The project

What is SIkkom?

Sikkom is a hyperlocal media outlet based in Groningen, operating as a subbrand of the recently rebranded NDC Mediagroep. It engages its audience through a dynamic website and active social media channels, delivering compelling articles about the latest happenings in the city.

The challenge

What problem did we try to solve?

Sikkom expressed challenges with relying on external media channels, such as Instagram and Facebook—where they had the most reach—but lacked control. While their website was within their control, it provided limited metrics, making it difficult to measure audience engagement effectively. To address these issues, we identified a significant opportunity to develop a tailored product that strengthens Sikkom's direct engagement with its audience while simultaneously creating value through partnerships with local entrepreneurs. This lead to the following design-challenge:

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Can we enhance Sikkom's interaction with its readers by developing a custom mobile application that adds value for both its readers and partners?

The solution

What was the proposed solution?

After conducting interviews with stakeholders and the project manager, we determined that Sikkom wanted to develop a customized mobile application. The concept would include the following features:

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• Personalized Content: Readers would receive content tailored to their interests through an algorithmic recommendation system.
• Gamification: Readers could earn rewards for reading content and engaging with Sikkom, which could be redeemed at local businesses.
• Transparency of Data: The app would provide readers with clear insights into the data being used.
• User Feedback & Algorithm: Readers could give feedback on the content and "swipe" articles they enjoy, helping to refine the recommendation algorithm.

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The process

The design-thinking process

We adopted a design-thinking methodology, starting with the problem definition. To ensure the platform would create meaningful impact for Sikkom, it was crucial to align our design challenge with the core problem we aimed to solve.

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Research

Design requirements for the concept

As part of the research, we defined design requirements that outlined the key criteria the concept needed to meet. These requirements were based on insights gathered from literature and interviews with stakeholders and potential users.

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