We redesigned Axpo's Power Switcher to make complex Swiss energy scenarios understandable for both experts and the general public. Through user-centered design, we created a responsive tool that brings transparency to the energy discussion.
Switzerland faces a defining challenge: What should the energy supply of the future look like? The debate is complex, while there's broad support for renewable energy and climate goals, opinions diverge sharply on implementation. Nuclear power divides the nation, and renewable projects often face local opposition. Which technology mix best meets the requirements for climate friendliness, security of supply, and affordability? These questions require an informed societal discussion based on facts.
Axpo developed the Power Switcher for this purpose, an innovative tool for modeling the electricity mix of the future. The first version was primarily aimed at experts and energy professionals. Our mandate was to redesign the tool so that both specialists and the interested public could understand, compare, and create their own energy scenarios for 2050. The challenge was to make highly complex energy data accessible without oversimplifying it, while ensuring the tool remained powerful enough for expert analysis.
Through intensive expert interviews, we first developed a deep understanding of Switzerland's energy composition and its complexities. We then created and tested prototypes iteratively with energy professionals, learning which information matters most and how to visualize it effectively.
Working in close collaboration with Axpo's team and their developers, we ensured seamless integration of design and technical implementation throughout the entire development process. This collaborative approach allowed us to rapidly iterate, validate solutions, and create a tool that balances visual clarity with technical sophistication.
Based on these insights, we created simplified visualizations that highlight each scenario's key features against today's energy baseline. Users can immediately grasp the scale of change needed, for example, a 500% increase in wind turbines or varying assumptions about future energy demand. We expanded the tool with essential features: a comparison mode for side-by-side scenario analysis (requested by both Axpo and validated through our user interviews), interactive energy mix visualizations, a challenges section highlighting trade-offs, and transparent cost breakdowns. Special focus on responsive design ensures seamless use on both desktop and mobile.
The redesigned Power Switcher at powerswitcher.axpo.com offers three modes: Viewer Mode for the general public with clear scenario presentations, Expert Mode for professionals with detailed customization options, and Comparison Mode for direct side-by-side scenario analysis. Each scenario page shows energy mix projections for 2050, demand vs. production analysis, breakdowns by source, challenges, and cost comparisons.
The redesigned Power Switcher successfully bridges the gap between expert analysis and public understanding. It enables a broad audience to explore fact-based scenarios and grasp the complexity of our energy future, while experts can develop their own scenarios and adjust various parameters of energy production.
Our user-centered approach ensured that the tool meets the needs of both informed citizens and energy professionals. By making complex energy scenarios accessible and understandable, the Power Switcher makes a valuable contribution to the societal discussion about Switzerland's energy future, fostering informed debate on one of the most important decisions facing the country.
