Young 2.0
Young 2.0 is a research study on young people's leisure habits and leisure needs with regard to inclusion and an attractive living environment in Piteå municipality, in northern Sweden.
The research project Ung 2.0 was carried out in 2022 in a collaboration between Piteå municipality and researchers at Luleå University of Technology, together with participating school pupils of the age 7-9 in Piteå.
The project aimed to explore young people's leisure activities and how these affect their experience of inclusion and an attractive living environment. The study was based on a current situation of young people's participation in – and experiences of – existing services in Piteå municipality and their thoughts and ideas about future services to make Piteå a city they want to stay and live in. By investigating different aspects of leisure activities and inclusive design, the project aimed to contribute with knowledge about what inclusion and attractive living environment for young people can be in Piteå.
Theory and Method
The theoretical perspectives that are the basis for understanding young people's leisure interests and future dreams are sociological, inclusive design and norm-critical perspectives that allow us to understand how different societal factors affect young people's living conditions and opportunities. Sociological theories provide an understanding of how young people's leisure interests and future dreams are related to their social environment and how they are affected by different societal structures. Inclusive design perspectives provide an understanding of how design processes can be adapted to take into account different needs and conditions, with the aim of creating a more equal society. The norm critical perspective provides an understanding of how norms and expectations affect young people's choices and opportunities, and how this can limit their future dreams. By using these different theoretical perspectives, we aim to provide a broader and deeper knowledge of young people's leisure interests and future dreams and how they are affected by different factors.
The method for the project has been analysis of data from questionnaires, as well as co-design sessions in the form of now-wow-how workshops with norm-critical and norm-creative activities. Human Work Science has conducted analysis of existing survey data and the Design Group has developed material, conducted and made subsequent analysis of the generative design sessions with young people.
Findings
The vast majority of young people in Piteå are satisfied with their leisure time, but they lack social meeting places “to hang out” and a wider range of sports, cultural and entertainment activities that do not cost so much to perform and are easy to get to.
“The general image of Piteå is a man drinking beer and ´strutting´ in a doodlebug tractor. To achieve a more inclusive and attractive Piteå, there must be room for other images of the city”, says Åsa Wikberg Nilsson, professor of design at Luleå University of Technology.
The researchers emphasise that young people are not a homogeneous group but consist of individuals with many different experiences and conditions, which is important to keep in mind in order to be able to implement the right measures.
“More knowledge is needed about young people's living conditions and opportunities and more studies where co-creation of solutions takes place together with young people. Examples could be further studies where young people are involved in designing the service offering all the way until new activities, places and/or events are in place in Piteå, as well as more studies that examine patterns in intersectional factors at both the individual and group level”, says Åsa Wikberg Nilsson.
Research Team
Åsa Wikberg Nilsson, Professor of Design
Mats Jakobsson, senior lecturer in work science
Liv-Jenny Sandberg, PhD student in design
Updated: