Client: City of Stonnington | 2024 | Digital Placemaking
01
Stakeholders
The Team
Brief
02
Data Gathering
Case Studies
Literature Reviews
03
Ethics and Limitations
Personas
User Journeys
04
Solution
Prototype
Testing
01.
The Team
01.
Brief
The City of Stonnington Council requested for a digital placemaking/wayfinding opportunity that encourages young families and children to come visit Toorak Village and stay for longer.
Client
City of Stonnington Council, Toorak
Audience
Young families and children
Implementation time frame
In the future when the Toorak Village Activation Plan is developing
Outcome
A digital placemaking, wayfinding project
01. Stakeholders
02. Case Studies
02. Literature Reviews
The role of food and public spaces in community building is essential for fostering cultural identity and inclusivity. Food, deeply tied to cultural traditions, serves as a conduit for self-expression and connection, shaping community identity and reflecting historical and social changes. Public spaces, similarly, provide vital "third places" that foster social bonds, enhance quality of life, and support families, particularly young ones, by offering inclusive environments where people can gather, interact, and feel a sense of belonging. Research shows that well-designed public spaces encourage social interaction, aid in child development, and promote mental and physical well-being, ultimately strengthening community cohesion.
For projects like *Toorak Savours the World*, digital placemaking becomes a powerful tool to combine these elements, using interactive technology to promote local culinary diversity while revitalizing public areas as family-friendly gathering spots. This integrated approach not only invites community members and families to engage more deeply with their surroundings but also celebrates cultural diversity, supporting a resilient and inclusive community identity. Future initiatives should continue to leverage digital tools to enhance local culinary heritage and public space functionality, ultimately enriching community life and cultural expression.
02. Data Gathering
For the primary research, we’ve use 5 research methods to fully understand our audiences needs, wants and our opportunities as well as inspirations. The 5 method contains: User Interview, Contextual Inquiries, Affinitive Mapping, Creating Personas and Create User Scenarios. Below is what we’ve learned so far.
Before staring our main research, we individually visit Toorak Village at different time of the day and gather some information to prepare ourselves for the primary research. After the visit, we did a brain storming of overall ideas, what we had in mind of Digital Placemaking and some potential places for digital placemaking.
Affinity Mapping
Key Places
Toorak Place
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inviting and quiet.
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Not many people go in and stores and closed due to lack of food traffic
Coles Local Hall
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already projections and speakers
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seating and open, clear walls
Coles Car Park
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Potential for it to become a public green space after car parks open underground

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space for larger placemaking installations
Coles Car Park
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Almost looks abandoned.

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used to be a hot-spot for locals but have died down

