Design research and service design project exploring how Melbourne’s café culture could foster stronger community connections.

The project began with an investigation into sustainability within Melbourne’s globally recognised café ecosystem. Through immersion and research, the focus shifted toward a broader social question: how café culture could support interaction within the city’s diverse population.

Research highlighted a disconnect experienced by international students — one of Australia’s largest contributors to the national economy — who often remained culturally isolated despite their presence and scale. The gap between expectation and lived experience revealed an opportunity within everyday public spaces.

By examining cafés as accessible and informal social systems, the project reframed café culture as a service touchpoint capable of encouraging interaction and cultural exchange between local and international student communities.​​