Kraftoria. From a post-industrial space to a community hub. The role of communication design in shaping a dynamic and participatory place identity.

How can visual design foster engagement within a community?

Emerging from the observation that branding is no longer a monologue, the thesis investigates the brand as a living organism—one that transforms alongside the community it
represents. The research explores the potential of dynamic and participatory visual identity to cultivate emotional and social engagement within a community.

Set against the backdrop of increasing loneliness and the need for post-industrial space revitalisation, the research culminates in Kraftoria—a speculative yet grounded application of participatory branding to a real site, an old disused brewery. Conceived as a community hub centred on craftsmanship, Kraftoria operates in seasonal cycles and continuously adapts, moves, and morphs according to community needs. A typographic system and a community voting mechanism influence both the logotype and the activation of the hub’s areas, positioning branding as a platform for participation rather than mere promotion.

While remaining conceptual, Kraftoria acts as a meaningful experiment that imagines how spaces can be designed not only for people, but with them —helping rebuild relationships, identities, and shared futures.