Since the fall of 2023, our User Research and Experience Design Studio, The Geekettez GbR and Claudius Brodman have been working on the user experience and visual layout of the research project GrowFlowFly, a collaborative project involving the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), RWTH Aachen University (RWTH), and aratall GmbH.
Citizen participation through gamification: The innovative approach of the GrowFlowFly project
The research project aims to develop a computer game that allows citizens to be involved early in regional planning for the expansion of renewable energies. In the long term, this aims to strengthen acceptance of the energy transition. On a game board, citizens can design their ideal landscape with renewable energies, helping make their community climate-neutral and generating revenue for the municipality, among other benefits.
The project is still in development. Our project partners from MLU Halle-Wittenberg and TU Munich tested its current state for the first time in an expert test in Bitterfeld. The MDR (Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, a public broadcaster for the federal states of Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt in Germany) was there and reported on it.
Excerpts from the news article and a report can be found on the MDR website (German): www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/gesellschaft/computer-spiel-energie-wende-buerger-beteiligung-100.html
Why user experience design is crucial for the success of the energy transition
We are convinced that good UX can significantly contribute to the success of socially relevant projects. Good UX can increase users’ acceptance and engagement in complex and technical topics such as renewable energies. UX can also help convey comprehensive content and information in a playful way to users without prior knowledge. All of this can, in turn, support research.
The first tests have already given us information about which content and processes to focus on for the next development phase. Subsequent tests will be conducted in the fall, not with experts but with citizens. We are looking forward to them!
More about the GrowFlowFly project in the Studio Blog: Together for a sustainable future! Collaboration with TU Munich in the Project GrowFlowFly
More about the Participating Organizations
- The consortium partners and their representatives:: Technische Universität München (TUM) – Prof. Dr. Sören Schöbel-Rutschmann, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) – Prof. Dr. Gundula Hübner (Umwelt- und Sozialpsychologie), RWTH Aachen University (RWTH) – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Moormann (Institut für Flugsystemdynamik), aratall GmbH, Osnabrück – Stefan W. Kauling, https://www.aratall.com/
- The Associated Project Partners:: TU Delft, Projekt MEnergie (TH Köln et al.), Kreis Düren, Gemeinde Aldenhoven, Energieavantgarde Anhalt e.V. Dessau, Airborne Wind Europe aisbl – Brüssel, regstrom e.V. Halle, Saline Technikum (Berufliches Bildungswerk e.V., Halle Saalkreis), Next2Sun Agri-PV – Dillingen/Saar, Krinner GmbH Agri-PV – Straßkirchen, BayWa r.e. – Projektentwicklung PV DE München, Stadtwerke Düren
