As an international student in Melbourne, the coffee capital of the world, I noticed a stark disconnect: international students, despite their economic impact, often led culturally isolated lives. This realization inspired my final year Design Research project.

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We began with a broad question: How can we build a sustainable café culture in Melbourne? Immersing ourselves in the city’s vibrant coffee scene, we soon uncovered societal gaps and reframed our focus to: How can Melbourne’s café culture foster stronger communities?

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Our research centered on international students, Australia’s second-largest income source, who faced a significant cultural divide. The gap between their expectations and lived experiences was stark, with limited efforts by universities to bridge this divide. Meanwhile, the thriving café culture presented an affordable and enduring opportunity.

Ultimately, our research question evolved into: How can café culture foster interaction between Australian and international student communities in Melbourne?