Digital Commons Network^™

Pedro Aceves Mfa Thesis, Pedro M. Aceves

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My Work is about looking at Cruising through a queer decolonial lens. Using multiple mediums such as photo, glass, Augmented reality, and film, I explore these queer histories and aesthetics through not just an anthropological approach but also an artistic epistemological approach weaving together narratives of prehispanic and modern queer Latinidad.

A Different Way To Hear: The Role Of Children’S Literature In Promoting Asl And Deaf Awareness, Joslyn Harrington

Honors Projects

A Different Way to Hear is a 32-page children’s storybook project designed to promote early exposure to American Sign Language (ASL) and foster cultural awareness of Deaf identity. The story follows a hearing child who, through friendship with a Deaf peer, learns to experience the world through senses beyond sound. Inspired by research on ASL acquisition, Deaf Studies, and inclusive education practices, the book naturally integrates ASL into the narrative and illustrations to model visual communication strategies for young readers. This project responds to a lack of children’s literature that authentically portrays Deaf characters outside of deficit-based narratives. Through careful …

Fashion And Film: The Art Of Costume Design, Abigail C. Stalder

Senior Honors Theses

A costume designer’s job is to create wardrobes that fit the film’s aesthetic, context, and personality of each character. Costume designers take inspiration from trends, incorporating them into their work through their own creative process, inspiring fashion designers and trend-setters to implement the styles in new ways. Thus, producing an endless cycle — an ecosystem wherein both fashion and film thrive off each other, continuously evolving to create beauty on and off the screen. Aligning my creativity and knowledge of both fashion and film, I participated in the making of six student films, costuming over 30 named characters as well …

Talk - Anothermountainman

V Music Magazine

No abstract provided.

Vol. 2 Full Issue

V Music Magazine

No abstract provided.

Mind The Gap: An Exploration Into The Accessibility, Ease Of Use, And Design Of Public Transport Wayfinding, Jack Nierenberg

Honors College Theses

Wayfinding, an essential aspect of public transport, is not always accessible, user-friendly, or well-designed. Because of this, people with disabilities, language barriers, or other difficulties understanding information or navigating public transport are put at a disadvantage. This thesis explores prior research and projects, as well as in-depth case studies of three cities' public transport systems, to identify best practices and guiding principles for enhancing accessibility, ease of use, and design. These principles can be incorporated into a unifying standard to improve public transport wayfinding and bridge gaps in existing systems.

Grapholinguistics In Graphic Design, Cameron Schumann

Student Research Symposium

Writing systems function as more than linguistic tools; they serve as powerful cultural and aesthetic symbols that influence branding, fashion, and multimedia design. Through an examination of typographic symbolism, foreign scripts evoke themes of mystery, exoticism, brutalism, constructivism, and authoritarianism, shaping consumer perception and artistic narratives.

Review Of African Design Futures: Decolonising Minds, Education, Spaces, And Practices, Ashley Ajumoke Stewart

Book Reviews

No abstract provided.

Improving The User Experience Of Joining Bowling Green State University’S Intramural Sports Program, Emily Piekenbrock

Honors Projects

This project, completed as part of the Honors and VCT Synthesis coursework at Bowling Green State University, focuses on improving the user experience of joining and participating in the university’s intramural sports program. Despite the program's popularity and impact on student life, usability issues within its IMLeagues platform and inconsistent or missing rulebooks have created barriers to entry and engagement. To address these challenges, the project involved the design and development of a standardized, user-friendly set of rulebooks for all intramural sports, a how-to guide for purchasing IM passes, and a quick-reference card for flag football referees. Grounded in research …

Corsets Of Empowerment, Dorsa Farzi

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

This project explores the intersection of fashion and activism, using contemporary design to reflect on significant women’s rights movements from around the world. This exhibition presents four uniquely crafted corsets, each representing a pivotal movement, from the Suffragette era to the ongoing fight for gender equality in Iran. Through modern aesthetics, innovative construction, and symbolic details, this project transforms clothing into a medium for dialogue and advocacy. Fashion becomes more than just design—it becomes a powerful tool for storytelling, sparking awareness, and encouraging new perspectives on gender equality and activism.

