participants

Co-design sessions with 2 groups of participants

Co-design sessions with 2 groups of participants

Co-design analysis tied to the journey

Co-design analysis tied to the journey

Co-design analysis tied to the journey

1_Iterated design opportunities

1_Iterated design opportunities

1_Iterated design opportunities

Environment
Citizens
Artists

Environment
Citizens
Artists

Experiment and research

Experiment and research

Arct becomes a base for experiments and citizens conducting environmental research.

Arct becomes a base for experiments and citizens conducting environmental research.

Environment
Citizens
Artistszens

Environment
Citizens
Artistszens

Reaches people and brings education & science close to them.

Reaches people and brings education & science close to them.

Applying the concept of citizen science, combine with artistic interpretations.

Applying the concept of citizen science, combine with artistic interpretations.

Environment
Citizens
Artists

Environment
Citizens
Artists

Works with data and transcribe into art.

Works with data and transcribe into art.

Using data as a bridge to connect citizens and artists.

Using data as a bridge to connect citizens and artists.

2_Synthesis co-design results to determine the final concept

2_Synthesis co-design results to determine the final concept

2_Synthesis co-design results to determine the final concept

Session 1: Participants impression and HMW
questions exploration.
Final choosen concept:
The neighborhood researchers

Session 1: Participants impression and HMW
questions exploration.
Final choosen concept:
The neighborhood researchers

Session 2: Participants impression and HMW
questions exploration
Final choosen concept:
The neighborhood researchers

Session 2: Participants impression and HMW
questions exploration
Final choosen concept:
The neighborhood researchers

Consensual service design concept

Consensual service design concept

Consensual service design concept

"The neighborhood researchers"

"The neighborhood researchers"

"The neighborhood researchers"

In this process, citizens work as amateur/non-professional scientists together with artists and scientists/bio-scientists. We will achieve this through art, envisioning a deep connection with science and research, with the aim of joining forces and undertaking our role in safeguarding the planet.

In this process, citizens work as amateur/non-professional scientists together with artists and scientists/bio-scientists. We will achieve this through art, envisioning a deep connection with science and research, with the aim of joining forces and undertaking our role in safeguarding the planet.

In this process, citizens work as amateur/non-professional scientists together with artists and scientists/bio-scientists. We will achieve this through art, envisioning a deep connection with science and research, with the aim of joining forces and undertaking our role in safeguarding the planet.

04

04

04

Elicit the final design concepts

Elicit the final design concepts

Elicit the final design concepts

After completing the co-design workshops, we synthesized the insights gathered from experts, citizens, and partner institutions to refine and consolidate our initial ideas.

After completing the co-design workshops, we synthesized the insights gathered from experts, citizens, and partner institutions to refine and consolidate our initial ideas.

After completing the co-design workshops, we synthesized the insights gathered from experts, citizens, and partner institutions to refine and consolidate our initial ideas.

What is the service?

Who are the users?

Why this service exist?

The four mechanisms of user engagement

The four mechanisms of user engagement

The four mechanisms of user engagement

The four mechanisms outlined in the final proposed service concept provide a participatory approach where citizens, artists, and research scientists have the chance to gather environmental and behavioural data and translate it into art interpretation through a joint effort. In further detail,

The designed service began with accessible probes for data collection, in line with the core enactments of citizen science, moving through data visualisation and culminating in creative and collective outputs of scientific research insights. . This service aims to increase citizens' ability to perceive the scientific and ecological world tangibly.

The four mechanisms outlined in the final proposed service concept provide a participatory approach where citizens, artists, and research scientists have the chance to gather environmental and behavioural data and translate it into art interpretation through a joint effort. In further detail,

The designed service began with accessible probes for data collection, in line with the core enactments of citizen science, moving through data visualisation and culminating in creative and collective outputs of scientific research insights. . This service aims to increase citizens' ability to perceive the scientific and ecological world tangibly.

The four mechanisms outlined in the final proposed service concept provide a participatory approach where citizens, artists, and research scientists have the chance to gather environmental and behavioural data and translate it into art interpretation through a joint effort. In further detail,

The designed service began with accessible probes for data collection, in line with the core enactments of citizen science, moving through data visualisation and culminating in creative and collective outputs of scientific research insights. . This service aims to increase citizens' ability to perceive the scientific and ecological world tangibly.

Toolkit

Toolkit

Toolkit

A hands-on participatory method where citizens use simple physical probes to collect environmental data and contribute to the artistic process.


Participants co-create the dataset and the material elements .The toolkit becomes both a scientific probe and an artistic medium.

A hands-on participatory method where citizens use simple physical probes to collect environmental data and contribute to the artistic process.


Participants co-create the dataset and the material elements .The toolkit becomes both a scientific probe and an artistic medium.

A hands-on participatory method where citizens use simple physical probes to collect environmental data and contribute to the artistic process.


Participants co-create the dataset and the material elements .The toolkit becomes both a scientific probe and an artistic medium.

Hands on

Hands on

Hands on

Citizens gather environmental measurements (air quality, water levels, biodiversity, etc.) through sensors and translated them into visual forms that artists reinterpret afterwards.


Data becomes the “first wire” or structural inspiration for an art piece.

Citizens gather environmental measurements (air quality, water levels, biodiversity, etc.) through sensors and translated them into visual forms that artists reinterpret afterwards.


Data becomes the “first wire” or structural inspiration for an art piece.

Citizens gather environmental measurements (air quality, water levels, biodiversity, etc.) through sensors and translated them into visual forms that artists reinterpret afterwards.


Data becomes the “first wire” or structural inspiration for an art piece.

Digital twin

Digital twin

Digital twin

A virtual representation of a natural system, such as a park, resource, or ecosystem, illustrating its current and projected ecological health conditions.


The digital twin serves as an immersive interpretive object, often displayed through screens or holograms.

A virtual representation of a natural system, such as a park, resource, or ecosystem, illustrating its current and projected ecological health conditions.


The digital twin serves as an immersive interpretive object, often displayed through screens or holograms.

A virtual representation of a natural system, such as a park, resource, or ecosystem, illustrating its current and projected ecological health conditions.


The digital twin serves as an immersive interpretive object, often displayed through screens or holograms.

Audiovisual

Audiovisual

Audiovisual

Citizens record their everyday behaviours (mobility, consumption, waste, and habits) through smartphones or shared cameras, capturing lived experiences connected to environmental issues.


These recordings become part of an installation where people can view, reflect on, and comment on behaviours.

Citizens record their everyday behaviours (mobility, consumption, waste, and habits) through smartphones or shared cameras, capturing lived experiences connected to environmental issues.


These recordings become part of an installation where people can view, reflect on, and comment on behaviours.

Citizens record their everyday behaviours (mobility, consumption, waste, and habits) through smartphones or shared cameras, capturing lived experiences connected to environmental issues.


These recordings become part of an installation where people can view, reflect on, and comment on behaviours.

05

05

05

My reflection of Arct

My reflection of Arct

My reflection of Arct

This project helped me see how the core idea of ARCT: connecting artists, citizens, and scientists, can be scaled up far beyond the neighbourhood.


By studying similar initiatives and imagining how this concept could adapt to different community dynamics, I realised that its global potential lies in raising awareness about sustainability and climate change. The mission behind the service achieved through a collective and participatory approach is not bound to one place.


This journey helped me understand the long-term responsibility of service designers, which is to create systems that can evolve, be replicated, and be meaningful even outside their original setting. By envisioning how the service could grow sustainably and adapt in diverse environments, I gained a more profound foresight and the transformative lens of design when it is connected to global challenges and down-to-earth user initiatives.

This project helped me see how the core idea of ARCT: connecting artists, citizens, and scientists, can be scaled up far beyond the neighbourhood.


By studying similar initiatives and imagining how this concept could adapt to different community dynamics, I realised that its global potential lies in raising awareness about sustainability and climate change. The mission behind the service achieved through a collective and participatory approach is not bound to one place.


This journey helped me understand the long-term responsibility of service designers, which is to create systems that can evolve, be replicated, and be meaningful even outside their original setting. By envisioning how the service could grow sustainably and adapt in diverse environments, I gained a more profound foresight and the transformative lens of design when it is connected to global challenges and down-to-earth user initiatives.

This project helped me see how the core idea of ARCT: connecting artists, citizens, and scientists, can be scaled up far beyond the neighbourhood.


By studying similar initiatives and imagining how this concept could adapt to different community dynamics, I realised that its global potential lies in raising awareness about sustainability and climate change. The mission behind the service achieved through a collective and participatory approach is not bound to one place.


This journey helped me understand the long-term responsibility of service designers, which is to create systems that can evolve, be replicated, and be meaningful even outside their original setting. By envisioning how the service could grow sustainably and adapt in diverse environments, I gained a more profound foresight and the transformative lens of design when it is connected to global challenges and down-to-earth user initiatives.

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