Participation App for Socially Sustainable Cities
FHNW Hochschule für soziale Arbeit (School of Social Work)
"SONA App allows us to collaborate more effectively with researchers and city planners, increases the level of engagement and expresses our opinions easier " – Matthias Drilling, Head of Institute HSA FHNW
The School of Social Work (FHNW) worked on a government funded research project and completed it with astonishing results. They contacted us with the initial assignment to design a book for city planners with visualizations of the research project on socially sustainable city development. In close collaboration with the client, we redefined the task towards a more innovative solution: an interactive web application to assist city planners and a quicker decision making processes in guided workshops.
We analyzed the outcome of the research project in order to design an appealing interactive experience as well an efficient and smart way to access the knowledge on the topic of socially sustainable city development. The application enables planners to collaborate simultaneously, state their opinions and learn from each other. The application was planned from the beginning as "mobile first" and accessible by any device without installation.
Using the agile software development method, we compiled wireframes and storyboards in order to understand and improve the core of the application. We introduced a modern and abstract visual language. The team implemented innovative and engaging touch gestures for tablets and smartphones.
The SONA-app was presented at HackKlybeck, an event aimed at creating a platform for «Urban Development by the neighborhood for the neighborhood». Participation based on registration was facilitated for all workshop participants. Everybody who registered could develop her/his own planet. The results were presented as a scientific poster at the participation event "Klybeck Plus" and at the AAL Forum in Portugal
