Within the 1st Reporting Period, basic research, first technical development work as well as initial communication and dissemination activities have been carried out. Research activities covered the analysis of sample cases in Germany, France and the Netherlands, the assessment of state-of-the-art tools and processes, and literature summaries. On that basis, a new co-creative workflow was sketched as a fundament for a generic process model for U_CODE. This process model comprises functional modules such as co-briefing (collaborative information-collection), co-design (citizen-experts participatory design), and discourse and sentiment analysis (monitoring moods and emotions of the crowd). Specific use-cases and technical functionalities were then derived. An animated video clip was created, articles and papers were published and several expert and user workshops were carried out.
Within the 2nd Reporting Period, efforts focused on the technical development of the toolset, and the consolidation of the overall U_CODE process methodology. On tool-level, the functional specifications have been refined and detailed, and software development work commenced. Also, technical specifications regarding the data exchange between the tools and the U_CODE platform have been outlined. Specific tools for co-designing in focus groups (VR application and touch table tool) were created on first prototype level and tested with professionals and citizens. The development of analytic tools for discourse and sentiment analysis proceeded. Key concepts for an online co-design ‘playground’ were consolidated that enable design participation on a massive scale. A comprehensive technical workflow scheme was established that determines the data exchange across the component tools and processes. The entire process was lab-tested with real-world participants and project data, employing the available prototypes and dummy tools. As a case project, the planning of a new city quarter in Hamburg was simulated. Covering all phases of the new U_CODE methodology, the so-called Dummy Testbed run through project initiation, collection of massive information, co-designing, ranking/ voting of contributions, towards professional design work and final decision/ approval processes. Further theoretical research was carried out on methodological principles of co-design and participation, resulting in a catalogue of over 40 criteria on good facilitation for co-design, plus a database on participation tools and methods.
In the 3rd Reporting Period, the technical development and testing of individual tools continued, but with strong focus on their integration into a coherent toolset and platform framework that would accommodate the envisioned U_CODE methodology. In software development, the online co-design game was advanced and all digitals tools were further developed regarding usability, stability of function, data exchange and management. The co-design tools were tested and validated, with results documented in a comprehensive testing and evaluation report. A method was established for deriving so-called User Engagement Protocols, i.e. the detailed choreography and communication plan for the specific activities of all involved participants and stakeholders. All tools, process methodology, and user engagement protocols of U_CODE were tested in the concrete design-to-construction project of a school complex in Central Germany (Sangerhausen city). A broad knowledge and design harvesting campaign with U_CODE digital online tools led to local co-design workshops where focus groups were properly equipped and enabled by the new VR and touch table tools. This pilot application was carried out so successfully, that commissions and requests for further application were issued already (Dresden city). Several exploitation schemes were investigated. Business sketches were drawn up for the entire U_CODE service as well as for individual tools with commercialization paths. The establishment of ‘U_CODE as a Service’ is underway at TU Dresden. Also, startup and spin-off activities (Hybr Games, CrowdListener, Serious Creativity) have commenced. For communication and dissemination, a video trailer with results of the pilot applications as well as manuals and guidebooks for U_CODE users were issued. A final book publication is underway.
