Spotlight: Allow citizens to iterate and co-create the places together in real time
/Spotlight: Allow citizens to iterate and co-create the places together in real time
The UNDP Panama Accelerator Lab tested how tech could open up new ways for people to participate. They collaborated with a local university and community groups to run design sessions with participants spanning many generations. They included students (ages 18-22) and seniors (ages 70+) who took photos of their neighborhoods to flag problems and opportunities. Their photos were turned into prompts for UrbanistAI, which used AI to help participants enhance the photos to imagine what they might build in those places. From tree-shaded benches to open-air gyms, art walls to bike paths, the reimagined simulations sparked dialogue, reflection, consensus, and laughter—and revealed a shared vision for public spaces that transcended generational divides and digital gaps.