DURATION
1 - 2 months
MY ROLE
UX Consultant & Engagement Architect
CLIENT
West Coast Town Council
TAGS
UX Research, Community Engagement, Participatory Design, Public Sector Innovation, Urban Renewal
Designed and executed mixed-methods community engagement strategy.
Facilitated community workshops and focus groups
Synthesized qualitative/quantitative data into actionable policy inputs
Bridged resident needs with municipal constraints
Translated resident voices into design principles for town planners
The West Coast Town Council commissioned this initiative to revitalise 3 aging neighbourhood zones under Singapore's Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) in Jurong West. Previous renewal efforts had struggled with low community engagement and unsatisfactory outcomes, with many upgraded spaces remaining under-utilised due to designs that failed to address residents' actual needs.
Problem #1: Ineffective Community Engagement Mechanisms
The current consultation framework fails to generate meaningful participation or representative feedback, creating a cycle of disengagement.
Key Challenges:
Low Participation Rates: Traditional paper surveys distributed door-to-door historically achieve <10% response rates, with respondents skewed toward retirees and those with strong opinions.
Unrepresentative Feedback: Town hall meetings attract the same small group of vocal residents (typically older males), while working families, youth, and marginalised groups remain unheard.
Lack of Trust: Past consultations gave the impression of being performative. Residents report their suggestions were documented but rarely implemented, leading to skepticism about new initiatives.
Potential Risks if Unaddressed:
Continued low engagement could result in designs that fail to meet actual community needs.
Without diverse input, critical safety and accessibility concerns (e.g., poorly lit pathways, lack of family-friendly spaces) may go unresolved.
Persistent distrust could undermine future urban renewal efforts, making long-term planning more difficult.
Core Issues Identified:
Traditional surveys had <10% response rates
Town halls only attracted vocal minorities
Behavioral observations showed residents avoiding poorly designed spaces
Problem #2: One-Size-Fits-All Design Approach
Current renewal templates do not account for the diverse needs of Jurong West’s multi-generational population, leading to generic solutions that fail key user groups.
Identified Gaps:
Seniors: Existing pathway designs lack sufficient resting points, discouraging mobility-limited residents from using them.
Families: Playground layouts often prioritize aesthetics over visibility, making parents hesitant to let children play unsupervised.
Youth: No dedicated social spaces lead to loitering in unsuitable areas, creating friction with other residents.
Impact:
Public spaces may remain underutilized if they don’t serve the needs of different demographics.
Without inclusive design, social divides could deepen, with certain groups feeling excluded from community areas.
Missed opportunity to foster intergenerational interaction through smart spatial planning.
Problem #3: Short-Term Fixes Over Long-Term Vision
The NRP’s current framework prioritizes immediate, visible upgrades (e.g., repaving, new benches) over sustainable solutions that strengthen community identity.
Current Limitations:
Quick Wins Over Systemic Change: Projects focus on surface-level improvements (e.g., fresh paint, new signage) rather than addressing root causes like poor lighting or inadequate seating.
Lack of Cohesion: Individual upgrades are implemented in isolation, without a unifying vision for the neighborhood’s long-term character.
Maintenance Blind Spots: Materials are often chosen for cost rather than durability, leading to recurring repair needs.
Future Risks:
Without a strategic approach, renewed spaces may quickly deteriorate, requiring costly rework.
Residents may perceive the NRP as superficial rather than transformative, reducing future engagement.
Missed opportunity to create spaces that evolve with the community’s changing needs.
