Welcome to Sweden – A project that explores if visual language can facilitate entry into Swedish society for preliterate

During the fall of 2015, Sweden had the biggest incoming refugee wave since 1992, over 150 000 people searched for refuge in Sweden, unfortunately it will not be the last. Using 2015 as a case study, I explore the question: Can visual language facilitate entry into Swedish society for preliterate?

The process concluded in an app called Welcome to Sweden, whose content is reflected at Malmö Central Station.

While designing the app, the methods to reach out to preliterate were taken in to account. The information is provided in visual language as well as audio, and translated into the most common languages of those who came to Sweden 2015. The app is not the whole solution to the problematics, but my studies show that it would work better for many more in the target group and, in particular, information provided in this way would be more appropriate for the target group preliterate.