This project was exhibited at the Robert Hillestad Gallery, University …

For The Birds, Charlotte L. Middleton

School of Art, Art History, and Design: Theses and Student Creative Work

For the Birds is a homogenous material exhibition of porcelain pottery that explores the relationships between, expectations of, and roles placed upon women and pottery. Using traditional craft processes, still life imagery, and the language and limits of porcelain, I create arrangements that expose the viewers assumptions of both subjects. Pottery- pitchers, cups, and vases—is a product of anthropocentrism and anthropomorphism and can be entirely taken for granted- their role is assumed and unquestionable—to serve. The language and expectations of these objects are the medium I build with.

The title of the show, For the Birds, is both a …

From Farm To Friend: Fostering Compassion Toward Farmed Animals Through Design, Natalie Kosmos

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores how human compassion for farmed animals can be fostered through design. By analyzing the existing language, imagery, and social norms surrounding animal commodification, the research highlights the root of the issue: how humans perceive farmed animals in relation to themselves. Understanding how humans view and think about farmed animals is important for creating a message that disrupts these existing norms. The culmination of this thesis is a campaign, "From Farm to Friend" which is designed to be approachable and informative, encouraging the audience to have compassion for farmed animals and change their perception, from farm--to friend.

Literature Review: New Life K9s Informational Video, Samuel E. Moore

Graphic Communication

New Life K9s is an organization that seeks to unite service dogs with veterans and first responders who are suffering from PTSD and other effects of their heroic work. The organization is seeking a concise informational video that highlights their work and explains their organization to potential donors and the general public. My senior project’s goal is to create this video in a way that accurately showcases the work of New Life K9s and conveys the value of their work. I will be using footage that the organization provides and will incorporate techniques of video editing, color correction, audio editing, …

Introducing A Non-Zero Post-Humanistic Framework For Problem Solving In Design Education, Louise Kolff, Robert Haubt

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This paper proposes an innovative framework within interdisciplinary higher education courses that integrates non-zero post-humanistic design thinking and the concept of embodiment for addressing problem solving. We explore how design education can move from a human-centered approach, to a post-humanistic more-than-human approach. Central to our approach is "non- zero" thinking, emphasising collaborative solutions that benefit all stakeholders—human and non- human—recognising our shared responsibilities within ecosystems. We also introduce the notion of qualia in design education, highlighting how immersive experiences can evoke deeper emotional responses, fostering empathy and a greater understanding of complex problems. This combined approach achieves three key outcomes …

Ame's Rebranding Strategy To Build Brand Identity And Enhance Stronger Competitiveness, Michelle Adelia Sentosa, Aniendya Christianna

International Review of Humanities Studies

This research analyses AME's rebranding process to build a strong brand identity and increase competitiveness in the fashion industry. Using a descriptive qualitative method, data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation studies. The results showed that AME's rebranding involved visual design changes as well as adjustments to the brand's vision and mission. The new illustration and packaging elements successfully attracted consumers' attention and created a positive experience, which resulted in increased sales and positive responses from consumers. The findings provide valuable insights into rebranding strategies in the fashion industry and their implications for brand identity and business performance, …

Social Media Optimization Of Ramampa Resto & Bar As A Visual Strategy, Monique Pricilya Oei, Aniendya Christianna

International Review of Humanities Studies

In the digital era, social media has become an important marketing tool for businesses, including the culinary industry. This study examines the use of motion graphics to develop the social media presence of Rarampa Resto and Bar, a restaurant serving Manado cuisine and healthy MSG-free food, located in South Jakarta. Although the restaurant has a loyal customer base, particularly from the 40-60 age group, its social media content fails to attract younger audiences, especially millennials, who seek unique and authentic culinary experiences. This study suggests that Rarampa's social media content, which mainly focuses on event photography and the restaurant's ambiance, …

Analysis Of The Represented Interior Space: Hermeneutic Study Of The Peres Maldonado Ex-Voto, Blanca Ruiz Esparza Díaz De León, Héctor Omar Gonzaléz Romo

