This project focuses on addressing the challenges faced by Hemmakämpare, adults aged 18–66 experiencing home isolation due to factors such as mental health challenges, neuropsychiatric diagnoses, or social barriers. Thisproject focused on breaking this pattern by developing solutions that strengthen their ability to participate in society. Using service design methodologies, the project explores innovative solutions to match Hemmakämpare with suitable opportunities and facilitate their access to necessary support.
Client: Varbergs Municipality
Project time: 1 month, 2024
Tools:Miro, Service Blueprints, Ecosystem Mapping
Identification of key insights that shaped the solutions:
My contribution to formulating the five key insights was critical to the success of the project. Through a combination of research, analysis and empathy, I was able to distill complex challenges into concrete design guidelines. These insights guided the entire solution development and made the solution package both relevant and feasible.
Effective collaboration and communication with different actors:
The project involved stakeholders from different sectors - government, IT companies and support organisations. I contributed by creating a common understanding of the target audience's needs and gathering perspectives from all stakeholders. This collaborative approach not only identified critical pain points and gaps in the user journey, but also ensured that stakeholders were invested in the project and in developing practical and impactful solutions to the complex problem of hemmakämpare.
Holistic problem identification:
Through extensive dialogue with the various actors and stakeholders Hemmakämpare engages with, I was able to map and analyze the user journey within the complex support systems they navigate. Collaboratively, we utilized ecosystem maps and service blueprints to visualize the intricate network of relationships, challenges, and opportunities within this system. These tools not only enhanced our understanding of the problems but also served as powerful communication aids, aligning stakeholders around a shared perspective. This common understanding was instrumental in driving the project forward, enabling the co-creation of practical and impactful solutions that addressed both user and system needs
The project goals focus on identifying key barriers and opportunities within current processes and support systems. By addressing these, the aim is to establish connections between Hemmakämpare, relevant actors, and employment opportunities while developing sustainable solutions for long-term support.
Create solutions to connect Hemmakämpare with relevant actors and employment opportunities.
Provide necessary support and develop solutions for long-term support.
Understanding Barriers and Challenges
To understand the barriers and challenges faced by Hemmakämpare, we engaged with a range of actors and authorities from different sectors. These included public agencies, private companies and community organisations, each with unique insights into existing support systems and their gaps. Through interviews and collaborative sessions, we explored their processes, resources and pain points in addressing the needs of isolated people. This diverse collaboration helped shape our solutions and highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts.
These actors provided invaluable insights into the structural gaps and processes that Hemmakämpare must navigate to access support. Through their contributions, you can see the ecosystem maps and service blueprints that were created to visualise and understand the complex systems that hemmakämpare have to navigate.
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Private Companies and Employment Opportunities
In addition to public agencies, we reached out to private companies to explore potential employment pathways for Hemmakämpare. These companies offered perspectives on workplace inclusion, skill alignment, and tailored opportunities for individuals transitioning out of isolation. By mapping their approaches and requirements, we identified key opportunities for collaboration and innovative employment models.
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Connecting Insights to Solutions
This diverse engagement with public and private actors underscored the need for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach. The insights gained from these collaborations laid the foundation for the tailored solutions we developed, aligning systemic interventions with practical employment pathways. This approach bridges the gap between understanding challenges and implementing actionable solutions, leading directly into the key insights that guided our project.
Our research revealed many critical insights that guided the development of our solutions. The most important breakthrough was my understanding that the problem wasn't just at the point of interaction, but also before and after. This discovery made me able to map out five key areas adressing before, during, and after interactions with support systems. These insights reflect the core challenges and opportunities in supporting Hemmakämpare and formed the foundation of our solution packages.
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Early intervention is essential to prevent isolation, particularly among younger individuals transitioning from school. Many Hemmakämpare enter isolation due to a lack of support during critical moments in their lives. Proactive interventions in schools and community settings can address issues before they escalate.
Meaningful employment or activities play a vital role in helping Hemmakämpare reintegrate into society. Work environments must be flexible and adapted to their strengths and challenges, providing opportunities that align with their skills.
