AcrossRCA, an annual programme at the Royal College of Art (RCA), brings together students from diverse disciplines for innovative workshops and collaborative projects. This initiative offers students fresh perspectives, helps them build connections, and fosters future collaborators that shape their time at RCA and their careers beyond.
John Stevens of RCA commissioned Holis to develop a five-day workshop on Collective Intelligence Design, a field that combines people, technology, and data to predict future events better and coordinate large-scale activities.
The Loneliness Project was one of the outcomes of the AcrossRCA programme.
Loneliness affects well-being across all ages, but most tools to measure it overlook the context behind it. Without understanding when, where, and why people feel lonely, it is challenging to offer meaningful support.
Recognizing the limitations of existing solutions, the students explored how contextual data could offer a deeper, more actionable understanding of loneliness. With the guidance of Holis Lab, the students worked to design a new approach:
Gather contextual data, such as weather, location, events, demographics, and personal experiences of loneliness.
Build metrics called Loneliness Marker that incorporate the contextual information on loneliness.
Create a digital platform where people can visualise loneliness markers in their areas of interest.
Offer a place to share actionable insights on our platform for individuals, communities & governments.
Measure impact & improve Loneliness Marker to ensure our metrics are inclusive and effective.
This project aimed to connect people and data in meaningful ways, offering a tool that informs personal choices, strengthens community wellbeing, and drives smarter public policy.
