The following in-process project began in my research methods class and has been carried on in my current Directed Research under two mentor professors. 

 

I have been employing ethnographic design research methods to better understand the international experience in Auburn, Alabama and the role of the built environment to fill gaps of inequality in the experience.

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As with any system or people group there are complexities and variations that I don't want to over generalize. But in an attempt to simplify my findings: much of my conversations and research pointed to a core issue of the international experience, the issue of belonging.

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Some of the following visuals communicate my journey in identifying this issue. At first, the core issue seemed to be that many international student lack car access. After some more exploration it seemed to be an issue of walkability. However,  wasn't until an international student said to me, "Natalie, you can improve the sidewalks as much as you want to, but where am I going to go? And what am I going to do?" that I began to understand the core issue: belonging

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The following documents the process of further digging into international experience, as well as how a built environment design solution could step into gaps, provide systemic opportunities, and most importantly, belonging. 

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