Envision Change

The Envision Change project supports municipalities in achieving climate goals by developing creative research methods. Using participatory and visual techniques—such as simulations, serious games, and VR—it maps citizens' needs, fostering engagement and ownership in sustainability decisions. The project starts in Amsterdam and will later implement its methods in Borlänge and Riga, aiming to visualize sustainability in an accessible and playful way.

Education

The Envision Change project is directly linked to education, as it develops innovative learning methods that enhance interaction and engagement. By using creative and participatory techniques such as simulations, serious games, and virtual reality, the project allows students and educational institutions to explore sustainability challenges in a visual and immersive way. This approach not only deepens the understanding of the energy transition but also helps students develop co-creation and participatory design skills, enabling them to contribute to the sustainable development of cities. Moreover, the developed methods and tools can be integrated into curricula across various disciplines, including digital media, the creative industries, and urban planning.

Expected Outcomes

• Creative co-creation methods that can be applied in different cities to better understand energy transition needs.
• Simulation models and a serious game tailored for each city, based on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
• Visual tools such as AR and virtual reality to support decision-making on sustainable urban development within communities.

Team

• Nick Verouden

Partners

• Riga Technical University (RTU)
• The Art Academy of Latvia (LMA)
• Dalarna University (HDa)
• Borlänge Municipality (BM)
• Umeå University
• Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences
• The Green Mile Foundation
• Alminica AB
• International Association of Advanced Materials
• Riga Energy Agency (REA)
• Riga Municipality