From Paper Prototype to Agential System

DATE & TIME

1 October 2026, 14:00 – 15:30

ROOM

Nightingale A

TRACKS

TRACK 5: Living Labs Operations, Methods, Tools, and Impact

Description

Participants will explore the design of a digital solution, starting with a paper prototyping process (framed by a domain-specific living lab method) to arrive at AI-assisted human-in-the-loop process design. They will reflect on the process and acquire practical experience of the prototype workshop and how it translates into corresponding digital solutions.

Agenda

Time*	Item
14:00 – 14:10	Problem introduction (PLENARY EXCHANGE) Facilitators present the context of the local digital twin training programme and open the floor for participants to surface their own assumptions and questions. Facilitator roles: Introduction of the Local Digital Twin concept and the training program, introducing the accessibility problem. Participant roles: Share their prior knowledge about design of digital tools.
14:10 – 14:15	Introduction to the DUSST working group Riccardo Saraco from Torino City Lab will present the Digital Urban Systems and Solutions for Transition Working Group as a co-leader.
14:15 – 14:35	Increasing accessibility (GROUP WORK) Working in small groups, participants use a learning journey canvas to map out what a non-expert user needs to understand and do at each stage. They build on pre-defined personas, which are provided by the hosts. Facilitator roles: Introduce personas and canvas, highlighting that it’s not about the outcome, but about understanding the process. They split the group into small groups and circulate between them to facilitate the discussion and keep the canvas work within the time bounds. Participant roles: Map the persona’s organization and personal needs, prior skills, motivation and other factors to the canvas, this way building an individual learning journey.
14:35 – 15:15	Translating to digital tool (PROTOTYPING) Groups turn their canvas insights into low-fidelity interface sketches, thinking through each step a user would take and what information an AI agent would need to collect along the way. Facilitator roles: Guide groups through the translation from journey steps to interface diagram to drafting input fields and writing micro-instructions. Introduce AI agent perspective: What (additional) data is needed and why. Participant perspective: Sketch paper prototype diagrams for journey steps. Write clear user instructions and annotate what an AI agent should extract from the response. Briefly present their prototype to the entire group.
15:15 – 15:30	Working with K8 digital solution (GROUP DISCUSSION) Participants compare their own prototypes against the deployed K8 solution, reconstructing the design decisions that were made and reflecting on what those choices reveal about real-world constraints. Facilitator roles: Demo K8’s existing solution. Steer discussion towards decisions made and living lab principles brought in. Synthesize key takeaways from the workshop. Participant roles: Identify where their own prototype diverges from K8 solution. Reflect on what they would revise.