On this post I list all the major breakthroughs I have had. These may also appear in other posts according to what other topics they are connected to (they will be linked).
Index:
- How to build my route
- Better communication
- Major evolution of the project
- Discussion with supportive artisans, Ca’Macan, Casin Dei Nobili
- Tech Experts
- A non-linear route intervention
Summer 2021
How to build my route
20/06/ 2021
I tested the diamond route with a tourist stakeholder and realised how badly in translated in real life:
- Mainstream paths had to be used to reach some of the stops
- Having to retrace one’s steps
- too long
But thanks to this intervention I now know which specific district I should focus on (Castello) as it is completely away from the beaten track. Not testing the route in the flesh would have made it impossible to get an accurate vision of its content.
The intervention was a failure as the stakeholder was not able to complete the route the way I intended her to, however, it stirred me into a better direction and I became aware of many ways I can improve the project.
Better Communication
23/06/2021
From the interactions I have had with experts Marco de Michelis and Roberto D’Agostino, I realised that I miscommunicated the essence of my project. They both initially thought I wanted to get rid of or control mass tourism. I am very well aware that I do not have that power
Perhaps that when I make presentations, instead of solely showing pictures of crowded streets (as part of the problem), I should also show empty museums and neighbourhoods to convey how little that side of the city is being explored. This would show that I do not want to eliminate the mass, I just want to inspire a few day tourists to give back to the city by experiencing a more authentic and unexplored side to Venice, while promoting a sense a community between the locals and the tourists.
Major evolution of the project
9/07/2021
I approached the Papier Machè artisan shop, which is run by three artisans, to pitch my idea and see if they would be interested in being part of the route I have designed. Unfortunately, I realised that the rift between certain locals and day tourists is way deeper than I had imagined. Indeed, it was made clear that those were not the sort of tourists they wanted to have around.
This interaction was recorded in more detail here.
Conclusion:
Although I am aware that it is completely normal to have people disagreeing with your project, this interaction has made me think. It has underlined some things that I was already worrying about.
- Having day tourists wondering in more quiet areas may not please everyone (I sent out a survey to make sure it would be alright but it may not have reached enough people).
- Getting locals involved (artisans and cultural institutions) is very complicated
- Although I am half Venetian I was not raised there, which amounts to being a foreigner. Thus, there can be a lack of trust.
This lead me to think about other aspects of my current idea that can be considered as great challenges.
Additional Challenges:
- It encapsulates a lot
I think I am trying to address to many issues: unprofitable and disrespectful tourism, tourist-local relationship, city movement, authenticity of the tourist experience.
And trying to incorporate too many things: interactive immersive experience, gamification, storytelling, learning (history and art history).
- Time constraints during the tour experience
It is hard to predict in a city like Venice how long it would take to complete the gamified tour. Tourists might feel pressured to hurry up or will not have enough time to complete the game.
- Logistics
When one starts getting cultural institutions involved everything starts revolving around their opening times. It would be very difficult to synchronize everything. One would not be able to play the game whenever they want and not at all on closing days.
Conclusion:
Basically, with the current version of the project, I am controlling too many factors. I am trying to create something that ticks all the boxes but it is not necessarily a productive way of spending my time. I need to keep in mind that I have limited time and that I should focus on doing really well what is realistically attainable.
The New Idea:
The new idea involves using a geolocation app that will unlock pieces of information about the city when tourists have entered a specific radius. Once one has entered the radius they will be pinged. The notification may contain a historical fact, a legend, a comment about the architecture and advices such as: “you are close to this talented artisan, or there is a magnificent Bellini in the church near you”.
Why?
It is a way to transform tourism in Venice from being Linear to explorative. It gives an opportunity for an adventure, while learning about history and promoting authentic and interesting cultural features of the city.
- Promotes exploration-based tourism rather than a linear one.
- The user gets a notification when reaching a geolocated point.
- These points can contain: a history fact, a venetian legend, a museum, a Church or an artisan.
- Those will be located off the beaten track.
- Creating a feature that either promotes community spirit between locals and tourists or that emphasizes the importance of being a respectful tourist.
Discussion with supportive artisans, Ca’Macan, Casin Dei Nobili
9/07/2021
Thankfully, I have had some discussions with some artisans that were very supportive of my project, for more details click here.
I was relieved to see that my project was not completely inadequate, which is the feeling I had talking to the Papier Maché artisans. Furthermore, the conversation reinforced how much some artisans are struggling because of the current global situation.
As day tourists rarely spend money in artisan shops, it could make a big difference if they started doing so.
Although they were positive about the project, the more sceptic Papier Maché artisans made me question everything and I ultimately decided to modify the gamification of the tourist experience.
Tech Experts
5/07/2021-14/07/2021
Having made contact with tech experts Herman Ho and Jesse Sigalov (more here) has widened my horizons on what I could do with this project. They reassured me that what I was picturing could be done and give me the support I need to develop the digital side.
They both took the time to show me how Unity3d software works (a platform to create digital interactive content) and shared some of their own ideas on how to create something engaging.
A non-linear route intervention
21/07/2021
This intervention (detailed here) was a breakthrough because it was my first attempt at testing with stakeholders the way my project had evolved. It was quite different to what I had been doing before as I was no longer trying to create heavily curated and controlled routes, but a more free and explorative experience still located off the beaten track.
Screenshot of the map I designed for the intervention
This was the first iteration of a series of interventions that followed the same principle but that all learned from each other. It showed me that it was possible to achieve what I was designing in my head and opened the doors to all the ways I could improve it.