When knowledge protects: Taking the sting out of rental fraud

It was more than a workshop. It was a moment in which experience became expertise. Four Interface Wien clients, together with the Startbegleitung team, designed a multilingual preventative information sheet against rental fraud. The result is not ordinary informational material, but a tool for self-empowerment: clear, accessible, and vivid.

In a careful, participatory process, colors were chosen, icons were coordinated, content was refined, and wording was polished. The result is an infographic that conveys legal information and everyday tips not only in an understandable but also visually appealing way: How to identify the true owner of an apartment, why bank transfers protect your money, and why photos and witnesses are more valuable than any verbal assurance during apartment handovers.

This workshop was more than just design—it was lived participation. The voices of those affected were not only heard, but actively participated. Their perspectives became tools for prevention, their experiences guideposts. A powerful example of what empowerment can look like in practice—and how concern turns into the power to act.

Click here for the information sheet!