7 December 2023
An attractive city requires citizen participation
In order for the labour-intensive green transition in the north to be feasible, northern Sweden must be an attractive region to live and work in. A research project in design at Luleå University of Technology aims to activate those who are themselves affected by the ongoing transition to design the societies of the future.
Research in design is about much more than just designing beautiful and functional things. Place design is about creating attractive, inclusive and sustainable living environments in collaboration with the people who live and work in a certain area.
In the People-powered transformation project, the researchers have brought together actors from the public sector, civil society and business who are affected by the living environment in a certain place. They have discussed the place's current situation and a future scenario for the place based on what they consider to be an attractive and well-functioning society. The aim has been to bring forth new ideas, develop new forms of collaboration and create participation – which in the long run provides legitimacy and democratic anchoring.
Young people's future visions
In another part of the project, focus groups consisting of young people in junior high school and high school from Luleå, Boden and Jokkmokk have been given the oppurtunity to share their future visions of their hometown.
“The results show that the participants feel they have had an opportunity to influence their own future. The administors at the urban planning offices say that the arrangement creates a completely different dialogue compared to ordinary citizen participation”, says Åsa Wikberg Nilsson, professor of design and project manager.
A final report has been submitted to Vinnova, which, together with the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas, has financed the project. People-powered transformation is one of 23 preparation projects from 98 applicants within Impact innovation, the next generation strategic innovation program in Sweden from the Energy Agency. Three to five of the projects will eventually become program offices from which organisations can apply for project funds in the areas of good and equal health, production, consumption and value chains, and well-functioning and attractive societies.
Expanded to all of Sweden
Now the researchers are looking for funds for a program office in which impact labs will be expanded to the whole of Sweden. The Design Impact program office can be compared with similar projects that have been implemented or are ongoing in other countries in the Nordics and Europe.
“The aim is to increase the understanding of and competence in design among industry players and authorities for how cooperation between different interest groups can be designed”, says Åsa Wikberg Nilsson.
Contact
Åsa Wikberg-Nilsson
- Professor and Head of Subject, Head of subject, Distinguished University Teacher
- 0920-491342
- asa.wikberg-nilsson@ltu.se
- Åsa Wikberg-Nilsson
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