She/Her
Weave is a digital-physical hybrid service designed to help new migrants settling in the UK build meaningful social connections and develop a sense of belonging within their local communities. Through low pressure, local events hosted in trusted community spaces, Weave brings together migrants and local residents in ways that feel welcoming, accessible, and easy.
It’s 2030. Starting somewhere new is no longer filled with uncertainty. Instead, communities become welcoming spaces shaped around enjoyable events, where building connections feels like a natural part of everyday life. From showing up for the first time to helping others feel at home, support is provided at every step. Belonging isn’t something you find alone, it’s something we build together. It starts with Weave!
Migration to the UK continues to rise, with net migration projected to reach around 340,000 people per year from 2028 onwards (Office for National Statistics, 2025). As migration increases, many people arriving in the UK face more than just practical challenges such as housing or employment. Language barriers, unfamiliar systems, lack of local networks, and social isolation can make it difficult to build a sense of belonging.
As the child and grandchild of immigrants, I grew up seeing both the opportunities and challenges that come with starting a life in a new country. My family were fortunate to be welcomed into a supportive community that helped us build friendships, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging. But I also saw family and friends experience migration very differently, feeling isolated, disconnected, and unsure how to build relationships outside work or study.
This project explores how design can help create those missing social connections. Rather than treating integration as a formal process, Weave imagines it as something built through everyday experiences and community participation.
Designed for new migrants seeking connection and local residents looking for more meaningful community engagement, the service is an ecosystem supported by local residents, community hosts, civic spaces, NGOs, and local councils.
Discover: Customer finds Weave through posters, council, social media or local recommendation and browses nearby events.
Consider: Browse the app and identify relevant vibe tags to understand the event atmosphere before attending.
Attend: Attends their first small local event and meets others through shared activity.
Return: Begins attending more events, building routine and familiarity through personalised suggestions.
Host: Eventually starts hosting or co-hosting activities, inviting others to come along and becomes an active community member.
Community hosts are developed through continued participation and can be either settled migrants or local residents who are active within their communities and have completed the relevant training. They help facilitate events, create welcoming environments, and act as social proof for new users by showing that connection and belonging within the community is possible.
Interactive prototypes and user testing were used to refine onboarding, event discovery, and low-pressure participation flows. Methods included paper prototyping, Figma prototypes, and role-playing activities, allowing for a deeper understanding of user needs, behaviours, and the barriers users faced throughout the experience.
