Bygdens Platform
Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Kronoberg
Bygdens Platform is a digital platform concept developed in collaboration with local stakeholders in Lidhult, a small village in southern Sweden. The project addresses how UX design can foster meaningful community engagement and long-term participation in sustainability initiatives within rural areas, while also improving communication and trust between villages, municipalities and regional actors.
Sweden’s rural areas face challenges with depopulation, reduced services and lack of representation. At the same time, local associations and individuals are working hard to keep their community vibrant. This Project asks:
“How can UX design, through co-creation, foster meaningful community engagement and long-term participation in sustainability initiatives within rural areas of Kronoberg?”
”How can a digital platform foster trust and improve communication between regions, municipalities, and villages?”
By addressing both community driven needs and institutional gaps, the platform aims to become a bridge for collaboration and visibility.
The project combines qualitative interviews, quantitative research, co-creation sessions and usability testing with residents and stakeholders. Visual and functional prototypes were created in an iterative design process informed by real user insights.
The central insights were the importance of trust and the need for clear accessible communication tools that represent and amplify rural voices. A folder for newcomers and a QR-code-based local info board already existed in Lidhult, these became the foundation for the digital prototype.
Key Features
- A local forum open for all, categorized into themes like events, buy & sell and questions
- A public services page, acting as a hub for navigating relevant regional websites
- A curated space for local businesses and associations
- A visual style that reflects the identity of the village while remaining intuitive and accessible
The prototype was iteratively developed through usability testing with participants. Based on feedback, I improved interface clarity, simplified navigation and added interactive elements like hover effects.
Aesthetic decisions, like using photographs of Lidhult enhanced with soft illustrations instead of images of real people, were made with ethical considerations in mind, respecting privacy and offering an inclusive yet personal visual language that reflects vibrancy and activity.
“Good design is as little design as possible” – Dieter Rams
This principle guided my work throughout the creation of Bygdens Platform. The goal was not to reinvent rural life, but to support it gently, to create a tool that respects existing structures, makes participation easier and stays in the background.
The platform is designed to be simple, intuitive and empowering, allowing the community’s voice and identity to take center stage.
Going forward, the project envisions a broader regional implementation. Future steps include organizing study groups and workshops in other villages to explore need, co-create relevant content and facilitate digital literacy. These participatory sessions would be key in adapting Bygdens Platform to each unique context, promoting a scalable model for rural development.
Bygdens Platform is not just a website, it is a tool for empowerment, a symbol of collaboration and a digital infrastructure designed to cultivate sustainable, resilient rural communities.
https://youtu.be/uJYc9cTgyp8?si=mVFF9D3FaRWGtGNc
