Connecting ideas for the future of the city
The future needs stories. We develop visions and narratives for city centres and urban spaces
The challenge
Lots of city, little experience?
Uniformity, traffic congestion, desolation: many inner cities and city centres lack what makes a city what it is – character, uniqueness, identity. And often city centres no longer “function” as they once did: The linchpin of the urban experience and quality of life.
At the same time, there are initiatives for inner-city development (by the city or city marketing company) that are forward-looking and can only develop their full potential with the acceptance and support of as many stakeholders, actors and citizens of the city as possible.
This is where the unifying forces of vision and storytelling come into play. Together with you, we take the decisive step back and look at the big picture – to “rewrite” the history of your city and city centre. And to shape the future together.
“The future of the city needs: A vision that shines. A narrative that connects.“
Thorsten Kausch, Managing Director of Stadtmanufaktur
Our approach
Using the essence of “city” strategically
A city is many things, and this also applies to its centre. Individual districts with specific identities, functions and qualities come together. The city’s history and present, as well as various stakeholders with a wide range of interests, influence the further development of the city.
The narrative – the descriptive storyline of the city – picks up on this diversity and creates an overall context with which as many stakeholders and citizens as possible can identify. It describes an emotional target image that conveys the vision of the city in the future in a striking and convincing way. An idea of what the city will feel like once the city centre development process has progressed.
Our experience shows that vision and storytelling are elementary instruments of place branding and urban development. They make it possible to visualize the essence and potential of a city, city centre development to reach a consensus and activate the city’s own resources.
Our approach
Making potential visible, gaining profile
The aim of our vision and narrative development is to put the city and the future of the city into words and communicate them. And in such a way that its designers and residents can identify with it. This is achieved through a holistic analysis, co-creative processes, stakeholder management and strategic communication.
At the same time, we look beyond these findings to identify key locations and properties that are or can become image-defining for cities and neighborhoods through suitable (re)uses and (re)positioning. The result: location profiles and identity descriptions for the city centre as a whole and the individual districts.
Our strength: We identify action-guiding findings for the communication and development of flagship projects. We also describe specific fields of action for city centre development in terms of potential, impact, urgency and spatial and temporal dimensions.
The Stadtmanufaktur competencies:
Components of the consultation
As-is analysis and potential analysis
Cross-disciplinary analyses with a focus on the user perspective. Prepared and moderated digital or analog workshops with client representatives and stakeholders to answer questions such as: What characterizes the inner city and its districts? Where are the development opportunities?
Vision and storytelling
Developing a vision for the city centre that is based on the current and future needs of users. Finding and communicating a narrative that tells the story of the city centre development in a way that is consensual for all stakeholders.
Vision and storytelling for the city as a whole
In cooperation with our partner Brandmeyer Markenberatung , we develop visions and narratives in a city-wide context. Just get in touch with us.
Concrete results and recommendations for action
You will receive from us: strategically carefully developed and vividly visualized conceptual elaborations – with clear recommendations for action.
Key messages and communication goals
Building on the narrative:
- we derive supporting core messages,
- prioritize the target groups and define specific messages for them,
- we define phase-specific communication goals, assign the appropriate channels and
- create a strategic framework for communication.
Stakeholder communication and co-creation
- Concepts for the creative, effective and targeted involvement of various stakeholders in city centre development.
- Ensuring broad awareness and acceptance of city centre development among the public and the committees involved.
- Guided individual interviews.
- Design thinking “idea sprints” with stakeholders (if possible as a face-to-face event).
- Digital and/or analog think tank formats for citizens (open formats such as barcamps, world cafés).
Our success stories:
Strategies for the future
Recklinghausen receives financial support from a funding program for the Recklinghausen-Süd district. We support the development of city center management and stakeholder management and accompany the process with strategic communication.
Development of a strength-based city brand: In cooperation with Brandmeyer Markenberatung, we are moderating the city brand process for the city of Siegen.
The city of Koblenz is very successful in terms of tourism. This leads to a high utilization of public spaces. An event strategy including a catalog of event criteria now serves as a management tool to influence the quality, number and content of events.