In every crisis there is an opportunity for innovation

— NIKOS KAKOURIS

My Role

Project Director

Project Duration

Three weeks, three teams (2 on-ground teams and 1 virtual team)

The Problem

In this unique, lightly populated region, tourism shapes the communities that it touches in both positive and negative ways. Tourism is incredibly important to Greece as it accounts for roughly one-fifth of its economy and more than 25% of jobs.

Sustainable tourism is a way of traveling and exploring a destination while respecting it’s culture, environment, and people. The economic benefits are great as sustainable tourists tend to stay 7 days or longer in a destination and spend 51% more than other tourists. Also, they are more likely to visit destinations and make purchases from travel companies based on their sustainable practices. 

APPROACH: Project Resound’s initiative brought 38 volunteer creatives from around the world to the Pelopponesian towns of Troizinia and Methana and the nearby island of Poros. To produce a vibrant, successful, sustainable tourism model, Project Resound explored a four-phase process that emphasized co-creating directly with its partners and the community.

• Phase 01: Discovery

• Phase 02: Definition

• Phase 03: Development, Ideation, and Rapid Prototyping

• Phase 04: Delivery, Documentation, and Plan of Implementation

SOLUTION

Sustainable Tourism Model: Project Resound presented its local partners and the communities of Poros and Troizinia-Methana with a sustainable tourism model. It is representative of feedback received from co-creative sessions and centers the traveler in an ecosystem united by sustainability. Travelers interact directly with experience providers integrated into the local community. Within the community, a non-governmental organization (NGO) exists to promote partnership, education, and sustainable tourism practices that would benefit the local economy, environment, and those living in the region. It may eventually be scaled for use in other cities, regions and countries.

Brand Identities: Project Resound presented three brand identities for the model: Green Pie, Éla and Root Travel. These included mockups of a variety of deliverables that allowed the community to see the identities in action and emotionally connect with the designs.

RESULT

Our local partner, Echo is growing and we are planning another project together in 2023. Also, Project Resound’s leadership team was interviewed on Lextant’s Experience Design Leaders interview series about how we partner with like-minded organizations to create people-centered and purpose-driven design solutions.