Flavours of Kilburn
Bridging Communities, Cultures, and Connections Through Food
This project was delivered as part of my study at UAL.
Project Type
Service Design, Community engagement
Year
2024
Origin
London, United Kingdom
Client / Collaborator
OneKilburn Collaboration with Camden & Brent Council
Role
Designer, Researcher, Facilitator
Flavours of Kilburn is a community-driven service developed in partnership with One Kilburn, a dynamic alliance that unites residents, organisations, and businesses across the boroughs of Brent, Camden, and Westminster. The initiative supports One Kilburn in co-creating and co-hosting communal meals in collaboration with local volunteers, food businesses, and community organisations. These meals serve not only to address food insecurity but also to celebrate Kilburn’s rich cultural diversity. This project aims to build stronger community bonds and foster a spirit of mutual support through the simple, powerful act of sharing food.
PROBLEM LANDSCAPE
The project was initially inspired by the 2030 Camden Food Mission, a borough-wide initiative promoting a fair, healthy, and sustainable food future through improved access to nutritious food, reduced waste, support for sustainable food businesses, and stronger community ties. Early research, including field visits and stakeholder interviews, revealed that despite the mission’s clear and valuable objectives, awareness among local communities was low. Many community-led food projects in Kilburn already embodied these values but operated independently, often unaware of the wider policy landscape, and faced shared challenges such as limited funding, staffing, and access to permanent spaces.
While One Kilburn brings people together, its relationships with volunteers, businesses and local community-led food initiatives are often surface-level, and volunteer recruitment remains challenging due to inconsistent schedules and minimal incentives. Food businesses and community initiatives share similar values but lack structured ways to collaborate. This highlighted the need for a simple, effective service that could better connect stakeholders and maximise existing resources.
SERVICE OVERVIEW
Flavours of Kilburn is a collaborative service designed to connect community organisations, local food businesses, and residents through shared meals that celebrate cultural diversity and foster social connection. By engaging volunteers and stakeholders in co-planning and hosting events, the service promotes knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and recognition of local contributions. These communal meals go beyond nourishment, becoming platforms for cultural celebration and inclusion, often aligned with festivals and traditions.
RESULT & IMPACT
To support this initiative, we developed key touchpoints, including a Volunteer Enrolment System, a Cultural Food Calendar, a Kilburn Food Map, and a Co-Created Menu, all designed to reduce fragmentation and strengthen community ties. Through this user-centred approach, the project addresses food insecurity, social isolation, and disconnected efforts across Kilburn’s food ecosystem. Ultimately, Flavours of Kilburn lays the groundwork for a more resilient, inclusive, and culturally vibrant community—where food serves not only as sustenance, but as a catalyst for belonging and collective empowerment.
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