BELONGING BEYOND BORDERS
A Circle to Share and Celebrate New Beginnings
HARSHI RAMBHIA
Fig. 1. New In City, an app designed to celebrate new beginnings in a new place.
Culture shock, characterized by feelings of uncertainty, confusion, or anxiety, is a widely acknowledged phenomenon experienced when moving to an unfamiliar environment. Due to its deeply personal nature, it remains unaddressed through design.
Rambhia digitally collaborating with international undergraduate students in a co-design session.
Belonging Beyond Borders investigates the personal challenges faced by students and aims to enhance their adaptation in new places.
International students often face social isolation and cultural shock during the first year of their studies. Research conducted by Rambhia found this common struggle often stems from a lack of supportive social networks. Adapting to new environments is influenced by individual personality traits, the diversity within the student community, and the educational environment, presenting a complex and evolving challenge.
New in City (fig. 1) is an app designed to celebrate new beginnings in a vibrant space. It helps students find their ‘comfort zone’, connecting them with peers from their home country or those with similar interests and professional goals, and encourages them to explore beyond these zones in a safe and supportive environment.
This body of work also includes the Strangers Party, a gathering designed to activate cross-departmental and cross-cultural interactions, helping students overcome social barriers and expand their circles (fig. 2). An additional interactive display shares personal stories and normalizes the feelings associated with culture shock, to help newcomers navigate their transition and feel supported.
Fig. 2. Strangers Party, a gathering designed to foster cross-cultural connection.
This project not only addresses the immediate needs but also contributes to the broader dialogue on enhancing student well-being in multicultural academic settings.
HARSHI RAMBHIA
Harshi Rambhia is a UX Researcher and Designer, dedicated to crafting innovative products with social and cultural impact. Her approach combines in-depth qualitative research with iterative design to co-create experiences for diverse communities. She loves working in multi-disciplinary teams and strives to foster global cultural integration and understanding.
harshirambhia.design@gmail.com | harshirambhia.com | Linkedin: @harshirambhia