To provide a strategic foundation for decision-making, I began the project with hypothesis-driven stakeholder interviews. In interviews of six relevant users from renewable energy project developers, environmentalists, and political stakeholders, I gained an understanding of their individual roles within the permitting process. I summarized their individual problems and expectations in the following findings.
With the evaluation of the interview results and a holistic view of the customer journey, project developers of renewable energies could be identified as the core target group of the digital platform. As a key player, they take over central tasks of the entire process. They have extensive knowledge, generate relevant information and initiate new projects, from which third parties (approval authorities, investors, etc.) benefit. My hypothesis was to enable project developers to plan new areas in a more targeted way in order to reduce the time and effort required by the authorities to process facilities that cannot be approved.
In order for project developers to evaluate the success potential of their site and its surroundings, they need easier access to publicly available information. Only in this way can they identify at an early stage whether a planned facility would have a negative impact on its surroundings according to applicable laws. Although such information is publicly available, it is often difficult for project developers to gain an overview of the available information and data. A comprehensive assessment often requires the evaluation of dozens of documents from as many sources.
With the daily tasks and goals of the project developers in mind, I designed a prototype that would focus on the most relevant user scenarios.
Final user flows: Land acquisition and application creation are combined in a two-step process
Through early research, I found out which digital tools project developers use in their daily work and therefore know almost by heart. Due to extensive, unseen functions, it was helpful to structure and design the platform according to patterns that project developers already knew and had learned. In close consultation with the user group, the following design challenges were constantly revised to create the best possible user experience.
Interim status of the design development: search results are displayed as a list
Final view: search results are displayed parallel to the map
In less than 4 months I finished Exise as the result of my bachelor thesis. After a final validation phase with test runs of the selected prototype, I could be sure of the enthusiasm of the project developers. Their positive feedback is the proof that Exise is able to provide real added value in stuck and analog processes. Even more, they see Exise’s vision as a tangible key ingredient to drive the expansion of renewable energies.
I am proud that my work has been selected by an independent jury of the Münster School of Design as the best bachelor thesis of the graduating class in the winter semester 2022/23.
