The Cura Collective
The Cura Collective
The Cura Collective
Role
Role
User Research, User Interviews, Prototyping, Experience Design
User Research, User Interviews, Prototyping, Experience Design
Course
Course
Service Design, CIID
3 Weeks, March 2025
Service Design, CIID
3 Weeks, March 2025
Tools
Tools
Figma, Reduct
Figma, Reduct
What is Cura Collective?
What is Cura Collective?
The Cura Collective was a three-week project in a service design course led by Marcia Aricó, Mayo Nissen, and Manali Mohanty. The team explored service interventions in housing in Bergamo, with a focus on communal housing and co-living. Through interviews with residents, property managers, agencies, and housing experts—alongside field visits to communal housing spaces in Milan and Bergamo—they identified that people often underestimate the value of communal living until they experience it, and that a strong community requires more than shared space; it needs structured interactions and engagement.
The Cura Collective was a three-week project in a service design course led by Marcia Aricó, Mayo Nissen, and Manali Mohanty. The team explored service interventions in housing in Bergamo, with a focus on communal housing and co-living. Through interviews with residents, property managers, agencies, and housing experts—alongside field visits to communal housing spaces in Milan and Bergamo—they identified that people often underestimate the value of communal living until they experience it, and that a strong community requires more than shared space; it needs structured interactions and engagement.
Defination of our service, The Cura Collective.
Ideating on how the service needs to be provided to the users.
Design Principle
Design Principle
Cura Collective was built on the principle that sustainable communal living depends not only on shared spaces but also on structured, consistent opportunities for interaction and collaboration. The design aimed to create a community-building system that fosters meaningful connections, shared responsibilities, and a sense of belonging.
Cura Collective was built on the principle that sustainable communal living depends not only on shared spaces but also on structured, consistent opportunities for interaction and collaboration. The design aimed to create a community-building system that fosters meaningful connections, shared responsibilities, and a sense of belonging.
We interviewed Marta and her husband Francesco who lives in social housing complex called Cenni in Milan.
Defination of our service, The cura Collective.
Defination of our service, The cura Collective.
Marco, a realtor told us about his experiences and challenges on how to provide customer the right place.
Ideating on how the service needs to be provided to the users.
Ideating on how the service needs to be provided to the users.
We interviewed Marta and her husband Francesco who lives in social housing complex called Cenni in Milan.
Marco, a realtor told us about his experiences and challenges on how to provide customer the right place.
An excerpt from our testing Session, We tested with Anja who focuses on providing student accomodation in Milan and Bergamo.
We interviewed Marta and her husband Francesco who lives in social housing complex called Cenni in Milan.
Marco, a realtor told us about his experiences and challenges on how to provide customer the right place.
An excerpt from our testing Session, We tested with Anja who focuses on providing student accomodation in Milan and Bergamo.
TactiQuest is an AR-based app designed to help kids aged 12–16 learn football tactics in a
A step-by-step overview of the Cura Collective’s process, including a clear breakdown of the workflow into three distinct categories.
A step-by-step overview of the Cura Collective’s process, including a clear breakdown of the workflow into three distinct categories.
TactiQuest is an AR-based app designed to help kids aged 12–16 learn football tactics in a
Step 1: Once you find accomodation in the Cura Community, Explore all the documents and then you opt-in into this service.
Step 1: Once you find accomodation in the Cura Community, Explore all the documents and then you opt-in into this service.
TactiQuest is an AR-based app designed to help kids aged 12–16 learn football tactics in a
Step 2: Once you are into the service, you are given Task by Receiving a ticket On your doorstep and then you meet at the Community to discuss what to do next.
Step 2: Once you are into the service, you are given Task by Receiving a ticket On your doorstep and then you meet at the Community to discuss what to do next.
TactiQuest is an AR-based app designed to help kids aged 12–16 learn football tactics in a
Step 3: Every month you receive progress report on how the community has grown and what places needs improvement.
Step 3: Every month you receive progress report on how the community has grown and what places needs improvement.
How it Works?
How it Works?
Based on research insights, the team designed a system where residents work together to maintain their shared spaces while building stronger social ties. Residents receive task assignments, track their completion, and contribute toward a collective community reward. The process culminates in a monthly celebration to recognize contributions and achievements, reinforcing participation and cohesion.
Key touchpoints included:
Onboarding packet to introduce new residents to the system
Task tickets for clear and fair distribution of responsibilities
Miniature model of the Cura Community Plaza as a visual anchor for the concept
Completion/progress posters to track collective achievements
Based on research insights, the team designed a system where residents work together to maintain their shared spaces while building stronger social ties. Residents receive task assignments, track their completion, and contribute toward a collective community reward. The process culminates in a monthly celebration to recognize contributions and achievements, reinforcing participation and cohesion.
Key touchpoints included:
Onboarding packet to introduce new residents to the system
Task tickets for clear and fair distribution of responsibilities
Miniature model of the Cura Community Plaza as a visual anchor for the concept
Completion/progress posters to track collective achievements
A step-by-step overview of the Cura Collective’s process, including a clear breakdown of the workflow into three distinct categories.
Step 1: Once you find accomodation in the Cura Community, Explore all the documents and then you opt-in into this service.
Step 2: Once you are into the service, you are given Task by Receiving a ticket On your doorstep and then you meet at the Community to discuss what to do next.
Step 3: Every month you receive progress report on how the community has grown and what places needs improvement.
TactiQuest is an AR-based app designed to help kids aged 12–16 learn football tactics in a
Key Learnings
Key Learnings
User testing with three participants provided valuable feedback on service flow and usability. Findings emphasized:
Clearly stating all assumptions to avoid misunderstandings
Gradually easing users into the system with more context and information
Designing for real-world scenarios to ensure practicality and sustainability
The project strengthened skills in research synthesis, mapping, and prototyping, demonstrating the importance of turning complex research into clear, actionable service design. Ultimately, Cura Collective showed how structured engagement can help make communal living more sustainable and socially rewarding.
User testing with three participants provided valuable feedback on service flow and usability. Findings emphasized:
Clearly stating all assumptions to avoid misunderstandings
Gradually easing users into the system with more context and information
Designing for real-world scenarios to ensure practicality and sustainability
The project strengthened skills in research synthesis, mapping, and prototyping, demonstrating the importance of turning complex research into clear, actionable service design. Ultimately, Cura Collective showed how structured engagement can help make communal living more sustainable and socially rewarding.
An excerpt from our testing Session, We tested with Anja who focuses on providing student accomodation in Milan and Bergamo.
2025 Sahil Islam. All Rights Reserved
2025 Sahil Islam. All Rights Reserved