
Pixels of Participation
Project at MIT Senseable City LabCuritiba’s reputation of a great green city with progressive urban planning has prevented proactive citizen participation for the improvement of the urban and political conditions. How might we most effectively and widely provoke citizen participation on matters of their city?
The project weaves street art and public debate to form a new space for political participation.
Final product
Problem
A lack of care and proactive citizen participation in matters of the city.
Opportunity 1
Interview with Diana, Urban Planner for City of Cutiriba
“Traditional means of participating were attracting only the few who were the same ones to show up” How might we design for mass access?
Opportunity 2
Curitiba’s tradition for street art. How might we leverage existing ways?
Opportunity 3
Interview with Felipe, Native of Curitiba, studying at MIT.
“Colab the app would collect some concerns, very little used it because it felt like an effort with little immediate returns” How might we make it an engaging activity?
The product and experience had to be:
__________discoverable
__________familiar
__________engaging
Opportunity 1
Interview with Diana, Urban Planner for City of Cutiriba
“Traditional means of participating were attracting only the few who were the same ones to show up” How might we design for mass access?Opportunity 2
Curitiba’s tradition for street art. How might we leverage existing ways?
Opportunity 3
Interview with Felipe, Native of Curitiba, studying at MIT.
“Colab the app would collect some concerns, very little used it because it felt like an effort with little immediate returns” How might we make it an engaging activity?The product and experience had to be:
__________discoverable
__________familiar
__________engaging


User Flow showing inside interaction (scan QR, respond, like, comment, make art) and outside interaction (scan pixels, view responses, like)



An AI camera detects different age groups of voters. Additionally, a projector shows the QR codes, voter responses and the artwork. The outward facing layer is an LED screen that showcases the artwork of the artist in question and the pixels that pertain to the different demographics.


