NUVILLE

CLIENT

KRAK Fractured Media Inc,

TYPE OF PROJECT

Research / Applied Reseach

BRIEF

During our time together, we worked in consultation with Creative Director OF KRAK Fractured Media Inc, Karen Vanderborght, and team to explore various ways of understanding city planning, design, and process to help develop the first stages of a prototype for Nuville, a "real world augmented audio
game that turns your urban walk into a sci-fi

adventure game where you wonder as you wander to reclaim your city from the builder's AI."

Can Artificial Intelligence help us understand the city? Can a game tell us about the city needs?

Image from 'Miro' app, shared board

TOPICS

The project explored a series of concepts, including the intangibles—the ideas, beliefs, and principles that gave the city its character and sense of place. Topics of discussion included:

Manifestos and ideals that influenced the city’s shape over time.

INSPIRATION

a: LEGO,Simcity, Cities:Skylines...

Technology’s role in the contemporary city, with a focus on:
- Its uneven presence in regions often referred to as the “Global South,” where 77% of the world’s population faces challenges such as lower incomes, limited formal education, unreliable internet, and reduced access to technology.
- The growing concerns around data collection in public spaces and questions of privacy.

Public consultation as a tool for dialogue between city officials and citizens—examining how these processes can be reimagined to build trust, reduce fatigue, and foster engagement, including through art as a mediator and playful, game-like approaches.

The role of aesthetic pleasure in urban life, from beautification as a crime-prevention strategy to its potential for economic growth and social cohesion.

Mechanisms within city by-laws to create community benefits, including inclusionary zoning, density bonuses, and Community Benefits Charges (CBCs)—and how these tools can redistribute wealth more equitably across the city.

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What are the beliefs, ideas, or principles that give our city its unique sense of place?
How do these intangibles influence the way we experience and navigate urban life?

What manifestos, visions, or collective ideals have shaped the city over time?
Are there values or declarations today that could guide the city’s future form?
What place does public art have in a pedestrian-centered city? Could it play a more active role in shaping walkable, human-scale environments?
How might a contemporary art manifesto reimagine the integration of art into daily urban life, beyond decoration or beautification?

How does access to technology differ across communities, both locally and globally?
What challenges do cities face in ensuring equal access to digital tools and infrastructure?
How should cities balance the benefits of technology with concerns around data collection and privacy in public spaces?

How can public consultation be reimagined to feel more engaging, inclusive, and less burdensome for communities?
In what ways can art act as a mediator in dialogue between citizens and city officials?
Could play or game-like approaches foster more trust and participation in the consultation process?

What role does beauty or aesthetic pleasure play in shaping safer, more vibrant, and more cohesive communities?
Should beautification be seen only as crime prevention or also as a cultural and social resource?
How does public art contribute to a city’s identity and sense of belonging?
In what ways can public art foster dialogue, connection, or even challenge within the urban environment?

How can city by-laws be designed to generate greater community benefits?
What mechanisms—such as inclusionary zoning, density bonuses, or Community Benefits Charges—best redistribute wealth in a way that strengthens the whole city?
How can we ensure that community benefits are not only financial, but also cultural, social, and ecological?

2025....

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