Interiority

The paper demonstrates the application of Henri Lefebvre's postulates in the hermeneutical study of the Peres Maldonado Ex-voto, created in Aguascalientes in 1777. This piece, authored by an unknown artist, likely illustrates the first mastectomy performed in Mexican lands. This study employs an analytical framework that integrates the propositions made by the philosopher Henri Lefebvre and the experiential spatial systems proposed by the authors. The former formulates a conceptual foundation that unfolds the body in three spatial dimensions: mental, physical, and social. The unfolding could make possible the defragmentation of the painting's elements to analyse the concept of corporeality or …

The Impact Of Social Media Influencers On Contemporary Art Trends - A Comprehensive Analysis, Babette Meng

MA Theses

Social media have revolutionized the contemporary art market, how artists promote their work, how collectors initially find pieces, and how art is valued and sold. This study investigates the effects of social media on the art industry using a mixed methods approach consisting of qualitative case studies enabled by thematic analysis and quantitative survey with statistical correlation analysis. Key findings from this paper show that with social media, the artist's visibility is vastly increased, direct-to-collector sales are promoted, and dependence on traditional galleries is reduced. The study considers the position of art influencers in the process of art promotion, which …

You Go, I Will Wait, Rasim Bayramov

Theses and Dissertations

On the other side of the coast, a hand is waiting. On the other side of the shore, someone is waiting for you to come. This space between you and them is an asymptote. The more you wait, the colder the pan is to the hand. But the salt of the sea will cover and warm your hand. There’s much to play with while you wait. The destination is only a promise, a figure disillusioned. Waiting spaces are enchantingly altering

in their premise. A bureaucratic fantasy with no avail and no ending. Systematically accumulated levels of power and control lies …

Civic Conservation Workshop: A User Manual For Creating A Makerspace Dedicated To Historic Preservation, Building Repair, And Civic Engagement, Madeleine Bean

Theses and Dissertations

Research Abstract:

Democracy depends on citizens’ participation at all levels, from local to national; moreover, engagement in one’s community is directly correlated with greater reported feelings of happiness and trust (Cox et al., 2021). This research examines how makerspaces can act as civic hubs that promote inclusive community interaction, facilitate the exchange of cultural and skills-based knowledge, encourage civic discourse, and serve as sites for political engagement through the provision of tools and resources that focus on historic home repair/preservation and craft-based trades. Specifically, this study proposes the development and design of a preservation-focused makerspace in Jackson Ward, a historically …

Mark & Gesture, William E. Pugh

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This paper explores the development of my painting and printmaking practice through the lens of process, artistic influence, and creative community. At the heart of my work is a dedication to mark-making in printmaking and painting as gesture and authorship and as a visual language shaped by process, scale, layering, and texture. My work is influenced by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Wayne Thiebaud, and Peter Max, as well as by my personal history with music. The paper reflects on how process, interdisciplinary influence, and artistic dialogue shape a practice rooted in both personal exploration and discovery.

Intro To Motion Graphics & Effects, Andrea E. Defelice

Open Educational Resources

Introduction to Motion Graphics & Effects MEDST 258 Section 1, 3 credits | Open Educational Resources (OERs) Faculty Fellowship Program 2024-2025 Online/Synchronous | Professor Andréa DeFelice

Links: Academic Commons: https://motiongraphicsfx.commons.gc.cuny.edu

OER-Calibrated COURSE DESCRIPTION: Get a project-based approach to the aesthetic and technical aspects of motion graphics and effects. This introductory course is designed to inform and inspire beginners, while utilizing OER and zero-cost materials. Students enrolled in this course are provided a free Adobe CC license and taught to use Adobe After Effects. Students are also taught how to be resourceful by searching out open license/free media online, by way …

Communicating The “Already, Not Yet” Through The Visual Arts, Hadley Jacobs

Senior Honors Theses

The “already, not yet” is a theological concept that addresses the tension of Christian living. Although believers are free from sin’s power, they are not free from its effects. This thesis examines the “already, not yet” through a series: one graphite drawing, one colored pencil drawing, and one oil painting. The graphite drawing depicts a ruined building, the colored pencil drawing depicts a building being rebuilt, and the oil painting depicts a restored building. They represent the fallen state of man, the state of believers on earth, and the state of believers after being restored, respectively. Together, these pieces create …

