Drag and Drop Website BuilderVisualising the impacts of electoral programmes
Jorge and I wanted to introduce innovation into the sector of policymaking and civic engagement by creating an immersive technology that would enable users to visualise and experience the future impact of electoral programmes, to help citizens understand and compare the real-world impacts of different political parties' policies. This tool was developped ahead of the Catalan elections of May 2024 to help simulate an election with our community, based on how each party's mobility and infrastructure proposals would shape Plaça d'Espanya, a major transport node in Barcelona. By visualizing the present state of Plaza d'Espanya in VR, alongside eight envisioned futures based on the 8 parties running, the project sought to provoke thought and gather feedback on urban mobility changes proposed by different political parties.
Working on the Virtual Catalan Elections project has been a valuable learning experience for me, both as a designer and as someone interested in politics. This project allowed me to explore how technology can be used to help people understand and engage with political issues in a more meaningful way.
Firstly, I realized the potential of immersive technology to make political information more accessible. By visualizing future scenarios based on political party policies, we provided a way for people to see and experience the possible impacts of their voting choices. This approach makes complex political ideas more relatable and easier to understand. Seeing participants interact with the scenarios and make more informed choices showed how technology can help people connect with political issues in a new way.
Secondly, working with AI to generate realistic future scenarios highlighted the importance of careful design and iteration. We faced challenges in refining the AI’s output and ensuring the generated images were accurate and aligned with our goals. Each iteration taught us more about the details of working with AI and the need for clear, precise instructions. This experience underscored the value of patience and persistence in the design process, and the need for human supervision in the manipulation of AI.
Additionally, the feedback from our project showed how personal biases can influence political choices. Many participants ended up voting for scenarios that did not match their usual political preferences, purely based on the visual outcomes. This suggests that clear, visual representations of policy impacts can help people focus on practical results rather than just political ideologies. This insight could be useful for future political campaigns, highlighting the importance of presenting policies in a clear and understandable way.
Reflecting on the potential of this tool, I see several implications for elections, policy-making, and design. For elections, such a tool could improve voter education by providing an engaging way to understand party platforms. For policy-making, it offers a method to visualize potential impacts before decisions are made, leading to more informed choices. In design, this project reinforces the importance of user-centered approaches, ensuring that technological innovations are accessible and relevant to the public.
As we move forward, I look forward to exploring ow design and technology can continue to contribute to a more informed and engaged society.
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