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Motivating Hemmakämpare to seek help is a challenge due to stigma and fear of judgement. Many individuals remain unaware of the resources available or feel apprehensive about accessing them. Solutions must focus on making resources accessible and visible to reduce barriers.
Navigating fragmented systems is overwhelming for many Hemmakämpare. A coordinated approach between agencies ensures that individuals receive timely and seamless support. Collaboration between social services, employment services and other stakeholders is crucial. System mapping identified key gaps and proposed integrated digital platforms to facilitate access to services.
Sustained progress requires ongoing support and feedback. If employment or activities do not match an individual's preferences, the likelihood of disengagement increases. Continuous evaluation ensures that Hemmakämpare remain motivated and included.
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Connecting Insights to Solutions
These five insights led to the development of our three solution packages. Each package addresses a specific aspect of the Home Fighters' journey, ensuring a comprehensive framework for lasting impact. The next section delves into these solutions and shows how they address the challenges identified by our research.
The solutions developed as part of this project are based on the findings of extensive research and collaboration. Each package of solutions is tailored to address a specific aspect of the Hemmakämpares journey, ensuring holistic support.
By focusing on early intervention, this package aims to adress isolation before it starts. Programmes such as Samstart and Handle-IT provide proactive support for young people transitioning from school, preventing critical gaps that often lead to isolation.
Recognising the importance of meaningful activities, this package provides pathways to employment and engagement. Initiatives such as Code X and Fuzed provide tailored opportunities based on individual skills and interests, promoting inclusion and motivation.
This package streamlines access to resources and provides coordinated support through a digital platform. The platform is designed to support Hemmakämpare by simplifying navigation through fragmented systems by clearly visualising and explaining the steps required to access help, thereby reducing stress, anxiety and complexity and increasing accessibility.
The Competence Matching project demonstrated how innovative design and collaboration can address complex societal challenges. By focusing on the unique needs of Hemmakämpare, we developed three comprehensive solution packages - prevention, support and employment - that offer practical pathways to inclusion and empowerment.
Through extensive research and co-creation with a range of stakeholders, including public agencies and private companies, the project highlighted the importance of early intervention, seamless support systems and tailored opportunities for meaningful engagement. Each lesson learned underscored the need for a human-centred approach to creating impactful solutions.
While the project serves as a conceptual framework for tackling isolation and underemployment, its success lies in its potential to inspire future initiatives that build on these foundations. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the Competence Matching project paves the way for a society that values and harnesses the potential of every individual.
Small steps for big changes
Dealing with complex societal challenges requires small, strategic steps. Instead of trying to solve everything at once, I learned the importance of developing realistic and meaningful solutions that can be built upon over time.
Insights are the key to effective solutions
Taking the time to really understand your target audience is invaluable. Through in-depth research, I was able to identify the five key insights that underpinned the solution package. These insights showed that users' real needs do not always match our initial assumptions.
Holistic thinking creates sustainable solutions
I learned the importance of designing for the entire service experience – before, during and after the user's interaction. It's not just about solving the immediate problem, but about creating a flow that supports the user throughout the process.
Collaborations strengthen the design process
By involving actors such as authorities and companies, I realized how important it is to build relationships and collect perspectives from different sides. It created trust and gave the project deeper legitimacy.
Visualization is a powerful tool
Using ecosystem maps and service blueprints was essential to understand and communicate complex relationships. These tools became not only a map for us designers, but also a bridge to communicate with stakeholders.
Flexibility trumps perfection
The target group had varied and often unexpected needs. I learned to be flexible in my design process and be open to tweaking solutions based on insights that emerged along the way.
Empathy as a driving force for design
Working with a vulnerable target group strengthened my understanding of how important empathy is in the design process. It is by understanding the user's feelings, needs and obstacles that we can create solutions that really make a difference.
The project Competence Matching has given me valuable experience in working with complex societal challenges and developing conceptual solutions based on deep insights. The five key insights and solution packages are just the beginning of what can be done to support this target group.
? If you are interested in reading more about the project in its entirety and our design process, the full project report is attached below.
! It is also gratifying to see that Umeå University has continued to work on this complex subject, inspired by our work and results. Their ongoing research builds on the solutions and insights that were formulated during this project. You can read about their work here:
