Colu's City Currency: Designing Local Digital Economies
Adi Manko Fleisher drove the user experience and user interface design for Colu's city currency platform between 2018 and 2019.
Launched in 2017, Colu provides cities with a technological solution to incentivize local spending and civic engagement through a digital municipal currency. At its core, Colu's platform enables citizens to make payments, get rewarded for supporting local businesses, and drive positive impact within their communities.
As the lead product designer, Adi spearheaded the integration of the city currency concept into Colu's existing community app for Tel Aviv. In close collaboration with city partners like Belfast, her role involved conducting user research, workshopping localized reward campaigns, and deeply understanding each city's unique goals and pain points.
What is Colu’s city currency?
A digital municipal currency is a city-specific payment system designed to boost local economies and foster civic engagement. Unlike traditional money, it ensures funds stay within the city, supporting local businesses and strengthening community connections. Colu’s city currency empowers residents to pay for anything, anytime, anywhere—while driving a positive impact by keeping the economic flow within the city.
Wallet App
HOMEPAGE
Users can explore campaigns, deals, and ways to earn more city coins, all while contributing to their city’s economic and social vitality. The Colu Wallet app is designed to seamlessly integrate local spending and community engagement.
A CITY IN AN APP
Payments are just a tap away, ensuring effortless transactions. Businesses are displayed based on proximity, encouraging users to discover and support nearby local vendors.
REWARDS
Innovative design solutions were implemented, introducing card-based 'punch card' interfaces that tap into users' drive to complete rewards.
Implementing innovative design solutions, Adi introduced card-based "punch card" interfaces that leverage people's psychological drive to complete sets of rewards. She transitioned the app to an endless scrolling experience, providing a more exploratory feel when browsing local offers and incentives. The digital wallet and personalized reward cards took center stage on user home screens.
City payments and offer
Incentivizing user’s activity with rewards
CASE STUDY: BELFAST
Goal: Encourage a healthier lifestyle in Belfast while supporting local businesses in the city center.
Solution: Developed a reward system offering extra Colu city currency for visiting 10 local health shops, incentivizing citizens to adopt healthier habits.
Challenge: Motivate citizens to engage with health-focused local shops, such as gyms and yoga studios, while driving economic activity downtown.
Outcome: Increased foot traffic to local businesses, strengthened the downtown economy, and fostered a community-driven approach to wellness.
Keep It Green
Goal: Drive a green city impact that suits the citi’s goals
How: Reward citizens for keeping the city green and using green transportation
Pay with Colu
Be a payment partner with Bank account (segregated customer funds, operational) and link bank accounts instead of credit/debit cards
Good deeds
Drive social responsibility and impact by rewarding citizens for social activities
Everyday well being
Support physical and mental well being of students. Partner with City & employers/Universities around Green City goal