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Knutepunktet
Facilitating for closer cooperation within the voluntary sector for youth
Facilitating for closer cooperation within the voluntary sector for youth
A project by: Ishita Chawla og Martine Braathen
In collaboration with: Sør-Varanger Utvikling - Nina Greiner Iversen & Jeppe Theil Mogensen
Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo
Fall 2025 // 70 509 Digital Commons: Strategic design for society
Duration: 18 weeks
A project by: Ishita Chawla og Martine Braathen
In collaboration with: Sør-Varanger Utvikling - Nina Greiner Iversen & Jeppe Theil Mogensen
Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo
Fall 2025 // 70 509 Digital Commons: Strategic design for society
Duration: 18 weeks
Simplifying complexity
Simplifying complexity
Prototyping
Prototyping
Analyzing complex systems
Analyzing complex systems
Key words: Design for public sector, Voluntary work, Engaging the youth, UX and Service design, Strategic design
Key words: Design for public sector, Voluntary work, Engaging the youth, UX and Service design, Strategic design
Case 2025 - Meeting places
“In 2025, we will design concepts, design proposals, and prototypes that respond to these briefs by taking a concrete case as a starting point:
How can we use design to explore new opportunities for community development along the northern coast? How can local communities and municipalities in the north create and develop meeting places? And can digital tools and services help strengthen our local communities and make space for stronger social connections?”
Our focus
Volunteer work in the north currently relates to each other through informal networks, social media, or personal relationships. Most teams and associations are willing to collaborate, but the collaboration often happens sporadically and depends heavily on individuals. Here, we’ve seen that many of the needs are often about coordination, clearer information flow, more meeting places for interaction, and support for recruitment and organization.
In this project, both members of the group have had an equal role during the insight phase, idea generation, and the production of the report and presentation. I have had the main responsibility for the prototype work.
Our focus
Volunteer work in the north currently relates to each other through informal networks, social media, or personal relationships. Most teams and associations are willing to collaborate, but the collaboration often happens sporadically and depends heavily on individuals. Here, we’ve seen that many of the needs are often about coordination, clearer information flow, more meeting places for interaction, and support for recruitment and organization.
In this project, both members of the group have had an equal role during the insight phase, idea generation, and the production of the report and presentation. I have had the main responsibility for the prototype work.
Key findings:
Key findings:
Spreading information
Information about offers and activities is scattered and unclear across many smaller channels, which makes it challenging to keep track and can exclude those who are not reached. At the same time, the variety of digital and local meeting places can provide good opportunities to build community and highlight the wide range of activities available.
Spreading information
Information about offers and activities is scattered and unclear across many smaller channels, which makes it challenging to keep track and can exclude those who are not reached. At the same time, the variety of digital and local meeting places can provide good opportunities to build community and highlight the wide range of activities available.
Engaging the youth
Our findings point to low attendance among young people in clubs and at events outside of sports. When each club operates on its own without communicating or collaborating with others, it can lead to lower turnout among youth. Based on interviews with volunteers, it’s pointed out that young people need to feel a sense of ownership and responsibility to increase their engagement.
Engaging the youth
Our findings point to low attendance among young people in clubs and at events outside of sports. When each club operates on its own without communicating or collaborating with others, it can lead to lower turnout among youth. Based on interviews with volunteers, it’s pointed out that young people need to feel a sense of ownership and responsibility to increase their engagement.
Sharing knowledge
We see that administrative work often becomes a barrier to both getting started and staying engaged. At the same time, our findings point to a clear opportunity: if organizations use each other as resources, they can share experiences, show each other how things are done, and lower the level of difficulty. Through simple guidance and sharing of knowledge, more people can gain access to support schemes and get started with volunteer work more easily.
Sharing knowledge
We see that administrative work often becomes a barrier to both getting started and staying engaged. At the same time, our findings point to a clear opportunity: if organizations use each other as resources, they can share experiences, show each other how things are done, and lower the level of difficulty. Through simple guidance and sharing of knowledge, more people can gain access to support schemes and get started with volunteer work more easily.
About Knutepunktet:
About Knutepunktet:
Our proposed solution offers a platform where both knowledge sharing and coordination within volunteer work are gathered in one place. It consists of an app for internal use by volunteers, together with engaged youth, where they can connect directly with each other, as well as with other key actors.
In addition to the app, posts from the notice board and events from the shared calendar are transferred directly to the associated website, which is available to outsiders who want an overview.
Our proposed solution offers a platform where both knowledge sharing and coordination within volunteer work are gathered in one place. It consists of an app for internal use by volunteers, together with engaged youth, where they can connect directly with each other, as well as with other key actors.
In addition to the app, posts from the notice board and events from the shared calendar are transferred directly to the associated website, which is available to outsiders who want an overview.
The active youth
The engaged youth are those who already have a central role within volunteer work, such as young children’s coaches, youth employees in clubs, and Ungdomsrådet within the municipality.
By giving them a greater level of trust and the opportunity to contribute to knowledge sharing, it can lead to even stronger engagement that can spread to other children and young people, and bring new life into volunteer work. The youth can therefore use Knutepunkt in the same way as the volunteers and take part in this exchange of knowledge.
The active youth
The engaged youth are those who already have a central role within volunteer work, such as young children’s coaches, youth employees in clubs, and Ungdomsrådet within the municipality.
By giving them a greater level of trust and the opportunity to contribute to knowledge sharing, it can lead to even stronger engagement that can spread to other children and young people, and bring new life into volunteer work. The youth can therefore use Knutepunkt in the same way as the volunteers and take part in this exchange of knowledge.
Knutepunktet’s website is the measure created for those on the outside, where the information they need about volunteer activities is gathered in one place. Through the website, you can also get a glimpse into how the volunteers interact with each other, both practically and socially. The website includes a filter to help focus on what matters most, in addition to a club overview, a notice board, and a shared calendar.
Knutepunktet’s website is the measure created for those on the outside, where the information they need about volunteer activities is gathered in one place. Through the website, you can also get a glimpse into how the volunteers interact with each other, both practically and socially. The website includes a filter to help focus on what matters most, in addition to a club overview, a notice board, and a shared calendar.
Snowball effect
By building the service on familiar solutions, the threshold for use is lowered and it becomes easier to establish good habits for collaboration. Once the habit is in place, it can spread through an expanding volunteer network. Here, a unifying platform like Knutepunkt would fit in well. Collaboration and coordination would become a central part of volunteer work.
Snowball effect
By building the service on familiar solutions, the threshold for use is lowered and it becomes easier to establish good habits for collaboration. Once the habit is in place, it can spread through an expanding volunteer network. Here, a unifying platform like Knutepunkt would fit in well. Collaboration and coordination would become a central part of volunteer work.
Download project report
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