Digital Commons Network^™

How Conceptual Artists Create Fictional And Immersive Worlds, Rachel C. Hollins

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

When creating media for entertainment, such as animated shows, movies, video games, etc., conceptual artists utilize a process called worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is defined as the integration of fictional environments, species, props, and civilizations that create an immersive world. However, research about real world elements is often not addressed enough when creating conceptual worlds. Therefore, this creative project aims to define how conceptual artists create believable fictional worlds while showcasing the research behind the process. First, research is conducted about the real world. This includes choosing and studying the environmental, cultural, social, architectural, and biological aspects, which will act as a …

Cuegen: Customizing Sensor Captions For Neon Bending Tutorials, Gunnika Kapoor

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Methods of knowledge transfer that rely primarily on visual and/or auditory formats do not effectively convey context-specific or implicit skills, known as tacit skills. This limits knowledge transfer. In this work, the use of customizable pitch captions and spatial audio vibration captions is proposed to aid in conveying this tacit knowledge for neon glass bending video tutorials. Such a system is designed to provide users with greater control and support, which may maximize the information they obtain from, improve the autonomy they have with, and experience they have with a learning tool. As such, a system interface was developed that …

Investigations Of Musical Constructs: An Analysis Of Graphic Scores And Their Spatial Relationships, Garrett J. Henderson

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

This project seeks to understand, through creative production, how graphic scores and their purpose as a medium can be applied to architectural design. Graphic scores are an abstract representation of musical notation; they utilize unfamiliar concepts and shapes to illustrate musical ideas through unconventional means. Discovering how one can reverse-engineer these works of notation can allow architectural designers to rethink the representation of spaces and the underlying inspirations that form them. Research into broader artistic overlap, historical context, and precedent analysis culminated into a set of drawings that illustrate such concepts through an architectural lens. The production of these drawings …

Why You're Gayhee For Jaehee: How Dating Sims Promote Queer Self-Discovery, Amira Elliby

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Dating simulators are a video game sub-genre in which the player’s primary goal is to romantically pursue their favorite love interest through in-game interactions. While some dating sims present situations that encourage heterosexual female players to question, explore, and even accept possible queer identities for themselves, there is little research on what specific game elements foster this exploratory behavior. This project examines player responses and in-game content from two dating sims, Chrono Days Sim Date and Mystic Messenger, to determine which game aspects women found most helpful in encouraging them to question their own sexualities. Out of five key …

Untitled: Study., Annabela Cockrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Untitled: Study is an exploration into “The Work”, which is a constant evolution of the idea of the same piece. Every new work is an evolution of the one before. Previous works are often reworked and self-cannibalized into the next generation. The Work will never be presented the same way twice. There is a temporality in making and installing the work this way, what with the form, the space, the ness of it never being the same. All the while conflicting by being viewed as being the same in the same breath.

Light Without Memory., John Day

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This collective work and thesis sought to remedy a fragmented sense of self in the wake of addressing trauma (Personal and generational) through therapy and diagnosis. Visualizing the experience of isolation and loss through deterioration of gelatin and pixels, it exposes the fragility of memory and our tools of preservation in the presence of time. While the images of my family, past and present, cannot speak, they can activate memory evoking a desire to foster relationships with those closest to us. As I explore my identity through family photographs, I find myself embodied within them. Fragments of a whole, bound …

“More Than What [They] Made Us To Be”: From Passing To Perception In Victorian And Modern Vampire Media, Lauren Sieberg

English (MA) Theses

Throughout Victorian Gothic horror fiction, vampires function as deviant figures, maneuvering within social confines of passing until their status quo-threatening identity is exposed. Of the popular vampires from this period, most gradually fail to maintain status as social insiders—as demonstrated with Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula or Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla, who possess the temporary capacity to pass until their hidden monstrosity is revealed over time. Even if Gothic monsters are confined to a limited space and time far from society, this is still not enough; in accordance with the Victorian culture of morality policing by dominant groups, the vampiric Other …

All Mud In The End: Exploring Registration Between Handcraft And Digital Craft Through Ceramic 3d Printing, Emily Kloostra

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

The goal of this research was to investigate the possible interconnections between handcrafted objects and digital fabrication technologies, specifically in ceramic 3D printing workflows. Digital fabrication tools have advanced rapidly in recent years, raising questions about the role handcraft can still play in the making of objects and buildings. While many artistic endeavors have investigated how far digital technology can be pushed, this study was focused on bringing handcrafted objects back into the conversation. Specifically, it sought to understand how irregular, handcrafted objects may be registered in the digital space and then used in 3D printing processes.