Reply Stop To Stop, Molly A. M. Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

Over the course of 8 years working in progressive political strategy, 2015–2023, I became increasingly critical of the systems, formulas and tools we were using to communicate with voters. Reply STOP to Stop is documentation of my time at graduate school, of wrestling with ideas of political design, language, communication and distribution. I analyzed my past work — all the texts, emails, social media posts, print ads, web banners, videos and other miscellaneous scripted content — and wondered if we would all be better off without it. Would elections be fairer, would there be less fake news, more community building? …

There's Still Time To, Lily Kip

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

There's Still Time To is a body of work composed of 51 photo-derived oil paintings. Each piece illustrates a relational situation which resists straightforward interpretation and generates infinite narrative possibilities. My source images come from my adolescent engagements with smartphone photography and social media, but the painted results are not focused on "photography" as a subject. Instead, I paint the photo to re-tread old memories and old relationships. The ambiguity of each figurative situation reflects the lived experience of relating to others and also serves as an invitation to the viewer who must base any assumptions about the painting on …

Representing Childhood: Abstraction And Aesthetics Of Simplicity In Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day, Elle Propp

Scripps Senior Theses

The central question driving this project is not “Is The Snowy Day art?”—a question that risks reifying the very hierarchies this thesis seeks to trouble—but rather: What might it mean to treat this picturebook as an art historical object? What must be addressed in the discipline’s practices, priorities, and self-conceptions to engage such work with rigor and care? How can we analyze the picturebook as an art object?

Costume Design And Social Status Visualization In Javanese Dance At Pura Mangkunegaran, Sriyadi -. Sriyadi, R.M. Pramutomo, Yoni Wulan Sari, Luh Elvina

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

The design of costumes holds a crucial role in visualizing the social status of characters in Javanese dance. By employing symbolic systems, costume design conveys this status to the audience. This study investigates the relationship between costume design and the depiction of social status in Javanese dance at Pura Mangkunegaran. Utilizing a qualitative methodology with an ethnocoreological approach, the research draws on a literature review as its primary data source. This review involves analyzing various documents, photographs, and videos. The findings indicate that accessories and attributes within costume design are integral to the symbolic system that represents social status. As …

"Fashion Forward": Fashioning Sociocultural Narratives Through Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis Of Fashion Editorials, Nemuel N. Oliveros

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This qualitative study applies Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA) to decode sociocultural issues embedded in fashion editorials, addressing research questions about the sociocultural themes conveyed in the photos, the role of visual semiotics in the construction and presentation of each theme, and the sociocultural connotations contained therein. By employing thematic analysis and the modified version of Machin's Visual Semiotic Analysis framework tailored to the research context, the study systematically analyzes pose, gaze, social distance, objects, and settings in eight carefully selected fashion editorials, revealing nuanced sociocultural narratives. Under violence and exploitation, it reveals domestic violence and the commodification of women. …

Beyond The Uncanny Valley: A Tradigital Strategy For Emotional Connection In 3d Animation, Alan Gregory Wyatt

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates Tradigital art - combining the aesthetics of traditional animation with the optimization of digital 3D animation. This cross-disciplinary study investigates how traditional artistry can still be preserved and enhanced in modern digital workflows without causing the emotional disconnect often found in the "Uncanny Valley" of contemporary 3D animation. This research, based on a literature review, case studies, and visual analyses, identifies elements of traditional 2D animation that can still enrich digital 3D animation without compromising the flow and optimization of the pipeline in many studios. Research shows that the utilization of both methods has the potential to …

Human Nature: Exploring The Role Of Design In Skincare Branding, Gus Smith

Honors College Theses

Human Nature is a clean skincare brand aimed at first-time skincare users in their mid-20's that uses a four-step system to provide a simplified approach to high-quality skincareI aim for Human Nature to be an approachable, relatable, trustworthy product for buyers in this demographic, and branding is tantamount to this goal. The research stage of this project focused on other skincare brands and advertising, mapping out where my brand would fit and how it would respond to other brands. As this is a graphic design project, This project includes a cohesive visual identity that communicates the brand, including packaging, web …