To Belong is a capstone project that explores what it means to find a sense of place, identity, and acceptance—free from the expectations placed on us by society. Through motion, web, and print, the project looks at how people of all ages navigate pressure, uncertainty, and self-discovery, and how stepping away from rigid norms can create space for genuine belonging.
To Belong: A Multi-Medium Exploration of Identity
Each medium brings a different perspective to the theme:
Motion
Captures the emotional side of the journey—using shape, rhythm, and movement to express feelings of disconnect, searching, and finally, clarity. Begins with a sphere trying to find its place but is rejected by different groups of shapes and colors. The sphere continues to pursue different groups by changing itself, from its color, its shape and the way it moves. As the journey continues, the sphere realizes it can’t force its way into belonging. Belonging happens in its own time, and usually it finds you.
Zine
Ties everything together as a tangible guide, using geometric forms, gradients, and “anomaly” spreads to illustrate how difference doesn’t break belonging—it defines it. Every spread is carefully designed to emphasize a scenario in which something is out of place or complete conforming, every shape being the same and blending in together rather than standing apart. This zine is meant to support the project with research-based information, educating and spreading awareness.
Website
An interactive space where real stories from different age groups show that the desire to belong is universal. Visitors choose their own path through these narratives, reinforcing the idea of finding one’s place at their own pace. The stories collected came from people who have felt that pain of not feeling welcomed or accepted and how they overcame it. Not only do we have stories from people who have felt lost but also from people who never let themselves change for the sake of fitting in. This website serves as an archive of voices coming together as a community for those who don’t feel heard.
