2025
Reconnect with nature
Chosen client: Fryshuset
Team: Lieke Visser
Designed while studying at Hyper Island
Challenge
Research revealed a clear gap in nature access and engagement among youth from under-resourced areas, where time in nature is limited due to cultural, economic, and social barriers.
The challenge was to reframe nature as an accessible, relevant, and desirable part of daily life. We needed to move beyond traditional outdoor programmes and co-create something inclusive, creative, and grounded in young people's realities and aspirations.
Goal
Designing inclusive, nature-based programmes for youth in socioeconomically vulnerable communities
Approach
We used systems thinking and user-centred methods to explore barriers that prevent youth from accessing nature. Mapping stakeholders, analysing target groups, and reviewing national data revealed key differences between youth in vulnerable and more privileged areas. Empathy maps and a SWOB analysis of parents and teachers highlighted both structural and social challenges, such as safety concerns and lack of support.
While co-creation with teens wasn’t possible from the start, we focused on building a strong foundation. The next phase involves developing the programme together with young people to keep it relevant and grounded in their experiences.
My role
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Stakeholder mapping & target group analysis
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SWOB & empathy map canvas
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System mapping & insight synthesis
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Programme & activity concept development
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Implementation planning & strategic framing
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Visual design & final documentation preparation
Desk-top research
A key insight was that youth disconnection from nature is largely cultural and systemic, and not simply geographic. Many young people simply didn’t see themselves reflected in outdoor spaces or narratives. This understanding shaped a solution that prioritised accessibility, cultural relevance, and youth-led exploration. Rather than delivering nature as a fixed concept, the solution had to treat it as a shared space to be reinterpreted and made meaningful through personal and collective experience. This inclusive approach enabled activities that could be joyful, expressive, and social - redefining nature as something to belong to, not just visit.
System mapping
Our system map centred on “teenagers’ interest in nature” and became a key tool for guiding change. We identified five zones of influence: Social & Family, Geographic Location, Technology & Media, Education & Awareness, and Safety & Comfort. Social & Family Influence and Education & Awareness stood out as most impactful. We traced feedback loops and focused on variables absorbing many influences such as siblings and friends, living environment, finances, upbringing, perception and knowledge of nature, and digital technology. These became our critical influencers. The map helped us understand complexity and guided our thinking throughout the project.
Brainstorming ideas
Building on this, we brainstormed and grouped a wide range of ideas that responded to our challenge. These were reflected in our research findings and helped identify potential platforms for implementation. We also explored organisations working with nature and young people in areas of lower socioeconomic status, seeking partnerships that shared our values of inclusion, relevance, and co-creation.
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Feasibility assessment
To evaluate the potential of each idea, we conducted an impact vs. effort matrix assessment. While all the high-impact ideas addressed different areas such as nature exploration, digital tools, learning, inclusive social spaces they shared strong relevance to young people’s needs. This diversity led us to consider hybrid plattform solutions, where a mix of activities could respond to the varied interests and experiences of youth.
Platform for impact
To bring such a multifaceted concept to life, we sought a partner with deep roots in youth engagement and the flexibility to support diverse programming. Fryshuset was chosen as the platform for Reconnect with Nature due to its strong presence in vulnerable communities and proven ability to engage youth through social, cultural, and educational work. Its trusted networks and infrastructure made the programme both accessible and scalable.
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Complementing Fryshuset's current activities
While active with the target group, Fryshuset’s 2023 report highlighted a gap in climate and environmental expertise. This revealed a clear opportunity: by introducing a nature-based programme grounded in the UN SDGs and FSSD principles, we aimed to both inspire young people and strengthen Fryshuset’s long-term capacity in sustainability. By building on existing activities and forming new collaborations, the initiative also empowers Fryshuset to extend their positive impact in communities with lower socioeconomic status through meaningful engagement with nature.
Programme pillars
The final outcome was a flexible, youth-focused programme for Fryshuset, designed to reconnect young people with nature in relevant, inclusive, and engaging ways. It’s built around four pillars: Social in Nature, Creative with Nature, Active in Nature, and Knowledge of Nature, reflecting the varied ways youth connect with their environment and addressing emotional, physical, and intellectual needs.
By framing nature as a space for connection, creativity, movement, and learning, the programme offers multiple entry points for youth from diverse backgrounds.
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Next steps
The deliverables also included a phased plan for piloting, evaluation, and scaling. The next phase involves developing the programme together with teenagers in vulnerable areas and Fryshuset to keep it relevant and grounded in their experiences and knowledge. This will ensure the programmes success and long-term impact, giving Fryshuset a responsive framework for strengthening environmental connection and youth wellbeing.
Image sources:
1. © 2017 by Vince Fleming, 2. © 2020 by Andreea Pop 3. © 2025 by Emma Thorman, 4. © 2019 by Vince Fleming, 5. © 2025 by Emma Thorman, 6. © 2025 by Emma Thorman, 7. © 2025 by Emma Thorman, 8. © 2025 by Fryshuset Foto: Viktor Gårdsäter, 9. © 2021 by Fryshuset 10. © 2025 by Emma Thorman, 11. © 2025 by Emma Thorman,