Concept Development

After evaluating and summarising our findings, our next step was to define a concrete goal. Based on our research we noticed that networks are erratic which leads to a short life span. We weren't interested in creating an "one-off" event or project that would be forgotten after a while. We preferred the notion of creating an experience, an impression that would help bringing internationals and locals together.

Focusing on locals

While researching on communication solutions for internationals and locals, we realised that there were a lot of repetitive or unsuccessful projects that were only focusing on the international students. These examples mainly invited internationals into being proactive and adaptable - only then would an integration into a society be possible.

But what about the locals? Can they be moved into becoming motivated into meeting internationals? Dominik, Randy and I all became aware of Ju's situation only once she told us about her story. The same happened while interviewing the local student Jelena, who instantly offered Ju her number so that they could meet up. This could be the key to bringing internationals and locals together. The problem might not solemnly lie with internationals. Locals are just not aware of the fact that they feel left out and lonely.

Maybe there's a possibility of creating a form of empathy towards internationals, which would allow locals to become more open towards them.

We realised that this was the direction we wanted to head towards - our focus shifted from international to local students. 

Brainstorming

We started to brainstorm possible realisation of our concept. During the day, it had become apparent that storytelling was a powerful tool for our intent and that creating an impression on the locals might actually stimulate them into becoming more aware of and open towards internationals. Maybe creating a foreign surrounding could make locals become more empathetic? Or if we were to focus more on the international's stories, could a storytelling-based webpage allow us to make awareness to internationals in general?

In any case, we had defined the direction we wanted to go in: raising awareness of loneliness experienced by internationals with the help of empathy.