Rote Rampe
During my Master’s at Technische Hochschule Augsburg, my team and I brought the Rote Rampe project to life—a user-centered initiative that addresses urban accessibility by developing an intuitive red ramp system, showcased to key political stakeholders to drive inclusion.
Client:
Augsburg City
Role:
Year:
2021
The Challenge
The Rote Rampe project was all about uncovering the real obstacles that make urban spaces hard to navigate for people with physical disabilities. We dug into how the city's design often falls short and stops people from moving freely. The goal was to shift the focus from just checking boxes to truly understanding and addressing these everyday struggles.
To achieve this, we designed an experiential workshop that let key stakeholders—including politicians and city officials—experience firsthand the accessibility barriers in Augsburg’s urban space. Additionally, we amplified our findings with a guerrilla action and multiple touchpoints that showcased usability gaps, sparking a genuine conversation on inclusive design and garnering recognition from the Augsburger Allgemeine paper.
Process
To achieve this, we began with comprehensive user research—conducting interviews with wheelchair users and performing on-site accessibility audits to map real journeys and pinpoint pain points. We then synthesized these insights using empathy and journey mapping, laying the foundation for ideation and iterative prototyping. Leveraging design thinking throughout, we generated and refined ideas through continuous user testing and stakeholder workshops, ensuring every design decision was rooted in genuine user needs and real-world challenges.
Solution
The Rote Rampe project sparked a genuine societal shift by addressing both accessibility and inclusion in Augsburg’s public spaces. By launching a dedicated landing page, rolling out a dynamic social media campaign, and hosting interactive workshops with city officials and political leaders, we brought real user challenges to the forefront.
Enhanced Public Awareness: Our landing page featured clear, immersive storytelling that resonated with the community and caught the attention of media outlets like the Augsburger Allgemeine.
Engaged Decision-Makers: Through hands-on workshops, we enabled politicians and stakeholders to experience firsthand the barriers faced by people with disabilities, turning empathy into actionable insights.
Amplified Community Voices: A targeted social media campaign and guerrilla actions invited local residents to share their experiences, sparking wider conversations about inclusive design.
Validated Design Thinking: Our iterative, user-centered approach produced actionable guidelines that not only addressed physical barriers but also promoted a broader culture of inclusion in urban life.
This comprehensive solution not only redefines public space design but also sets the stage for lasting, community-driven change.
Key takeaways
Media & Public Buzz: The landing page and social media campaign sparked fresh public dialogue and caught the attention of key media outlets, shifting how people view inclusive urban design.
Policy Impact: Through immersive workshops, decision-makers experienced the challenges firsthand, igniting meaningful discussions that pave the way for future improvements.
Community Activation: Guerrilla actions and digital touchpoints empowered locals to share their stories, creating a grassroots call for a more inclusive public space.
User-Centered Insights: Our iterative design process uncovered actionable guidelines that showcase how human-centered design can effectively address real-world challenges.