Experiences in
the local community
The Democracy Garage project has been my focus for several years, which has included idea development, storytelling, identity framing, development of a website and general concept operation.
The project concerns the creation of a physical laboratory for democracy, where we challenge and test the development of democracy. My role has, among other things, been to develop Garage's identity, digital communication and strategy for events with a focus on citizen participation and democracy. This has been achieved through the use of my professional skills within citizen-centred design and experience-creating products.
Located in the Northwest, a rebellious and anthropic area of infinite diversity, these values give the area its character and its own identity with local authenticity. Popular neighbourhoods, former industrial areas, social housing developments and terraced houses all constitute proximity to reality and accessibility. Colors and street art play a big role, and Nørrebro and Nordvest have their own character in the spatial experiences. All these elements have also helped to define the design development.
The garage's identity reflects the old workshop from which it is inspired, and symbolizes the core narratives of the place. The logo is one of the primary identity elements associated with the place and its concept. It also symbolizes the history and values of the place. We have chosen a typeface and design that reflects the Garage's industrial heritage and adds a modern touch with the wall paint connotation. The colors are chosen based on the local colors to create a visual identity and play with the collective memories of the area, as well as with gold as an innovative color and the old industrial building colors.
But it is not only the aesthetic identity that must create sensory impressions, but also the concept as a unit. Democracy Garage's purpose is to create participation and activate citizens, who create the arena for interaction, but also strengthen the wider society.
The purpose is to create the basis for experiences before a break in flow, which will hopefully change the individuals' behavior into a transformation of their involvement in democracy and participation in Garage and identity development.
It is through metaphors such as "Democracy Garage is the workshop where democracy is under scrutiny and where citizens are allowed to look into the engine and get their hands dirty", that we create an accessible and tangible core value in the identity. And it is assimilated by the receiver and triggered to change. It is through participation that democracy expands, and this happens through a diversity of formats, such as discussions about bread prices, the neighborhood community, voluntary activities, cultural events, citizen meetings and dialogue with local politicians. Democratic participation begins with creating curiosity through perception, where we have worked with safety, closeness, accessibility, diversity and community.
These created reflections on all communication channels to expand the identical unit and create new participation, while we keep them involved to create an active participation from the participants on the ground and create new, innovative democratic formats.
To build a flow before, during and after, all communication channels must integrate Demokrati Garage's history, purpose and the whole narrative. I have tried this with e.g. video production, images and stories with human input to give an impression of closeness, but especially to create a tangible understanding of democracy in everyday participation and the creation of communities.
This is part of the digital follow-up by creating narratives and even visually to create the most representative images of the place by involving the actors who are present.
The website will also be built according to the same principle with a core narrative, proximity, news and simplicity as well as content with important information for both users and citizens as well as the organizations involved.
In addition, my focus will be on on-site events, including voluntary activity where local citizens get involved in their own local projects, and I will support them with communication, advice and a room to innovate. I have helped to see the potential in the project and create models for participation, involvement and development of the site.
In addition, I have helped to create formats for, among other things, house rules, community and shared responsibility for the site for the employees, residents' organizations and volunteers.
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