Street Revolution
Team Leader
Abstract
When Israel’s far-right government announced in January 2023 its intended judicial coup aimed at neutralizing the judiciary branch, I gathered a team of 15 developers, designers, and product managers in order to build a product that would get people out into the streets to protest.
My Contribution
I am interested in finding ways to help people conceive of some of the "grand" issues that impact social and political life. Conceptualizing, executing, and launching an AR experience application regarding the establishment of democratic values was, for me, the essence of it. When I first entered the Hackathon for Democracy, we shared a vision: a vast augmented mural flying above protesters at the main street junction of Tel Aviv - Kaplan crossroads. Sharing our vision attracted curious professionals to join, and Street Revolution was funded.
The Project
Though 500K worried citizens had already taken to the streets to protest, we needed more. To create a true impact, we wanted to encourage more people to protest, focusing our target audience on the swinging mill, liberal but not as actively involved. I thought that minor interactions, in compelling experiences out on the streets, can attract and eventually trigger bigger actions, such as taking it to the streets.
We launched an AR mini-site that made street signs morph into the names of far-right extremists, offering a quick glimpse of what life under a dictatorship might look like. The effect was strong. People were shocked and amused. One small visualization hack helped turn “dictatorship” into a relatable, and most importantly, actionable concept.
