International students arriving in Vancouver often experience a sense of disconnection, which impacts their well-being and academic experience. Despite a desire for growth and friendships, many students found it difficult to form connections due to time constraints, fear of rejection, or lack of structured engagement on campus.
The foundation of this project was built on student feedback. Key insights included:
• 77% of international students chose Canada for personal growth and independence.
• 62% cited time constraints as their main barrier to attending campus events.
• Consistency and shared experiences were crucial for friendships to form.
To respond, Connect 101 was positioned not just as a social space, but as a low-pressure, skill-building platform with regular programming. The strategy emphasized structured, inclusive participation and emotional safety.
The logo uses the typeface Aglonemo, chosen for its rounded forms, symbolizing warmth, openness, and inclusivity. The curves reflect the ease and flow of forming meaningful relationships through shared experience.
The posters feature flowing, continuous lines to represent connection, a nod to the course’s name and goals. Each poster shows how students can transform a struggle (ex: loneliness, hesitation) into strength (ex: connection, confidence) by joining Connect.
The colours were chosen to reflect different personal development themes:
• Green for adaptability and change (resilience).
• Blue for trust and communication (teamwork).
• Yellow for curiosity and self-confidence (awareness).
Social media designs were made to be playful and the same transformation theme from the posters was carried through. The campaign promoted on-campus events like international movie nights, student stories, and key takeaways from each class. Content focused on building community and sharing practical tips on communication and public speaking to inspire engagement beyond the classroom.
To boost engagement and visibility, branded merch was created, including caps for participants, badges, mugs and water bottles handed out at orientation booths. These assets were designed to foster a sense of community and CapU pride, while also promoting Connect 101 across campus.
Like what you see?
shrutikarthikeyan.creative@gmail.com© Shruti Karthikeyan 2025. All Rights Reserved.