No. 06
UI Design
Tekenomie
A “human-powered” local currency designed to foster community connection and sustainable living in BoTu, Rotterdam. The app concept empowers a diverse neighbourhood to keep economic value local.
Role
Visual Designer, Brand Designer
Timeline
6 weeks
Team
Aartee Shingan, Cristiana Stefanescu, Nathan Stuger
Year
2024
The problem & the user
The Challenge
BoTu (Bospolder-Tussendijken) is one of Rotterdam’s most socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The Huis van de Toekomst initiative challenged us to develop a “human-powered” solution that could bridge cultural diversity and economic empowerment, keeping value within the community rather than letting it flow outward.
The User
BoTu residents include a diverse mix of cultures and digital literacy levels. They share a strong sense of local pride, despite living in multiple distinct communities.
In numbers
21%
of BoTu household incomes are below Rotterdam city average.
14K
residents, yet research shows that informal bartering networks remain siloed.
15%
of the Dutch population struggle with complex digital services.
The approach & process
01
Research & Discovery
Intensive ideation workshops helped us define “human-powered”. We then conducted field research and resident interviews in BoTu, which revealed a strong preference for a mobile-first solution. Inspired by giving the community something they can own and control, we explored transition towns and discovered the concept of local digital currencies as a vehicle for community-driven economics.
02
Ideation & Wireframing
We developed a simple sitemap so we could focus on delivering an MVP and testing it quickly. To enable testing, we also produced low-fidelity wireframes for our key user journeys, keeping the interface straightforward, geared to all ages & levels of digital literacy.
03
Prototyping & User Testing
We took prototypes directly to BoTu residents for in-context testing, gathering feedback to refine accessibility and usability. Feedback focused on making NFC-based transactions feel as intuitive as handing over physical cash, and protecting the community through invite-only access.
04
Brand Guidelines
To reflect BoTu’s diverse makeup, the brand identity was crafted to evoke a true sense of belonging. By adopting a primary red shared by the Turkish, Surinamese, and Moroccan flags, the design system pays homage to the neighbourhood’s largest communities. This theme of connection is echoed in the logo: individual circles forming a unified ring, representing distinct cultures coming together to build a resilient local economy.
The solution
The app goes beyond simple transactions. It turns everyday chores into an act of community participation.
Onboarding
Following our interviews, access is invite-only: new members join through a referral and invite code, while existing members log in directly.
Home
The home screen shows the user’s token balance (tekens) prominently at the top. Quick actions for Tap (NFC interaction), Send, Receive, and Settings sit below. Recent transactions are also available at a glance.
Tap
Tap is the core NFC interaction. Users set a value with the +/− controls, choose Send or Receive, then tap phones to transfer, making digital currency feel as tangible as cash.
Activity
Each entry shows the sender or recipient, transaction type, timestamp, amount, and balance after, giving residents a complete trail of their local economic activity.
Barter
Offer or find goods and services within the community. Residents can filter by category and time sensitivity. Further, they can also create new offers/help requests with the prominent + button, turning everyday skills and surplus into local value.
Profile
The user profile utilises subtle gamification to turn everyday interactions into a sense of local pride. A progress bar and tiered level system naturally incentivise participation. Personalised motivational cards celebrate the user’s impact, while activity-based achievements encourage residents to develop new skills and establish their unique niche within the BoTu economy.
Onboarding
Following our interviews, access is invite-only: new members join through a referral and invite code, while existing members log in directly.
Home
The home screen shows the user’s token balance (tekens) prominently at the top. Quick actions for Tap (NFC interaction), Send, Receive, and Settings sit below. Recent transactions are also available at a glance.
Tap
Tap is the core NFC interaction. Users set a value with the +/− controls, choose Send or Receive, then tap phones to transfer, making digital currency feel as tangible as cash.
Activity
Each entry shows the sender or recipient, transaction type, timestamp, amount, and balance after, giving residents a complete trail of their local economic activity.
Barter
Offer or find goods and services within the community. Residents can filter by category and time sensitivity. Further, they can also create new offers/help requests with the prominent + button, turning everyday skills and surplus into local value.
Profile
The user profile utilises subtle gamification to turn everyday interactions into a sense of local pride. A progress bar and tiered level system naturally incentivise participation. Personalised motivational cards celebrate the user’s impact, while activity-based achievements encourage residents to develop new skills and establish their unique niche within the BoTu economy.
Results
The Outcome
More than a payment tool, Tekenomie fosters resource sharing, strengthens local connections, and encourages a more communal way of living inspired by transition towns.
Impact
1
Community Choice Award (Huis van de Toekomst jury)
75%
of residents felt that the NFC transfer felt as intuitive as cash
100%
Designed to be owned and operated by BoTu
Reflection & learnings
What I learned
Designing for financial services in a socio-economically diverse context is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Building a brand that resonates with multiple communities simultaneously requires listening, observation and a willingness to let the community’s story shape the design.
Changes I’d make
If starting again, I would invest more time in co-design sessions directly with BoTu residents, not just for user testing, but for ideation. I would also explore the technical feasibility of NFC integration earlier in the process to ensure the “tap to trade” vision could be fully realised within the project timeline.