CREAConnect: FLORENCE HACKATHON – Does Over tourism Exist?
16 May
Date
Friday, 16. may
Lecturer
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Time
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Program Language
english
Location
Entrance
About the workshop
The Florence Hackathon, organised by CREAConnect partner LAMA Impresa Sociale, was the first in a series of five thematic hackathons taking place across Europe within the Creative Europe-funded CREAConnect project. The three-day programme brought together international participants, designers, creative professionals, and mentors to explore innovative approaches to urban tourism, community engagement, and the role of third places in shaping more inclusive cities.
Under the theme “Third Places Redefining Cities: Visualizing Data-Driven Tourism Transformation,” the hackathon focused on overtourism and its impact on urban life, exploring the complex relationship between city residents and visitors, as well as the potential of third places to strengthen social cohesion and improve the quality of urban environments.
How can we communicate the effects of overtourism to city residents? How can data help us better understand the relationship between visitors and local communities? What role can third places play in creating more inclusive, resilient, and socially connected cities?
Building on CREAConnect’s approach to social design, co-design, and peer-to-peer learning, participants worked in international, multidisciplinary teams to explore these questions and develop innovative approaches to communicating the impact of overtourism through data visualisation.
The programme combined challenge exploration, collaborative ideation, mentoring, solution testing, and final presentations. Each team was supported by local and international mentors, bringing together expertise in social innovation, participatory design, entrepreneurship, urban development, and creative practices.
The hackathon also connected participants with Florence’s local creative and social innovation ecosystem, including La Riottosa, an initiative exploring participatory governance and the transformation of a historic space into an inclusive cultural hub.
The Florence Hackathon marked the conclusion of CREAConnect’s first Capacity Building Programme, connecting its learning activities with practical experimentation and collaborative problem-solving.
Participants were supported by a dynamic group of mentors, designers, researchers, cultural entrepreneurs, and creative strategists, who broughtng a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to the table.
Nova Iskra contributed to the Florence Hackathon through its expertise in collaborative innovation, capacity building, and mentoring, supporting the development of creative, interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary urban and social challenges.
Local mentors:
Arianna Camellato, PhD student in Architectural Technology at the University of Florence. Her research focuses on developing visual narrative tools that enhance information accessibility in participatory processes, fostering more inclusive approaches to architecture.
Marco Berni, designer and researcher focused on collaborative design, socio-cultural innovation, and nature-based urban transformation.
Rachele Gracci, PhD student in Service Design for the Public Sector at Sapienza University of Rome, in the Department of Planning, Design, and Technology of Architecture.
Lorenzo Brunello, Service Designer and Phd candidate of the XXXIX Associate Phd in “Service Design for Public Sector” at La Sapienza University of Rome, and the focus of his research is on sustainable urban transition processes and collaborative programs in urban settings.
Mattia Ventrella, Industrial Designer & Researcher with experience in product development, applied research, and strategic design.
Filippo Corretti, Forte Design Studio,exploring design not as decoration, but as a language.
Francesco Terzini, Forte Design Studio
International mentors:
Alice Gabay, expert in entrepreneurship support, currently leading initiatives at AMI (Aide aux Musiques Innovatrices), based at La Friche in Marseille since its inception.
Lorenzo Rando, Dedicated to growth and innovation, he believe in real-world experience and tailored guidance to nurture entrepreneurial talent.
Nana Radenkovic, develops specialized educational and mentoring programs that foster adaptability and innovation which is helping creatives and teams to and collaborate better.
These mentors guided teams throughout the co-design process, offering feedback, direction, and inspiration as participants tackle the challenge of visualizing overtourism and its impact on city life.