About Us
Turning awkwardness into familiarity – one conversation at a time.
“In The Margins” is a social and activity event centered for structured thinking rather than a debate.
As an event, it brings together a limited group of participants from all walks of life to think out loud together around a shared theme and topic. Conversations are guided, not adversarial; the aim is not to win an argument or reach a consensus, but to explore ideas as they form , through questioning, listening and reflection.
“In The Margins” is intentionally intimate, slow-paced and analogue. It treats thinking as a shared practice, something that happens between individuals, in conversation, in the margins rather than at the centre of debate culture.
What we're trying to solve
47% of young adults feel lonely often or always. Nowadays screens are the way we all connect. To each other, other cultures, friends, families and so forth. However, they also train us to avoid eye contact, to curate instead of converse, to scroll past the very people who might understand us, to lose the skill that enables us to communicate and sympathise.
Nowadays there are ways to combat this. Social Events. However most “social” events are just networking with better lighting, or IRL Dating.
Most social events ignore the real barrier – filling in the awkward silence without reliance on performative extroversion or hollow small talk.
In The Margins
We hosts live, facilitated events where strangers move from awkward silence to real dialogue.
Through our available tracks; Politics, Pop‑Culture, and Cinema – you get to choose how you engage with strangers in a way that interests you the most.
Our Marginal Lines Deck is a proprietary icebreaker that guides conversation without scripting it, allowing to strangers to flow in the midst of awkward silence.
And with our Simple smart seating – the use of light AI helps diversify who sits with whom, so cliques never form. The whole point is to sit with unfamiliarity in comfort.
A year‑long conversation.
Every year, In The Margins adopts a new annual theme.
The yearly theme is divided into three four‑month sections, each with its own topic. Every month, a single question is discussed across all three tracks – through the lens of power, culture, or film.
Starting with this year’s theme…
“The Architecture of Thought.”
All events, prompts, and discussions revolve around that theme, creating a through‑line that turns one‑off attendance into a continuous intellectual journey. You’re building a relationship with an idea, and with the people who share your curiosity.
Why "Margins"?
Marginalia are notes written in the margins of books – the space where ideas breathe, where quiet readers become thinkers, where the real conversation happens off‑the‑page.
We’re building a community of Marginals: thinkers, writers, and curious strangers who find meaning in the in‑between. Our yearly themed journals turn every attendee into a repeat reader and contributor.
How we try to help
In The Margins was founded to fight the loneliness epidemic. That’s why 5% of every event ticket will be donated to charities dedicated to preventing loneliness and supporting mental health amongst young adults and the elderly. Your participation directly funds organisations that are building meaningful connections and providing crucial support in the worldwide. Together, we turn connection into action.
As we grow, we will publish annual reports showing exactly which organisations we support and how much we have given.
Join in the Margins
Come meet us and maybe someone new.
