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MDes Graphic Design/​​Illustration/​​Photography School of Design

Leiye Zhu

The little things at home—soft cushions, a cosy blanket—make me feel really comfortable, and that matters more than I expected. On rainy days here in the UK, all I want is to lie on the sofa and fall asleep to the sound of the rain.

I aim to explore and document the fleeting yet genuine moments of warmth experienced by contemporary Chinese students living abroad. Yet the small warm moments we’ve lived through are like patches on the heart, offering comfort and support during dark times.

This project doesn’t aim to prove an abstract social issue, but rather to create a resonant visual archive rooted in personal experience, capturing the everyday ways we feel warm, seek comfort, and cope with loneliness while living abroad.

Contact
leiyezhu1@gmail.com
L.Zhu8@student.gsa.ac.uk
leiyezhu.cargo.site
Works
When You Need Warmth
The little things at home—soft cushions, a cosy blanket—make me feel really comfortable, and that matters more than I expected. On rainy days here in the UK, all I want is to lie on the sofa and fall asleep to the sound of the rain.

When You Need Warmth

I aim to explore and document the fleeting yet genuine moments of warmth experienced by contemporary Chinese students living abroad. Yet the small warm moments we’ve lived through are like patches on the heart, offering comfort and support during dark times.

This project doesn’t aim to prove an abstract social issue, but rather to create a resonant visual archive rooted in personal experience, capturing the everyday ways we feel warm, seek comfort, and cope with loneliness while living abroad.

The little things at home—soft cushions, a cosy blanket—make me feel really comfortable, and that matters more than I expected. On rainy days here in the UK, all I want is to lie on the sofa and fall asleep to the sound of the rain.

The little things at home—soft cushions, a cosy blanket—make me feel really comfortable, and that matters more than I expected. On rainy days here in the UK, all I want is to lie on the sofa and fall asleep to the sound of the rain.

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When you're exhausted, nothing feels better than a hug from the person you love—it’s like all the pain just melts away.

When you're exhausted, nothing feels better than a hug from the person you love—it’s like all the pain just melts away.

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That simple bowl of porridge held enough warmth to melt the chill of the whole day.

That simple bowl of porridge held enough warmth to melt the chill of the whole day.

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My grandma knitted me a scarf before I left for the UK. She looked up the weather and knew the winters would be long and really cold, especially in Scotland. That scarf has been with me through a lot. Even now, when it’s warm outside, I still take it out sometimes, give it a wash, and smell the familiar scent when I’m feeling low. It’s like a little piece of home.

My grandma knitted me a scarf before I left for the UK. She looked up the weather and knew the winters would be long and really cold, especially in Scotland. That scarf has been with me through a lot. Even now, when it’s warm outside, I still take it out sometimes, give it a wash, and smell the familiar scent when I’m feeling low. It’s like a little piece of home.

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There's nothing quite like the comfort of being with someone you love.

There's nothing quite like the comfort of being with someone you love.

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I picked up a lavender-scented candle while I was traveling, and it’s been such a lovely find. The gentle scent is so calming—it really helps me unwind. Lighting it on cold British winter days has become a little ritual that brings me comfort and warmth.

I picked up a lavender-scented candle while I was traveling, and it’s been such a lovely find. The gentle scent is so calming—it really helps me unwind. Lighting it on cold British winter days has become a little ritual that brings me comfort and warmth.

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My favorite memory has to be making the most delicious roasted sweet potatoes! For us northerners, roasted sweet potatoes are a winter essential. They’re soft, fragrant, and perfectly sweet. I even used the mashed sweet potatoes to make sandwich cookies— that was probably my most successful baking attempt ever. My friends all said they were amazing!

My favorite memory has to be making the most delicious roasted sweet potatoes! For us northerners, roasted sweet potatoes are a winter essential. They’re soft, fragrant, and perfectly sweet. I even used the mashed sweet potatoes to make sandwich cookies— that was probably my most successful baking attempt ever. My friends all said they were amazing!

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The spices and sauces here are really different from what I'm used to in China. Tesco only has the basics, so whenever I spot something familiar at a Chinese supermarket, it honestly makes my day. Sometimes, the taste of home is the warmest feeling you can find abroad.

The spices and sauces here are really different from what I'm used to in China. Tesco only has the basics, so whenever I spot something familiar at a Chinese supermarket, it honestly makes my day. Sometimes, the taste of home is the warmest feeling you can find abroad.

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