Plan the most personal city trip of 2050

Friday 26th April 2019: 9h to 22h
The Beacon, Antwerp

Wake up! It’s 2050.

The world and the way we travel have changed.

The future is uncertain. As time progresses, the more uncertain it will become.

Join us on Friday April 26th at The Beacon in Antwerp. You will explore the future of city breaks. Not one, but six alternative futures. To understand, overturn and unravel the new way of planning short breaks.

The scene:

In 2050 life will be different. The climate matter will have been settled and we will have cured dreadful diseases. And yet, the way we gather and consume information will never stop evolving. How will we hunt for leisure activities in a foreign city?

Your profile:

Are you a frequent traveller? Business, budget or backpacker? A student or a designer?
We need your help to shape the experience of city trips in 2050.

Your assignment:

Hack the future. How will travellers to Art Cities in Flanders and Brussels gather and consume visitor information in 2050? Think big and bold. But first, imagine and choose one of these six possible futures:

Physical tourist offices no longer exist
No one uses paper anymore
People travel as a digital detox, refusing to use digital devices on holidays
Online sources are unreliable when it comes to visitor information
Every building is now a ‘smart’ building
There are no official sources for visitor information

The crew:

You’re not alone. We’ll give you:

The best coaches you can find
Food and drinks
Comfy seating and heart-warming wifi
A bunch of nerds to help you prototype
Tourism professionals to talk to
Free Netflix for one day

The reward:

Gold prize: Six vouchers for a 2-person overnight stay with breakfast in each of the six participating cities. All winning team members get to pick one.

Silver prize: Six vouchers for a unique activity and lunch -- one in each of the six participating cities. All winning team members get to pick one.

Bronze prize: Six baskets full of local food and drinks from the organising cities.

Let’s not forget: you gain the incredible experience of meeting new people, that share the same passion. Travel and dreaming of a better future.

Schedule

Wednesday 3/4: The exploration

Casual get together. Meet your teammates. Pick the scenario you’re going to hack. The problem statements will be discussed. Challenges will be explained in full.
We start at 19:00 sharp! Food available from 18:00.

Friday 26/4: Traveljam!

9:00 Welcome with coffee, ready to hack the future.
9:00-12:00 Talk to the tourism professionals. Brainstorm.
12:00-14:00 Have lunch and get feedback from the experts.
14h00 Pitch with cake
15:00-18:00 Visualise your ideas.
19:00 Formal pitches! at UrbanCity
21:15 Nigel Williams will raise his voice during jury deliberation
22:00 Prizes and champagne showers.

The venue

The Beacon is a new and hip innovation hub in the centre of Antwerp, that offers views on the MAS. You will be surrounded by people working together on the future of our cities. The Beacon is a 7 minute walk from the main square. Rest assured, there will be plenty of tourists to interview if needed.

The Beacon is localized in Tolhuis, Sint-Pietersvliet 7, 2000 Antwerpen. Easily accessible by car, bike and public transport.

Find your way to The Beacon (Dutch - pdf) or on Google Maps

The coaches

Frederik Vincx

Frederik Vincx worked as a digital designer, had a start-up called Prezly and focusses now on social impact with his latest project Soulo. He’s a OSOC coach.
Nikolaas De Geyndt

Digital marketing expert with focus on brand, people and performance. Coaches and trains marketing teams looking for knowledge, challenge and drive.
Ine Dehandschutter

Digital designer & strategist, using design thinking she helps to give her clients new insights on their businesses. She has a soft spot for companies/organisations trying to better the world.
Gerrie Smits

Facilitator/Author/Keynote speaker/View from the outside. I get a kick out of both ‘mad’ tech like blockchain as well as understanding deep user needs.
Erik Willemse

As DOENKER, I try to think (DENKEN) about (digital) problems and do (DOEN) everything that is required to make solutions tangible and testable.
Jacqueline Gullion

15+ years of design, from finance & factories to silver tsunami. Blunt, lively, fond of Belgian fun facts. Mediocre FR & NL. Canadian EN.
Wouter Walgraeve

System and design thinker, keen on improving products and services, with a human centered mindset.
Tijs Vrolix

Strategist, service designer and author of All The Small Things. I help organisations large and small define and design better products and services.
Charlotte Van Cauteren

Marketing & Communication Professional, Trainer & Business Coach bij Leave a Mark with over 15 years of experience. Always in for strategic and/or project management, trainings & workshops for companies of all sizes.
Pieter Baert

I’m skilled in digital marketing, customer experience, online content and service innovation. My tools are empathy, analysis, creativity and stories.
Dennis Gommé

Freelance service and product designer with a background in computer science. Putting people first, designing for impact using technology as an enabler.