nyaal banyul
Participatory research and service design for the future Convention and Exhibition Centre in Djilang/Geelong
the challenge
Customers and community alike are excited about the future Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in particular, the opportunity it will afford to showcase Geelong as a destination city. In 2022, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust (MCET) identified the need for community research and consultation as a participatory approach to service design. Stakeholders included First Nations elders and community, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, Geelong community and future customers, and the MCET consortium — all participants collaborated on design, placemaking and elevating a site of cultural significance.
the process
The purpose of the research and partnership was to fill a gap in the understanding of the future experience, service and positioning opportunities for customers, community and the Greater Geelong region. Over the course of 20-weeks, Samantha led the Paper Giant project team in human centre design principles and participatory methods (desktop research, discovery interviews, focus groups and consolidation workshops) to generate design principles and recommendations for architects, investors and board members.
The outcome
Today, Nyaal Banyul is an investment in the Geelong region. As an architectural project, it includes detailed community input for design and planning; as development commitment, it respectfully recognises the cultural history and connections to the land. The final research report and qualitative data assisted MCET and Development Victoria to elevate the role of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, in community place-making and economic participation in regional Australia.