Smoties project developed: a green mobility project around the industrial heritage of the Dorlay Valley’s textile industry inspired by the old “Galoche” train line. A cycle and pedestrian path that could be used by both inhabitants and tourists.
In addition, the designers came up with graphic materials to communicate on soft mobility and the valley’s textile heritage, including a “sensitive” map of the valley that is the result of collaborative work with local residents; temporary signage that draws attention to heritage sites; postcards and mobility laces (made locally at the Musée des tresses et lacets) that use different-coloured threads to show our current modes of transport.
On 17 September 2023, during the European Heritage Days and France Design Week, the project was presented and tested by the public (residents and visitors). Around fifty participants discovered the industrial heritage of the Dorlay Valley by bike or on foot thanks to temporary signposting.
Impact measuring creative tool we used was a panel designed to gather information from users of the soft mobility trail. We drew up an oversized survey based around a graphic design that mapped out a trail that participants had just finished traveling.
The questionnaire panel worked well to gather feedback from users/ testers of the trail on the day of the event about the mode of transport used and the appreciation of the valley’s heritage. The limits of this tool are perhaps in the questions that must be answered quickly, without the possibility of a variety of answers.