Team

Created by Locals . Powered by Locals

iDiscover is a meeting point for residents, businesses and travellers. All our walking routes are created by locals. This means that each itinerary is handcrafted by a local business, NGO, student or community group, and each map is illustrated by a local designer; with a little help from the iDiscover creative team.

Our team

Based across Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Rome, Urban Discovery is a creative team of experienced facilitators. We work with dedicated freelance editors, writers, graphic designers and translators who know how to make a city proud. We have developed easy-to-use templates to create a walking itinerary or neighbourhood guide in six simple steps. We can work with you to facilitate a community mapping project, design a customised map or create a branded interactive website.

Ester van Steekelenburg / Amsterdam / Co-Founder & Creative Director
Loes van Iperen / Amsterdam / Chief Editorial Content
Paul Schuttenbelt / Rome / Co-Founder & Business Strategy
Charlot Teng / Hong Kong / Urban Planner & Project Manager
Joshua Wholper / Hong Kong / Photographer & Filmmaker
Fanny Lau / Hong Kong / Editorial & CMS Support
Nadeesha Paulis / Colombo / Creative Writer
Devni Jay / Galle / Illustrator & Graphic Designer
Prathini Samaradivakara / Negombo / Researcher

Atheeq Ifthikar / Galle / Photographer & Filmmaker
Helia Vons / Amsterdam / Content Manager
You? / We're always on the lookout for contributors

This continues to be one of the best bottom-up, local heritage awareness efforts on the planet; and they keep adding more places.
— Donovan Rypkema, Heritage Strategies International, Washington DC

How we work

The iDiscover method offers an accessible and affordable solution to create thematic e-maps and digital walking trails. Through our fun mapping & storytelling projects we give youth a voice, residents a renewed sense of community and placemakers and planners a direct connection to their clients. Since 2015 we have collaborated with over 500 partners in 80 urban districts throughout Southeast Asia.

Want to know how you can map what matters in your neighbourhood, and piece personal stories together as beautiful and engaging walking routes? Check out the 6-step iDiscover methodology.

iDiscover creates beautiful projects to make the community more connected and valued.
— Yvonne De Suner Beltran, Banyan Tree Hotels

Create Your Own City Walk

You know what makes your neighbourhood unique. Map what matters, create your own journey and encourage others to follow in your footsteps. We can make your content work for our community of nearly half a million users across Southeast Asia. Once your itinerary is live, you get a dedicated QR code that brings people straight to your curated city walk.

We offer our platform for free to:


• NGOs . Non-Profits . Community Projects


• Airbnb Hosts . Urban Photographers . Writers & Wanderers

We have dedicated packages for:


• Schools & Universities

• Planners & Property Developers


• Boutique Hotels & Co-working Spaces

• Street Festivals & Urban Events

• Cultural Organisations & Museums

Interested?

We'd love to hear from you! We’re always on the lookout for new destinations and new partners. Reach out through our socials or send us an e-mail and let's explore how we can collaborate... -> i-discover@urbandiscovery.asia



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