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HAKAI INSTITUTE & VANCOUVER SCIENCE WORLD
Mockup of the interactive experience including the QR code badge collection posterboard on the seawall, the icons for the digital experience, and a page in the mobile app.
In collaboration with the Hakai Institute, Vancouver Science World, and Emily Carr University, our mission was to drive participation in community science events like the BioBlitz and online reporting systems. The challenge lay in addressing the perception that non-scientists lacked the necessary literacy, found science boring, and underestimated the presence of nature in urban environments like False Creek in Vancouver.
The goal was to spark curiosity about the significance of tracking their populations, particularly in the context of the Hakai Institute’s light trap initiative.
I contributed to the educational experience’s design via the in-person and mobile experience platform as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Collaborating with event designers at Vancouver Science World and research scientists at the Hakai Institute, we gained insights into each organization’s needs.
• Working closely with designers at Emily Carr University, we developed, tested, and iterated a system to foster curiosity among non-scientists about the Hakai Institute’s participatory initiatives.
• Conducted market research to gain insights into effective in-person engagement strategies used in similar initiatives, exploring successful tactics and identifying areas for improvement
In the development and iteration phase, I closely collaborated with designers at Emily Carr University. Together, our focus was on developing, testing, and iterating a system aimed at fostering curiosity among non-scientists about participatory initiatives. To ensure our designs resonated with our target audience, I conducted user research by interviewing non-scientists.
These interviews provided valuable insights into how we could build curiosity, engagement, and understanding of the unfamiliar realm of ecology to encourage them to participate in the Hakai Institute’s initiatives.
Using the data gathered, we created detailed personas representing our target audience, allowing us to tailor our design decisions accordingly.
Additionally, we utilized service blueprinting to map out the user journey and identify each physical and digital touchpoint for enhancing engagement. This comprehensive approach helped us visualize the user’s interactions with our platform and understand their needs and pain points throughout the process.
We rigorously tested interactivity, understanding, and usability during the iterative design process to ensure an optimal user experience. This involved prototyping various interactive elements and functionalities, conducting usability tests with representative users, and gathering feedback to inform further iterations.
By continually testing and refining our designs, we were able to create an integrated learning system that effectively engaged users and facilitated their participation in community science events.
I took on the responsibility of liaising with municipal governments to apply for grants and permits essential for installation. This involved navigating complex regulatory frameworks and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
As the project now awaits grant approval, we remain optimistic about its potential to make a meaningful impact in our community. With a solid foundation in place and a dedicated team driving the initiative forward, we are confident that this project will ultimately succeed in its mission to promote participation in community science events and inspire a new generation of citizen scientists.
