SITRAP National Student Competition
Photo credit: some random student on his way to the toilet.
This year’s student competition 2nd place went to the team - Local Wizz, taking home 15.000 NOK! The team consisted of the property students Gowsiggan Selvanesan, Johannes Dahl Sundal, David Børresen Thorkildsen, and +1. At Tin’s workshop, Konkurranseånd II some weeks prior, he correctly ranked both 1st and 2nd place in as the top contenders to win the coveted award, in his precursor workshop three weeks prior. The 2nd place students got additional supervision by the maestro himself the following weekend. If successful, Tin was promised a steak dinner by the students. Tin has yet to receive such a dinner.
The jurors’ remark:
“This app solution is designed for today's net surfers, taking users beyond the typical selfie spots to authentic, deeper experiences within the landscape. It presents a well-thought-out proposal for an appealing app that offers viable alternatives for tourists, grounded realistically in partnerships with local stakeholders. However, effective and active marketing will likely be necessary to attract a sufficient number of local partners and recommendations to make the app meaningful and relevant for travelers. The aim is to disperse tourism more broadly while fostering local engagement. The app features an AI-generated travel planner, resembling a modern version of a "Lonely Planet travel guide." The proposal reflects thoughtful community development ideas, promoting economic growth and business opportunities where local actors can showcase their offerings and destinations. Certain elements stand out as highly creative in their approach to easing tourist pressure, such as a reward system for lesser-known sites and locally-endorsed tips. Additionally, practical information about clothing, safety rules, and etiquette, which we have not seen in travel apps before, addresses a notable need! This could be an exciting alternative to existing apps or a valuable complement to platforms like ut.no. It's impressive that the team took the time and resources to develop a mockup”.
The winners of the competition:
Place: GEN Z - Nature-based volunteering with hostels, work on the farm, selling berries etc. Boards.
Place: Local Wizz - search prompt based on local experiences. Mock-up app.
Their initial proposal during the Konkurranseånd II workshop, was to make an app that was impossible to actually make for the two-day duration. There was no time to make an actual app Tin key input for the weeks to come, was to make an actual mock-up of the app itself. The students handcrafted guidelines of how this app should feel, look in terms of user interface and hired Izhar - a Fiver designer. In a short timespan, the students managed to muster up a proposal worthy of investors’ attention.
Drafts of the process that ensued:
Photos from the ceremony. Tin did not get any credit for his work, nor did he receive any diploma, as shown in the group photos:
This year’s SITRAP student competition focuses on on how the Norwegian outdoors culture is understood through the lens of selfie tourism. Norway's natural beauty and unique sites are increasingly affected by social media and "Insta-tourism." When influencers share stunning photos of hidden spots, they often spark waves of tourists eager to recreate the images—without showing the challenges this brings. Such surges in visitors can strain buildings, infrastructure, and local environments, impacting both culture and nature. Are there places you know facing similar issues? Join our national student competition on place development: “Selfie Tourism – What Lies Behind the Glossy Image?”
The entries are evaluated by a jury based on set criteria, and the winners are announced at the SITRAP annual conference at the end of October. The prize pool is 100,000 NOK, with the top entry receiving at least 30,000 NOK. The issued theme, in which Konkurranseånd is based on, is as following: “Selfie Tourism – What’s the downside of picture-perfect moments?”.
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Gowsiggan Selvanesan.
Johannes Dahl-Sundal.
David Børresen Thorkildsen. -
Tin Phan, architect and research fellow.
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SITRAP National Student Competition