The study used …

V.1 Spring 2025, Center For Arts & Language, Students Of Risd, Risd Archives

All Student Newspapers

v.1 is a publishing platform for the ongoing work, ideas, discussions, debates, and aspirations of students at the Rhode Island School of Design. The Spring 2025 issue has the theme "Take It as a Sign" and features pieces on baby fever, spreadsheets and recording information, aura and technology, a trip to Horseshoe Bend, the new Art and Computation department at RISD, home and belonging, Illustration student projects related to sensitive experiences, red brick architecture in Providence, and technology and the English language, along with interviews of students in their studios, poetry, and other creative writing.

Recipe To Remember: An Exploration Of Self-Publishing Creative Agency, Janet L. Gerges

Honors College Theses

As a poet, I have learned some of the ins and outs of traditional poetry publication—which is anything but conventional—through other research endeavors. Majoring in creative writing at Pace University has given me access to a plethora of resources regarding ways to publish, including the atypical route of self-publishing zines, through the Pace Zine Library. Zines are an ultimately free creative outlet that many artists use to display multimedia work and produce a publication of a different, more homemade quality than that of traditionally published work.

The traditional, more harrowing approach to poetry publication is to break out by publishing …

Routine, Twisty, And Queer: Pasts And Futures Of Games Programming Pedagogy With No And Low Code Tools, Daniel Cox, John Murray, Anastasia Salter

Faculty Publications – Creative Technologies

This paper traces a history of platforms targeting no-code and low-code audiences. It connects historical moments addressing accessibility challenges related to computer programming up through the more recent adoption of generative AI in game engines. Across these moments, this paper identifies communities that claimed authoring platforms, establishing their identity by rejecting other, potentially more efficient or expressive options. We argue these community dynamics have shaped the evolution of current game development platforms. By contextualizing current efforts in pedagogy as part of larger shifts in computer programming and game engine practice, we present a better understanding of the origins of platforms …

The Duality Of Perception: Unveiling The Hidden Through Visible Forms, Sharmeen Uqaili

Art Theses and Dissertations

This MFA thesis, The Duality of Perception: Unveiling the Hidden through Visible Form, involves layering paints on shaped wood panels and paper, using the traditional technique of tezhib (gold illumination) and geometric art. Through these layers, I aim to challenge the viewers’ perceptions by simultaneously revealing and concealing elements within the work. Symbols drawn from Islamic traditions such as pomegranates, birds, and ribbons are incorporated in the paintings to carry both cultural and personal significance, evoking my connections to spiritual and physical realms.

Rooted in the principles of Islamic art and informed by spiritual themes such as paradise, divine …

Recollections Of A Tejana Life, Carolina Yáñez

Art Theses and Dissertations

This thesis encompasses the life of a young woman navigating life in Texas through various political and social barriers. My interdisciplinary practice analyzes the historical context of Mexicans in Texas from its Revolutionary period into current injustices. Through fiber, printmaking, and photography I create a visual diary to illustrate what the political has made personal. These works display the beauty of Tejano culture, but also the power struggles that threaten communities I care for, as well as my own existence that persists against far-right wing agendas.

Current politics and government leadership in Texas have inspired me to make artwork calling …

Mediated Dwelling: Reconstructing The Contemporary Home Space, Nicholas Carraher

Masters in Architecture Program: Theses

As online social media platforms become dominant areas for self-expression, professional opportunity, and cultural exchange, the role of typical residential architecture in contemporary society is changing to meet the demands of this visually driven and performative culture. Social media’s emphasis on aesthetic appeal, shareability, and curated authenticity challenges traditional architectural paradigms that prioritize functionality, spatial quality, and privacy. This change coincides with the broader Western cultural shift in ideals and social dynamics of the contemporary user. The home space, a once-private refuge, has been redefined in the age of online social media, where physical space is endlessly curated to align …

Worldbuilding Through Character-Centered Narrative: The Development Of Peter Pumpkin, Andrew Lawson