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high potential for modern, diversified shops
User Interviews
We conduct total 2 user interview, 1 for weekday and 1 for weekend. The location was at Coles Local Hall, and we interview people by inviting them to tell us where they’ve been to by stick a sticky note on the map and answer questions. We interview total 15 people with the age range from 20 to 70, and below is our interview results
Contextual Inquiry
General Impressions:
Mixed Perception: Visitors noted an inconsistent blend of old and new buildings, resulting in a dull atmosphere that didn’t meet expectations for an affluent area.
Sense of Isolation: Many felt lost or unwelcome, especially in quieter spaces like Toorak Place, which felt abandoned.
Shopping Experience:
Limited Local Character: The presence of health-related businesses overshadowed local shops, making the area feel less tailored for residents.
Affordability Issues: Shops were perceived as pricey, catering more to older or affluent clientele rather than younger demographics.
Parking and Accessibility:
Convenient Parking: Parking was generally seen as good, but parallel parking options were inconvenient. Many preferred the $6 full-day parking.
Public Spaces and Amenities:
Underwhelming Public Areas: Spaces like the Wind Tunnel lacked adequate lighting and engagement. Cafes were enjoyable but didn’t meet expectations.
Cultural Elements:
Sculptures and Art: Street sculptures were interesting but often overlooked. More engagement with art in public areas is needed.
Demographic Engagement:
Limited Appeal for Youth: The area feels uninviting for younger people, who desire more modern shops and cultural events.
Recommendations for Improvement:
Enhance Visibility: Improve signage and lighting for better business visibility.
Diversify Retail: Expand shop variety to include more local and affordable options.
Increase Art Engagement: Incorporate more public art and cultural events to foster community involvement.
03. Personas
Base on the information we gathered from the user interview and contextual inquiries, we created personas to have a deeper understanding of our target audience and how they will interact with our designs. We created 3 main personas according to different stakeholder groups in Toorak Village. The personas contains: A young mother, represents for the young family groups. A cafe owners, represents for the business owner groups, and a grandfather, represents for the older generation in local areas.
03. User Journeys
Base on our personas, we created 3 user scenarios where our personas will interact with our final design solution.
Scenario: Dehlia goes grocery shopping
03. Ethics and Limitations
Inclusivity and Accessibility
Consider whether the installation is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities, such as visual or placement. Ensuring the screen and activities are accessible is crucial to prevent excluding any members of the community.
Cultural Representation and Sensitivity
Since the project promotes multiculturalism, it is a must that the cuisines and cultural stories represented are authentic, respectful, and free from stereotypes. Involve local representatives from diverse cultural backgrounds to accurately and respectfully introduce their food and heritage.
Potential Commercial Bias
If the wayfinding guides visitors to certain restaurants or shops, consider if there’s a fair representation of all businesses. Avoid favoritism to ensure that all businesses/restaurants benefit from the increased foot traffic.
Child Safety
Since the primary audience includes families with children, extra precautions is needed to ensure the digital and physical experiences are safe for children, with no inappropriate content, data collection, or security risks.
Local Community Consultation
Engage with local residents and business owners before having to start the project to avoid any imposing changes they may not want or agree with. This helps ensure the project genuinely benefits the local community and aligns with their preferences.
Research Limitations
The research faced limitations due to a small interview sample, unsuccessful attempts to gather children’s opinions, and low survey participation, hindered by technical issues and limited interest in QR code scanning.
4. Prototype
The design solution is a gamified AR (Augmented reality) installation that promotes cultural diversity by letting users explore global cuisines. Players, individually or in pairs, select a region and a difficulty level tied to a specific dish. Then, they go through a three-stage game, mimicking cooking movements like chopping, boiling, and simmering shown on a screen. After completing the stages, the user is scored out of 100 and receives a QR code with the recipe and directions to a local restaurant that serves the dish. Users are then encouraged to play again to discover more cuisines worldwide.
The design solution will address the challenge of attracting a younger demographic and improving the cultural diversity in Toorak Village by turning the exploration of global cuisines into an engaging AR (Augmented reality) experience. The interactive outcome blends technology, physical activity and education by encouraging users to discover diverse cuisines through enjoyable,movement-based activities. Additionally, QR codes will provide simplified recipes and directions to local restaurants, appealing to young families and making the experience fun and accessible. While helping to promote inclusivity and diversity in the Toorak Village,
Social Impact
Family-Friendly: Attracts young families with kids by providing a fun and educational experience through interactive recipes and experiences.
Cultural Awareness: Promotes an understanding and appreciation of diverse cuisines and cultures in a younger audience.
Economic Impact
Support for Local business: Directs foot traffic to the restaurants and cafes in Toorak Village, increasing sales and promoting culinary diversity.
Increased Foot Traffic: Draws more visitors to Toorak Village, benefiting the local businesses.
Requirements
Multiple mobile monitor trailers with inbuilt motion sensor technology and speakers. The mobile monitor can be placed in various locations around Toorak, and is outdoor proof.
On the screen is an interactive motion sensor cooking game that adds and saves scores of players if a QR code is scanned. A discount or voucher is required for the businesses promoted at the end of the game.
Value
User: Uses technology and cuisine to entice young families to explore the village.
Social: Engages young families into learning about cultural diversity and inclusivity interactively.
Environmental: Encourages outdoor activity and use of public spaces.
Economic: Increases foot traffic and economic activity for local businesses in the village.
Technical
Screen trailer: Integrated speakers motion sensors and speakers
Interactive Screens: High-definition displays for visuals.
Motion Sensors: Infrared or optical sensors adaptable to all heights.
Durability: Weather-resistant for outdoor use.
Accessibility
Height Adaptability: Motion sensors will adjust for users of all heights, including children and wheelchair users.
Sound: Audio will be clear and moderate to suit all ages and sensitivities.
Mobility: Trailer-based and easily relocated for optimal accessibility, accommodating strollers and wheelchairs.
Effectiveness
The design solutions leverage AR (augmented reality) technologies and visually appealing UI design to engage with the younger demographic. The appeal of cuisine and the repeatability of the game create real-world interactions, such as through the simplified recipes and directions to local restaurants and cafes, which encourages repeat visits and longer dwell times in Toorak village
03. Testing
Overview
Before making the prototype, the interaction requirements was tested by making screen storyboards and mocking up a screen on the whiteboard. This in person testing revealed hardware requirements and issues in the fundamentals of the interaction, such as how the height of the user may affect the motion sensor calibration.
Next, an initial prototype was made where the focus was on working interactions, at this stage the style and colours of the prototype was not ideal but the priority lay in evaluating the physical interaction between the screen prototype and the user.
This evaluation was conducted on a projector screen with one person assessing and instructing the user, and another person working the prototype.
Physical storyboarding the interactions and brainstorming.
Testing the interaction by drawing on a whiteboard, simulating real users.
Testing the initial prototype with various users
Testing Results
Key Insights
Initial Onboarding Interaction
The initial screen is not very visually pleasing and could use a description.
Movement Interaction
Instructions and movement calibration is difficult and unclear for some people
Gamer Interaction
User does not know if their movements are correct and what is the basis for the score to change
Post Game
Leader board would only be relevant for the kids, the focus should be on the parents and promoting the restaurant/cafe more
Visuals and Content
Not enough colour and contrast on the elements and buttons. Consider contrast between camera and elements on the screen
Other Feedback
Give more incentive for the user to want to visit the area promoted.
Design Refinements
Create a new introduction screen with description, potential incentives and make it more inviting and clear
Have movement instruction appear when the user has not moved their cursor for selection.
” Hold hand still to select”
Have the map, instructions and user appear at the same time
Have an indication of how well the user is doing with their movement such as bad, good, great so that they know what speed to do it and how accurately they have to move.
Include information about the restaurant, maybe remove the recipe aspect and promote the restaurant location and its other menu items/the history of that restaurant and how it came to Toorak for parent’s interest
Have better choices in colour and typography throughout the interface.
Discount and more information about the restaurant.
04. Solution
Screen Trailer
Mobile trailer and screen has built in motion sensors and speakers. The trailer stands fold inwards and a cover can be placed on top for user safety.
$10 000+ per device
Motion Sensors
Infrared motion sensors used in games such as Wii and XBox Kinect or Optical Flow Sensors used in AR gaming allowing free hand gestural interaction
$100 - $500 oer system
Interactive Screen
$1000+ per device
The optimal screen size for this set up 1.2m width and 90cm height screen that is at approximal adult eye level.
Interactions
The LED screen used for the prototype is able to comfortably have two people standing in front of it interacting with the game, as well, people will be able to spectate the screen from afar. Anyone will be able to approach the screen and start interacting with it.
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User’s will be prompted to start the game by standing on the dot and allowing the motion sensors to calibrate with them.

