KOSTER
Big Title
A SOCIAL DINNER SERVICE, DEVELOPED WITH SENIOR CITIZENS
TEAM – ROLE
Chantal Jaun – Design Management
Karolina Pelaez – Spatial Design
Lars Kupper – Illustration
Luisa Koster – Design Management
DURATION
March – April 2022
CONTEXT
Social Integration
& Community Building
CLIENT
Innovage CH
& HSLU Design Film Kunst
TOOLS
Photoshop, Canva, Miro
ABSTRACT
Zäme En Guete is a co-designed social dinner service developed with senior citizens and students to foster meaningful connections between generations. Using a chain-invitation system with postcards, the service enables people to host and join informal home dinners, creating low-barrier opportunities for social integration and reducing loneliness.
PROCESS
Situation
In Switzerland, newcomers and seniors often find it difficult to build new social connections due to cultural norms and reserved social habits. The challenge is to create a service that feels informal, welcoming, and easy to join.
Decisions
• Chose a home-based dinner format instead of public events to make participation feel personal and safe.
• Developed a postcard chain-invitation method to organically expand the network without heavy organization.
My Role
• Facilitated co-design sessions with seniors and students to test and refine the concept.
• Designed the service journey, from receiving a postcard to hosting a dinner.
• Synthesized insights into practical guidelines for hosts to ensure comfort and inclusivity.
Learnings
• Informal, task-sharing settings reduce participation anxiety, making people feel welcome.
• Intergenerational exchange works best when everyone contributes (e.g., bringing food, setting the table).
• Scaling community-driven services requires balancing organic growth and minimal facilitation support.
RESEARCH
Methods:
• Literature review • Co-Design with students and seniors • Testing dinner with students and external seniors
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
• Social isolation is common among seniors and newcomers due to closed social circles.
• Shared meals are proven to strengthen trust and social bonds.
• Formal events often feel intimidating; informal home settings are perceived as safer and more personal.
CONCEPT
How It Works
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A participant hosts a dinner and invites another person via postcard.
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That guest invites someone else, continuing the chain.
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Each participant takes on a small task (e.g., bringing a dish, setting the table).
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After the dinner, guests can choose to host their own, growing the network organically.
Why It Works
• Low-barrier: No formal sign-up; personal invitations feel friendly and safe.
• Inclusive: Designed for seniors, students, newcomers, and locals to mix naturally.
• Self-sustaining: The postcard method allows continuous growth with minimal external management.
OUTCOME
The concept was tested in small dinner settings with seniors and students. Adjustments, such as providing conversation starter ideas and ensuring hosts feel comfortable with diverse guests, increased participation confidence. The refined version is implemented in Kanton Schwyz, fostering new connections and expanding organically through word of mouth.
EFFECT
For participants:
Creates low-pressure opportunities to meet new people and feel more connected to the local community.
For organizations:
Shows how simple, user-driven systems can strengthen social networks without large resources.
For society:
Promotes social sustainability by reducing loneliness and building local support networks.
Open Question:
What safety measures are needed to make people feel comfortable inviting strangers into their homes?
