BLIMP | Urban Discovery Game

Blimp is a service design project that uses play to make everyday life in cities more enjoyable. It focuses on Kadıköy, Istanbul, and responds to issues like stress, social isolation, and the lack of free, accessible things to do in public spaces.

 

The project introduces themed walking routes that take people through the neighborhood in new and unexpected ways. Each route has a theme — like nature, food, history, or creativity — and invites people to look at familiar places differently.

​

Along the way, people come across “Little Blimps”: small physical markers placed in public spots. These act like clues in a city-wide game. People can scan them using a mobile app or their IstanbulCard and are prompted to do small tasks connected to each theme.

​

Blimp doesn’t try to change the city itself, but instead shifts how people move through it. The goal is to make daily routines more playful and to help people feel more connected to their surroundings.