MA Creative Practice for Narrative Environments

Design a small physical meeting/working point, or network of these, for new entrepreneurs.

With support from Cisco systems, the team devised a brief to develop new entrepreneurs such as small design groups or local immigrants who have recently moved to the area and need support to develop their business interests.

The group identified several key issues with new business growth in the area:

-Weak motivation of young people in entrepreneurships
1) Conservative mind- set and laid back attitude
2) Heavy family influence
3) Barriers of bureaucracy
4) Unfamiliar with the possibilities of entrepreneurship
5) Lack of channels
6) Self- unidentified

The key issue appeared to be that there was a lack of clear support for new startups and entrepreneurs in the area and a consolidated support event could help people identify their needs.

The group proposed to setup 'Spark n Fire' a event and working group that would help foster the 'scene' of entrepreneurs in Palermo that had potential but was undeveloped.

Palermo: Winter holiday destination of choice

Brief:
Attract the target audience to an extended stay in ‘Winter Palermo’.
What kind of unique experience can ‘Winter Palermo’ offer?

The group researched into the ideal target audiences to generate tourism revenue for the city and thought of creative ways to engage these groups and get them visiting Palermo throughout the winter.

The group established that the strongest audience for interest in Palermo, within Italy and the surrounding regions would be wealthy creatives in their senior years who would be interested in the luxurious cultural aspects of the city.

The group planned a campaign that would create a story between their target audience and their friends through word of mouth sharing of the experience. Following their central characters, Robert and Delphine, we can see them follow a journey to Palermo and their experiences whlilst there that will be shared with their peers in the future.

Dress Up for Mario

Brief

Design a pop-up intervention to surprise Northers Italians visiting Palermo about the south of Sicily; to challenge stereotypes and to direct Northern Italians away from their usual holiday destinations.

Working for the Italian tourism agency, the group target locals, sicilians and italian tourists from all over the country aged 18 years and above.

The value of design in a city with real problems?

Brief
Create a programme for Palermo where by young designers visit to support local organisations, communities and businesses

Client
Young Social Entrepreneurs (motivated to improve Palermo)

Target Audience
Local Business’s, Communities + Organisations (resistant to change)

Solution
Palermo Box!

One week in May 2013 with the potential to become an annual event.
Local designers get involved in an opportunity to promote the value of creative problem-solving. They can register through a dedicated website and are given two months to develop and deliver their design solutions. Each day marks the birth of additional installations in the city. By the conclusion of the week, Palermo has become an urban playground thanks to the collaboration between innovative minds and a common object.

Palermo Box represents a shift in the traditional mindset of typical businesses, towards a more playful and creative approach to problem solving. What starts as a small seed of inspiration could potentially grow into something very influencial. A new appreciation in the value of design. Opening the minds of the local community and possibly drawing more people to the city of Palermo.