In Between : A participatory design exploration of identity, belonging and hybridity among first-generation Syrian immigrants in Sweden

In Between is a participatory design project exploring hybrid identity among first-generation Syrian immigrants in Sweden. Rooted in the concept of cultural amalgamation, the project challenges dominant narratives of assimilation and instead celebrates the complexity of living between cultures. Through interviews, storytelling, workshops and public interventions, it examines how belonging, identity and cultural negotiation are experienced and expressed. The research is grounded in the personal experience of the author as both participant and designer, navigating her own in-betweenness while creating a space for others to reflect and connect. Interventions such as Dialogue Cards, participatory mapping and a collective manifesto served as tools for dialogue, emotional resonance and community-building. The project culminates in a bilingual magazine that serves as both a research artifact and a visual platform for the voices, stories and memories gathered throughout the process. Combining graphic design, narrative and cultural reflection, the magazine brings visibility to the everyday lives and identities of young immigrants navigating life between worlds. By centering these underrepresented narratives, In Between contributes to broader conversations on integration, representation and the evolving definition of “Swedishness” where hybridity is seen not as a contradiction but as a strength.