ARUP

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

As part of the Challenge Lab at the Royal College of Art, in collaboration with industry partner ARUP. Responding to a brief to reimagine City as a Service within the context of London, we applied the principles of just transition—ensuring that the benefits of sustainability and technology are shared equitably across society. Through trend mapping, qualitative research, and systems-thinking, we co-developed a speculative service aimed at empowering underrepresented communities, while also offering ARUP strategic pathways to create real-world, place-based impact.

PROJECT TIMELINE:

5 months: Oct 2023 – Feb 2024

TEAM

Parul, Shravani, Kishan, Piotr, Hans & Bosky

MY ROLE

As the Service Designer, I led in-depth UX research to uncover challenges faced by 50+ local freelancers, extracting insights on economic and structural barriers at the city level. I conceptualised the service strategy, mapped key user journeys, and co-developed a solution aimed at increasing freelancer earnings by up to 30%. I facilitated stakeholder workshops, validated prototypes, and shaped a business model designed to deliver financial value to local councils while driving inclusive neighbourhood-level economic growth.