Civic tech · Research · Product design
Epa! School of Open Participation
Turning a complex civic system into approachable learning and relevant opportunities to participate.
- Role
- Product Designer & UX Researcher
- Year
- 2022
- Status
- Public conceptual project
- Capabilities
- UX research · Journey mapping · Product design
Context and business challenge
Citizen participation is supported by a dense framework of institutions, processes, and technical language. The opportunity was to make that system easier for people to understand and use.
The framing question became: how might we educate citizens who do not know the ways they can participate in their city?
Research and evidence
A participation map first reduced the problem into a workable system. Contextual interviews with approximately 20 university students and five experts were complemented by observation in two real participation settings.
The research showed fragmented knowledge, difficulty finding relevant entry points, and the importance of small learning steps that build confidence.
Solution and validation
Epa! combines short learning modules with a curated directory of courses, workshops, and participation opportunities tailored to interests and availability.
The concept connected education with action so users could move from understanding a topic to finding a real way to participate.
Outcome and lessons
The project produced an app and digital-platform concept grounded in field research. It clarified how civic education, relevance, and community connection can work together.
No commercial conversion metrics are claimed for this conceptual project.
