The project “Storymaps on Social-Ecological Transformation in Cities in Asia” was developed for the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Vietnam office to communicate urban climate and energy transitions in an accessible and engaging format. The objective was to transform complex city-level data from five pilot cities into an interactive storytelling platform that enables intuitive comparison, thematic exploration, and broader public engagement.

Beyond visualization, the project aimed to connect diverse themes related to climate action, energy transition, and urban transformation through a coherent narrative structure. Improving accessibility and usability was central to ensuring the platform could serve as an effective communication and advocacy tool for urban issues in Vietnam.

Our team redesigned and rebuilt the interactive map within a storytelling platform, transforming it into a dynamic digital communication tool. This included rewriting and restructuring content to create a coherent and compelling narrative that integrates key data, thematic insights, and project experiences from multiple cities. The user interface was enhanced to improve clarity, accessibility, and overall user experience. We programmed interactive features such as dynamic graphs, quizzes, prompts, and comparative visual elements to facilitate engagement and intuitive understanding of city-level data. Comprehensive testing was conducted to ensure content accuracy, functionality, responsiveness, and visual quality, including user testing for refinement. Following launch, we provided four months of technical support and conducted training sessions to equip FES staff with the knowledge and skills required to operate, update, and maintain the platform independently.

The Storymap platform serves as a powerful communication and advocacy tool that translates technical urban climate data into accessible, engaging insights for policymakers, stakeholders, and the broader public. By combining data visualization with interactive storytelling, the platform strengthens awareness of social-ecological transformation pathways and enables comparative understanding across cities.

Through capacity building and post-launch support, the project ensures long-term sustainability of the platform, empowering FES Vietnam to continuously use and update the tool as part of its urban climate and energy dialogue initiatives.