Designing Local Impact in Times of Crisis

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, my rural hometown faced serious challenges in accessing basic goods and reliable health-related information. Vulnerable residents — including the elderly and those in quarantine — had no centralised way to request home delivery, contact healthcare providers, or receive real-time updates. Small shops and local farmers were not prepared to offer delivery services, nor were these options visible to those in need. In response, I created a nonprofit, volunteer-led initiative in Soltvadkert to rapidly launch a hyperlocal delivery and information-sharing service. I personally contacted each shop owner, farmer, and pharmacist to explore what they could offer, how they could expand their services (e.g., ad-hoc delivery), and what kind of contact method or schedule was feasible. These conversations were used to build a living network of service providers, and structure it in a way that residents could easily access and use. Alongside this, I collected and published accurate medical contact information (such as on-duty doctors, pharmacies, and emergency services) — which had previously not been available in any organised form. The platform 6230.hu was created to bring this information together in a clear, trustworthy, and accessible format. It served as the town’s first coordinated community response hub — enabling people to stay informed, request help, or offer assistance.

6230 - Soltvadkert Community Initiative, Hungary | 2020
6230.hu

• Launched the first organised home delivery service in Soltvadkert, connecting residents with local shops and farmers.

• Ensured access to essential goods and accurate medical information during the COVID-19 lockdown.

• Personally coordinated outreach and onboarding of service providers.

• Structured and published all content via the community platform 6230.hu.

• Supported vulnerable groups and promoted safe at-home living through clear, centralised communication.

• Strengthened local collaboration and community resilience in a time of crisis.

This initiative taught me how powerful design can be when applied at a local, human level. It was a crash course in rapid problem-solving, cross-sector coordination, and low-budget innovation — during a time when people needed clarity, connection, and care the most. Designing services with and for my own community helped me deepen my empathy, sharpen my communication, and prove that even small interventions can create meaningful impact in times of crisis.