Design Case Studies

“What If Urban Trees Could Talk?”

This initiative was part of an EKA IxD Service Design project, undertaken in collaboration with Tallinn’s Strategic Office. 

It focused on preserving urban trees by harnessing Tallinn’s Digital Twin: an evolving virtual model of the city that can display and predict various aspects of urban life.

Together with my fellow students from the IxD.ma master’s program we interviewed architects, landscape architects, and city planners to understand how data gaps and collaboration shortfalls led to avoidable root damage and missed opportunities in green-space management.

The Challenge

Urban trees are frequently at risk during building projects. Roots are damaged by digging, new pipes get placed too close to trunks, and crucial green infrastructure can be overlooked. Existing data on underground networks and tree-growth patterns was scattered. City departments, landscape architects, and contractors needed a common platform to see all this information at once.

Our Approach

Interviews & Insights:

We spoke with architects, landscape architects, and city planners to understand their workflow challenges.

Digital Twin Integration:

The Digital Twin let us simulate how trees grow above and below ground. This helped in visualizing future canopies and root systems.

User Journeys:

 We mapped out the steps each professional (and city official) would take, ensuring that permit approvals and construction planning always included tree-preservation data.

Key Results

Informed Decisions:

With reliable simulations, city officials can issue building permits that consider a tree’s future growth.

Collaboration:

Multiple departments access the same data, reducing errors and saving time.

Tree Preservation:

Contractors know exactly where pipes and cables should go, minimizing harm to root systems.

Outcome

By proactively studying how trees grow, we can avoid damaging them during construction, saving both money and the city’s natural canopy. The project underscores that strategic data-sharing leads to better urban planning and helps keep our green spaces alive and flourishing.

Designing the Estonian President’s Christmas Card

Every year, the Office of the President of Estonia invites submissions for the official Christmas card. Having been invited to participate in this competition, I began by reviewing previous presidential Christmas cards for insight into the visual and thematic traditions. The goal was to create a piece that would resonate with people in challenging times, while also reflecting the President’s values and the spirit of the season.

Concept Development

Inclusivity and Generations:

I felt strongly that the card should highlight people of different ages, to underscore the idea that everyone’s voice and contribution matter. In an aging society, it’s crucial to remain mindful of ways to keep all generations engaged and valued.

Hope as a Key Theme:

Given the global and local social climate, “hope” emerged as a guiding concept. People needed a reminder that even in difficult times, there is a promise of better days ahead.

Visual Symbolism: 

Snow and Light: I chose to depict individuals reaching out to the first snowflakes falling from the sky. This motif represents both freshness and the renewal of faith in the future. The gentle transition from darker shades on the card’s back to a lighter front symbolizes a journey from darkness to light—mirroring the communal hope that tomorrow can be brighter than today.

Design Approach

Warm, Collage-Like Illustration:

I drew upon my strength in illustrating human figures to create a collage that feels welcoming and relatable. Each figure has small, hidden details that reflect individuality, suggesting that every person carries a unique story and something valuable to offer.

Color Palette and Composition:

The transition in brightness across the card underscores the shift from night to day, or from uncertainty to clarity. The composition focuses on people reaching upward, which visually enforces the idea of aspiration.

Subtle Narrative Elements:

 Beyond the main imagery, I placed understated design flourishes that tie into the spirit of community. These might not be immediately noticeable but reward closer inspection, reinforcing a sense of connectedness and discovery.

Technical Execution and Brand Alignment

Collaboration With the President’s Office:

After my design was chosen, I worked closely with the Office of the President to finalize the card’s layout, ensuring it adhered to official visual guidelines.
Part of the responsibility involved preparing the print-ready files in accordance with the presidential CVI standards. This included correct placement and sizing of the official logo, color consistency, and adjusting for the correct print specifications.

Outcome & Impact

The President referenced the card and its message of hope in his New Year’s speech, which aired on national television.
The card’s focus on unity and possibility resonated with many Estonians. Messages of encouragement and the idea of intergenerational solidarity were shared both in the media and among the public.
This project demonstrated how design can connect generations and offer a sense of hope in challenging times. It showed that art and design can play a meaningful role in bringing people together and supporting a shared sense of purpose.

Photo Credit: Raigo Pajula / Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia