Morning Coffee with SE26: Hundreds of encounters shaped the story of Skellefteå

How do you tell the story of a social transformation that is still underway? Linus Johansson, Creative Director at Try New Things, was a guest on Morgonkaffet this morning. The conversation provided insight into the work behind the Society Expo Exhibition and how hundreds of meetings with residents, businesses, associations, and other stakeholders helped shape the narrative of Skellefteå’s development.

The morning coffee event at Nordanå was kicked off by City Manager Kristina Sundin Jonsson and City Councilor Joakim Wallström, who looked back on Skellefteå’s journey of development. They spoke about the visions, investments, and drive that have characterized the municipality’s social transformation in recent years.

Society Expo’s project manager, Helena Renström, then introduced the day’s guest, Linus Johansson from Try New Things. The Skellefteå-based innovation and IT consulting firm is behind Society Expo Exhibition, the interactive exhibition at the Skellefteå Museum that depicts Skellefteå’s social transformation. Linus Johansson spoke about the work behind the exhibition and how it took shape through meetings, dialogue, and the collection of stories from people with different perspectives on the development.

When the assignment to develop the exhibition came, there was an overarching vision, but few ready-made answers. The work was therefore characterized by dialogue and extensive listening. Together with the project group, hundreds of meetings were held with people from different parts of society to capture experiences, perspectives, and thoughts about the future.

– What struck me quite a bit was that everyone I spoke with, whether they were children and young people, retirees, or people working on various projects had an incredibly positive energy, said Linus Johansson.

An important goal was to create a broad representation of society and allow many different voices to contribute to the content. The result is an exhibition that not only tells the story of change but also invites visitors to participate in the conversation about the future. Through interactive elements, visitors can share their own thoughts and reflections, which become part of the exhibition.
Linus Johansson described Exhibition as a living project that continues to evolve as more people visit it.

– We didn’t create a finished exhibition and open it; instead, we created a half-finished one. Then, over time, visitors get to fill it in, he said.

A recurring theme during the conversation was the importance of participation. For Linus Johansson, social transformation is not just about major investments or construction projects, but also about people’s ability to influence the development of their community.

This morning’s conversation served as a reminder that the societies of the future are shaped together. Through dialogue, curiosity, and engagement, more perspectives can find a place in the narrative – and help foster hope for the future among coming generations.

Morning Coffee is Society Expo 2026’s conversation series, where project manager Helena Renström meets with politicians and others who are shaping the society of the future.