Belonging at Brighton

Belonging at Brighton, is a project that explores how sports clubs and student societies help students find a sense of community and identity at university. Drawing from personal experience as an international student who found friendship through the rugby league club, this project highlights the powerful role of extracurricular groups in shaping student life beyond academics. Through a series of posters and publications, the project visually showcases the journey of finding belonging. Each outcome is rooted in personal storytelling, interviews, and visual research, capturing the energy, diversity, and support systems within these communities. The aim is to make the experience relatable and accessible to new students who may be feeling uncertain, isolated, or out of place. By documenting real voices, shared moments, and the design language of club identity. Ultimately, the project celebrates the small, everyday interactions that lead to lasting friendships and a sense of home, proving that belonging doesn’t happen all at once, but through shared passion, participation, and support.

James Toye