Like other towns globally, Paide has its pain points, such as the issue of decreasing population. These are not challenges that Paide faces alone, nor ones that should be reflected both in how locals perceive the town, and its identity.

The locals of Paide express a duality in their relationship with the town. On the one hand, not all inhabitants feel that the town fulfils their requirements: they dream of big city life, more environmental stimuli, more facilities and amenities. On the other, they value the quiet, peaceful and safe life in the town, the abundance of nature, history, culture. Yet it is this side of Paide, and all the positive qualities of the town and the community that are not the focus for a Utopia, it is the aspects that locals perceive as lacking.

This was the problem space as defined by the team, based on the research, probe kit and first workshop results and insights, and it is from this that the concept of Visionäär was designed in collaboration with inhabitants of Paide.

Inhabitants who have an abundance of imagination, ideas and visions to share with each other.
Inhabitants who long for more cross-community collaboration and socialisation.

Inhabitants who wish for more individual and community opportunities that will benefit the town.

Visionäär is designed as an interactive tool to empower and enable the public to discuss, share and collaborate, to provide a platform through which everyone, not just those active in community life, has the opportunity to voice their thoughts and ideas that could be of benefit to the community and town. Where users can experience their own ideas and those of others, or even go further afield without ever leaving Paide. Through this platform, users receive feedback on their suggestions, art, visions, and potentially see them being realised. Most importantly, Visionäär is a tool for locals to appreciate and to create a Utopia from Paide.

Team: Wiktor Dembs, Francesca Keaveney, Larissa Pelke, Tiina Ree.

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