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

This capstone explores the creative development of Peter Pumpkin, a character-driven animated world built from the ground up through storytelling, design, and 3D modeling. The project focuses on how characters can shape the foundation of a larger universe—guiding everything from tone and theme to environment and visual style. At its core is the pilot episode, which introduces a whimsical, yet emotionally grounded world made up of holiday-themed realms. Through narrative breakdowns, storyboards, and evolving character arcs, the story explores ideas of identity, transformation, and finding one’s place. Stylized 2D concept art served as the starting point, later translated into 3D …

Design Dogma: Redefining Tradition And Innovation Through Mahjong., Isabel L. Ahnemiller

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This design project explores the creation of a Riichi Mahjong set that bridges the traditional cultural heritage of the game with modern design, aimed at introducing the game to new audiences. Riichi Mahjong, a variant of the traditional Chinese Mahjong game, has evolved significantly over the centuries. This project focuses on the development of a visually appealing and functional set that enhances a player’s experience, while staying true to the historical roots of Mahjong. The design uses careful selection of color schemes and symbols, such as the use of both Chinese characters and Arabic numerals to encourage recognition and learning …

Vol. 3 Full Issue

V Music Magazine

No abstract provided.

Deliberate Practice Disguised As Play, Clayton Mcintosh Mr

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a digital version of a manual exercise I designed to develop the divergent and convergent thinking skills that recognize analogous qualities that lead to creative solutions. The primary focus of the project was to build and test the functionality of the digital version of the exercise. The goal of the digital version is to provide undergraduate graphic design students with creative skill building practice sessions in the format of a video game. This digital version will allow students to conduct practice sessions at their convenience. It is the intent that the video …

Sustainable Fashion Identified: An Exploration And Education Of Sustainable Apparel, Michaela M. Lentsch

Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Consumers today are searching for and are loyal to companies who support their views and concerns about sustainability. The fashion industry is one of the biggest industries in the world, but one that has many environmental and sustainability concerns. Fortunately, there are many ways the fashion industry and consumers can take steps to make sustainable change and better the planet. Small fashion businesses and boutiques can make positive changes to operate and provide sustainable options and services for customers which can help the planet become more sustainable.

Through this manuscript, an assortment of sustainable methods and practices will be shared …

Definitively Unfinished: Abraham Cruzvillegas’ Autoconstrucción, Disability Aesthetics, And Crip Materiality, Benjamin Brobst-Renaud

Theses

Abraham Cruzvillegas’ Autoconstrucción project is the sculptural manifestation of an approach to artmaking rooted in the self-built and continually evolving forms of the neighborhood where Cruzvillegas grew up (Colonia Ajusco near Mexico City). While it might seem surprising to draw a comparison between the forms of Autoconstrucción and Disability Studies, and while Cruzvillegas does not literally depict the disabled human form, Autoconstrucción resonates deeply with this critical space. Disability Aesthetics, in Tobin Siebers’ formulation, is “an attempt to theorize the representation of disability in modern art and visual culture.” Similarly, Jessica Cooley’s Crip Materiality is a methodology that “locates disability …

Summit Disease: The Ecological Horror Of Empire, Nicholas Moore

Theses

This project focuses on the use of insect imagery in art and media and the theories and concepts that have been instrumental in understanding the cultural and political significance of insect species extinction and decline. I center my work on the concept of ecohorror and highlight several artists whose work depicts insect species and conveys anxieties over ecoprecarity and climate dysfunction. I argue that depictions of insects in art and media can be interpreted in two ways - insects as destructive, monstrous contaminants and insects as constructive, beneficial terraformers - and I rely on Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaa of the Valley …

20th Century Graphic Design Development: Bridging Theory, History, And Practice Through Russian Constructivism, Oscar A. Gonzalez Jr.

Theses

This project centers on examining Russian Constructivism as a design movement and its influence on contemporary graphic design practices. It focuses on bridging historical theory and visual style with modern studio work, particularly through the creation of LGBTQ+ advocacy posters inspired by Constructivist aesthetics. The aim is to analyze the formal visual elements of Russian Constructivism while producing original designs that engage with current issues of identity and inclusion. Additionally, the project explores how the integration of analog and digital techniques can elevate visual messaging and creative expression.

A Wicked Game, Andrew Nikonowicz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A Wicked Gameis an installation comprised of a video game in an arcade cabinet, photographs, sound, and sculpture. The installation explores the complexity of play and personal memory. Working from the concept of “wicked” (Epstein) learning environments – domains with hidden rules, unstable structures, and inconsistent feedback – the project constructs a playable space, where players must navigate an inhospitable environment, echoing the experience of living in a world that resists accommodation.

