Once the purpose and objectives were defined, the next challenge was designing the structure. Our goal was to create a logical, easy-to-navigate format that guided users through the process of understanding resilience and applying the strategies in their own cities. Also, it would have to keep a good balance between flexibility and firmness in terms of the time plan and methods to implement in the workshops.
Building the Framework
We started by mapping out key content areas and asking ourselves:
- What are the essential building blocks of urban resilience?
- How can we use Minecraft in a meaningful way?
- What guidance do young people and city officials need at different stages?
- How can we organise the content in a way that flows naturally?
Through multiple iterations and discussions, we settled on five core sections:
- Introduction – Background on urban resilience, youth participation, and why this toolkit was created.
- Key Concepts & Frameworks – A breakdown of resilience principles and participatory city planning.
- Action Steps – A detailed, step-by-step guide for trainers to hold workshops with young people and city officials to co-develop resilience strategies.
- Case Studies – Real-world examples of successful youth-led and municipal resilience initiatives.
- Tools & Resources – Practical worksheets, checklists, and templates to support implementation.
This structure ensured a balance between background knowledge, practical guidance, and hands-on tools.
Creating a User-Friendly Experience
A toolkit is only useful if people can actually engage with it. To make the Resilient Cities Toolkit accessible and practical, we prioritised:
- Clear, jargon-free language. We avoided overly academic or technical terms to make the toolkit easy to understand.
- Modular design. Users wouldn’t have to read the entire toolkit in order; they could jump to sections relevant to them.
- Visual elements. We incorporated infographics, icons, and colour-coded sections to make navigation intuitive.
- Checklists and exercises. Instead of just providing information, we designed interactive elements to help users apply the content in real-life scenarios.
YEPP