The municipality of Lelystad aims to develop the Stadshart into a vibrant, attractive and distinctive city centre that reflects both the city’s brand story and the everyday experiences of residents and visitors. This is not only about the physical design of public space, but above all about the identity, character and stories that give a place meaning.
To turn this ambition into reality, the municipality commissioned Mothership to develop a place-branding vision. As part of this, we created a white-spots plan: a strategic area analysis mapping opportunities, missing qualities and potential creative interventions throughout the Stadshart. The plan identifies where art, culture, participation and storytelling can help create a more attractive, recognisable and lively city centre.
One of the first projects to emerge from this vision is Lelystad superpowers. This participatory project translates the strategic principles of the white-spots plan into a tangible intervention in public space. Young people were invited to imagine the future of Lelystad by portraying themselves as superheroes in a place in the city that they believe deserves more attention. The selected designs will form a travelling exhibition in the Stadshart, making the ideas and dreams of a new generation literally visible.
About Lelystad superpowers
Lelystad superpowers grew out of the ambition to give young people an active role in the development of Lelystad’s Stadshart. Rather than simply working for young people, the municipality wanted to work with them to explore how the city centre could become more attractive, vibrant and future-proof.
Together with SPOT Lelystad, Mothership developed a creative participation project inviting young people to consider the question: “What superpower does Lelystad need?”
Instead of traditional surveys or consultation meetings, Mothership invited young people to express their ideas creatively. In just six weeks, almost 100 young people participated in the project. Using artificial intelligence (AI), they created personal portraits depicting themselves as superheroes in places in Lelystad that they felt deserved more attention, energy or change.
The decision to use AI was deliberate. Not everyone has the confidence, desire or ability to draw or design, but everyone has a story, an opinion or a dream for their city. AI made the creative process accessible to everyone, regardless of their artistic talent or design skills. At the same time, its use provided a valuable starting point for conversations about technology, creativity and the future, while the central question always remained:
“What superpower does Lelystad need?”
This resulted in an inclusive form of participation in which creativity depends not on artistic ability, but on ideas. Every participant gave the city their own superpower: from more opportunities to meet and connect to greener spaces, sport, safety, creativity and sustainability.
Looking ahead to the unveiling
On Thursday 29 October, the ten winning designs will be unveiled during a special event in Lelystad’s Stadshart. Alderman Sanne de Wilde will officially open the exhibition. From that moment onwards, the artworks will be on public display, showing how young people envision the future of their city.
Collaboration
Lelystad superpowers is an initiative of the municipality of Lelystad, developed by Mothership in close collaboration with SPOT Lelystad, Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet, Welzijn Lelystad, Citymarketing Lelystad, Flow Media and Sprankl Media. Thanks to the dedication of these partners and the creativity of almost 100 young people, a strategic place-branding vision is becoming a visible project in public space.
Follow us on Instagram as we count down to the unveiling of Lelystad superpowers in October 2026.