In CitiObs we value co-creation and co-design. This means that in the development of our tools and toolkit we not only work together with colleagues and peers, but also actively involve the people who will ultimately be the users of these tools. The Citizen-led Action Toolkit is no exception.
In the blog post published at the beginning of this year (January 2025), we shared how the team at Fab Lab Barcelona | IAAC has been working closely with the Frontrunner Case with LAB CSU in Barcelona. During this collaboration, tools that were gathered and developed as part of the toolkit were put into practice. We stress-tested their usability, their suitability for the context, and more. Since then, the team has collaborated with another CitiObs case to further test the toolkit and co-develop new tools valuable for Citizen Observatories. Over the past months, thanks to input from our CitiObs Frontrunner and Alliance cases, the toolkit has been revised to be clearer, more accessible, and more user-friendly. Tools have been refined, language has been simplified, and visual elements have been added to improve navigation. With each iteration, the toolkit becomes not only a repository of methods but also a living resource—now hosted on action.toolkit.citiobs.eu.
New toolkit interface © Fab Lab Barcelona | IAAC
Working with the Netherlands case
Building on this momentum, an exciting new step has taken place in the Netherlands. Together with the Distributed Design Platform, an open call was launched to engage an artist in co-developing creative interventions addressing noise pollution in three locations: Haastrecht, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The first site for prototyping will be Haastrecht, where the process of exploring the challenge began.
Open Call for artist through the Distributed Design Platform social media © Fab Lab Barcelona | IAAC
At this stage, the work is moving into ideation. The case has been collecting valuable data for many years, and on several occasions has raised concerns about local noise pollution—often without significant response from those with the power to make changes. This new initiative represents another push to demand better regulations to reduce noise pollution, not only in Haastrecht but also in two other locations in the Netherlands. The hope is that through collective effort, these demands will gain greater resonance. Together with the artist, local residents, and CitiObs partners, the team is exploring ways of creating an intervention that is artistic and engaging, while also adaptable across the different sites. While the team is still in the ideation process, updates on local developments will be shared through our CitiObs social media channels.
These on-the-ground activities feed back directly into the development of the Citizen-led Action Toolkit. By observing how tools are applied, identifying where adjustments are needed, and learning from creative experiments, the toolkit has been iterated to better serve Citizen Observatories. This process has also helped identify weak points—gaps where new tools are needed to support our cases. With this information, examples are added that resonate with the real challenges faced by Citizen Observatories.
What’s Next?
The journey in the Netherlands is still unfolding, and the next steps will bring the ideas generated through co-creation closer to tangible interventions in Haastrecht and beyond. Stay tuned as these creative experiments continue to grow, shaping not only the local response to noise pollution but also enriching the CitiObs Citizen-led Action Toolkit as a shared resource.