The installation centers around an all-black arcade cabinet placed in a darkened gallery space, inviting visitors to play A Wicked Game. The game demands the player …

The Transformative Impact Of User-Created Mods Within Fallout: New Vegas, Tanner Webb

Theses

Video game modding is one of the fastest growing trends in the gaming industry and it is changing how players interact with games. Review of current literature and research shows that these modders are an integral part of the gaming market. Using the principles of participatory culture and digital aesthetics, this research investigates how modding practices serve as both a form of creative expression and an inspiration for technological innovation within the video game industry. Video game modifications serve as catalysts for creative expression, foster the development of innovative user communities, prolong the life of game titles, cultivate a pool …

Cultural Constraints Of Mental Illness Among Black Males, Sabrina R. Hinton-Campbell

Theses

This research explores historical trauma, systemic racism, inequity of mental health care, and lack of access to culturally and responsive mental healthcare for the Black community, particularly Black males, therefore creating a legitimate distrust of the medical profession among Black males, which inspired this project: Cultural Constraints of Mental Illness Among Black Males. For this project, the researcher visually and explicitly depicts the literal mental health struggles using oil pastels with intentional directional strokes applied by using the sides of her fingers to blend the colors and for control and a blow dryer to bring the oils to the surface …

Strengthening Voter Education Campaigns Through User-Centered Design, Grace E. Holley

School of Art Undergraduate Honors Theses

Voter education materials should serve as a bridge to civic participation, but can fall short due to complex language, inadequate access, or clarity issues. These issues have the potential to disproportionately discourage already impacted groups, such as rural voters, first-time voters, non-native English speakers, and voters with disabilities. Though voter suppression is commonly discussed in terms of restrictive law, there is a gap in research regarding how the lack of available and accessible voter information can contribute to disenfranchisement.

Arkansas, in particular, struggles with voter participation. Despite barriers like strict Photo ID laws, lack of translated materials, and tight absentee …

Cavedivers: A Multi-Media Visual And Musical Release, Emily J. Langford

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

For my graduating UNO Honors Program capstone project, I have chosen to undertake a creative project that involves recording and releasing an album with my band, Cavedivers, while also designing the visual media and advertising graphics to accompany the release. The songs we have recorded were all written and developed before the start of this project. Therefore, this project is less of a songwriting endeavor, since most of that process is already complete, and more of an experimentation and workshop in communicating music through recording and identifying effective trends within graphic design.

As an art major and musician, this has …

Animation Gumbo: Stirring Up Style, Story, And Self, Miguel Caffey

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

This project explores how animation can serve as a space for blending identity, culture, and artistic techniques. Drawing inspiration from layered works like Arcane and Spider-Verse, I fuse 2D and 3D animation methods to reflect my experience growing up mixed-race Black American and Puerto Rican. Through frame rate manipulation, layered aesthetics, and the use of 2D visual effects within 3D spaces, I experiment with storytelling that embraces contradiction and complexity rather than smoothing it away. This paper traces the evolution of my creative process, the technical challenges of merging 2D and 3D, and the broader cultural significance of hybrid storytelling. …

A Fond Retrospective: A Personal Journey Into The Worlds Of Professional Videography, Editing, And Motion Graphics, Ben Caroll-Garrett

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

In this paper I recount my beginner journey into the worlds of professional videography, editing, and motion graphics without a formal portfolio. This is a personal paper, lightly academic in nature, and mostly diaristic. There is some technical discussion around camera and software usage, as well as navigating freelance client acquisition. I recommend it for anyone looking to decide if they want to swap career paths and explore an artistic field for the sake of financial or, perhaps more profoundly, personal fulfillment.

Fabrination: Procedural Systems In Game Design, Jason Beal

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

Procedural and parametric methods have brought the automated creation of digital assets, with the assistance of tools made with procedural algorithms has allowed for a semi-automated and non-destructive workflow for the creation of finely detailed and high-quality assets in game design and more. This paper explores the important tools and methods that are used to create these assets and custom tools made for the creation of these assets, concerning three-dimensional models and game maps that can be generated at runtime. Tool creators can use rules, noise, modifiers, and generative algorithms to give users the ability to create massive content with …