The dot’s can be vinyl stickers which are placed on the ground, or they can be other markers such as wash off paint if that is required for the location, the material can be flexible.
Gestures
All of the interactions that are featured in order to play the interactive game are very simple movements and don’t require lots of movement, users can be standing still and just moving their hands to play.

This allows more people to be able to participate as it does not take high levels of coordination or effort.
Calibration
To navigate through the menu of the interactive game, user’s will move their hands around the screen, the motion tracking will recognise this and show a visual cursor as a red dot allowing the user to easily see where they are tracking.
Users are prompted with short instructions featuring animations helping them understand the interaction.
Users can make selections within the menus by moving the cursor where they want to select and keeping their hand still for two seconds, where an animation will play making the selection.
The Game
Following completion of the game, users are presented with a screen which promotes a local business with in Toorak, users are able to scan a QR code to get directions and a possible discount.
The aim of this is to get users aware of the business and boost the businesses providing return of investment for Toorak Village.
Users will be able to visit the local business straight away or save the details and plan a visit another time serving as good marketing for the businesses.
Conclusion
Toorak Savours the World is designed to transform Toorak Village into a vibrant, culturally rich destination that appeals to younger families and diverse demographics. By integrating interactive experiences that celebrate multiculturalism and local business, the project effectively revitalizes the precinct while fostering community engagement and supporting economic growth.
This initiative not only addresses the City of Stonnington’s goal of increasing visitation and retention but also enhances Toorak Village’s identity as a welcoming and dynamic cultural hub. With a strategic blend of technology, local partnerships, and community-driven experiences, *Toorak Savours the World* is poised to create lasting positive change, making the precinct a sought-after destination for both residents and visitors.
In conclusion, this project represents a scalable model for digital placemaking, capable of evolving with community needs and continuously delivering value to stakeholders. By fostering deeper connections between visitors, local businesses, and the rich cultural fabric of Toorak Village, *Toorak Savours the World* sets a new standard for interactive, inclusive precinct development.
