Tools for Togetherness: Building Social Networks through Public Tool-making

Abstract

Our world appears connected with pervasive technology and information saturation. However, beneath the surface, a deep sense of disconnection and individualism persists, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed 7 million lives and prompted a reassessment of our societal values towards more collective orientations. This thesis investigates how individuals can help foster a society that values care, support, and mutual aid. By developing, documenting, and disseminating self-organized public tools—including flyers, posters, and installations that facilitate relationship-building—this work aims to challenge the prevailing alienation by demonstrating the importance of connectivity and exchange. Embedding mutual support and connectivity into daily routines should not merely be a contingency for crises but a fundamental component of our reality. The essence of this project is to disseminate this concept through public engagement installation art within the MIT and greater Cambridge community to cultivate awareness and actively engage the audience. The book details three social experiments designed to enhance connectivity and mutual support, with detailed documentation and reflections from a facilitator’s perspective on the complete process for anyone who hopes to start practicing small.