Loneliness
in change
senior capstone project
Loneliness in change is a project that addresses the loneliness epidemic
faced by college students. It uses
design as a means of advocacy to raise awareness, combat stigma, and give college students an outlet where they
can form their own communities.
Overview
Patch, an anonymous social media platform allows for anonymous storytelling, fostering a sense of community and communal empathy: the feeling of being seen and understood through shared experiences. Users who choose to participate in the friend
matching feature can take an interests quiz to be matched with potential Buddies, encouraging connections. By creating a space for open dialogue and meaningful interactions, this project aims to combat loneliness, promote empathy, and create meaningful social bonds among students.
THE QUILT
A quilt is an object that represents community, creativity, and resilience.
Each component of the quilt is made separately, and each part captures the story of the person who made it. Historically, the art of quiltmaking has been a community driven practice, bringing people together in times of hardship. I found a connection between each quilt square and the individuality
of each person.
During the exhibition of this project, viewers were encouraged to add their own patch to a larger quilt, writing on each piece a time that they have felt seen or heard. Each patch contributed to the creation of a new community tied together by shared experience.
Outcome
Patch utilizes the meaning behind
the quilt to draw on the creation
of community that it accomplishes.
Users are encouraged to share what
they are feeling without judgement or embarrassment, and personally reflect on how their lives are affected by loneliness in their journals. Those who are open to meeting in person can find meetups in their area, both in-person and virtual.
Outcome
This book outlines the process of
this project from start to finish,
starting with ideation and ending
with the creation of Patch.