Digital Commons Network^™

Volunteering Creativity: A Tool For Growing The Church’S Creative Volunteer Base, Landon Joel Benson

Masters Theses

Churches often struggle to identify and recruit talented visual communicators because of a lack of familiarity with visual communication, limited resources, and an inability to recruit to an area of ministry they do not understand. Marketing needs accelerate as fast as technology innovates, and if the church fails to keep up, it will lose its relevance. With each passing day, the importance of having an effective creative team at a church’s disposal grows. Most of the research on this subject focuses on who participates in volunteering and identifying demographic or economic statuses. Few researchers have taken the next step to …

Meeting Madness- Maximizing Meeting Experiences To Promote Higher Productivity And Effectiveness, Heather Nicole Boswell

Masters Theses

Meetings are commonplace in organizations worldwide. In fact, meetings are important for collaboration, creative innovation, sharing information, coordinating activities, and more. Meetings in and of themselves are not bad; in fact, they are needed. The problem plaguing organizations and employees is the massive amount of time spent in poorly ran and unproductive meetings. This research aims to establish that these unproductive and poorly ran meetings are affecting employee morale, productivity and costing organizations millions each year. Research shows that improving meetings can positively affect strategic organizational outcomes and company culture and save time and money. This body of research shows …

The Meaning Of Movement: Using Motion Design To Enrich Words For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children, Hannah Elyse Colasurdo

Masters Theses

This thesis aims to address challenging areas of vocabulary for deaf and hard of hearing children by developing an open resource for students, parents, teachers, and content creators that utilizes motion to enhance written words for deaf and hard of hearing children. This research seeks to study the means of nonverbal communication such as body language expression and paralinguistic prosody (i.e., tone, intonation, volume, and pitch) qualities within the framework of graphic design through motion design. Body movement and expression are essential during face-to-face communication, but written language lacks such context clues. Additionally, the hard of hearing may not fully …

Reflip Type: Developing Visual Strategies For Teaching Typography To Collegiate Students With Dyslexia, Brittany D. Strozzo

Masters Theses

In educational facilities today, the approaches to teaching typography to college students with dyslexia are limited. This thesis provides a research-based pedagogy for teaching typography to students in a way that accommodates the visual, processing, and auditory differences present in students with dyslexia. Through the analysis of the learning disability itself, existing material for graphic designers with dyslexia, and current accessibility standards for those with dyslexia, this thesis offers a practical solution to provide a more balanced learning experience for all students, especially those with dyslexia. The aim of this study was to examine the current graphic design standards and …

Where Are The Women? A Feminist Field Guide To The Museum, Taylor Weaver

Theses

Linda Nochlin’s seminal 1971 essay, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” was at the fore of the great battle cries of many feminist scholars that drew attention to the limitation’s that female artist’s face in the art world. Women have systematically been left out of the art historical narrative while their male counterparts remain at the forefront.

There are many women that are very prominently represented in museums. They are largely nude and have been represented by male artists. While I do not argue that nudity in paintings should not exist, I do insist that museum goers become …

Game-Based Learning: Building Competence In Visual Literacy Through Simulation, Carol Record

Theses

Game-based learning is an ideal experiential learning framework for introducing the critique process to reduce student anxiety and create competence in visual literacy and self-assessment. Critique, the assessment, and analysis of one’s work is an essential step in any creative process. It is an integral part of art school. However, it can also be a source of high anxiety for new students. This paper discusses the importance of critique, the challenges associated with teaching critique, and the benefits of utilizing game-based learning. Examples of game-based learning solutions are explored, including the development of, and response to, Lumen, a card game …

Rip Curl: Community Activism For The Coast (The Ux Phase, Rip Curl And Sustainability, The Ui Phase), John Delacruz

Assignment Prompts

ADV 132 enables students to explore the craft and process of user experience and user interface design. They develop their skills within the context of a specific brief. The aim is to offer students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a particular problem and come up with creative solutions that will come to life on digital media platforms.

Cultivate Leadership Contagion: A Speculative Grounded Theory Knowledge For Future Change Agents:, Francesco Galli, Gerry Derksen, Zhabiz Shafieyoun

Learn X Design Conference Series

“Changing paradigma” can be defined as a sudden outbreak in the accepted social norm, a fundamental change in the way of thinking and a change of paradigm. Society and culture are two strongly intertwined realities. Every society is, therefore, the bearer of its own legacy and contagious. Today’s Cultural and Creative Industries’ education market is facing a rapidly mutating academic scenario. The revolutionary change of the society and the increasingly sense of Cultural and disciplinary “contagious” request our universities to rethink their philosophies towards critical and creative education. In what ways is the industry’s uncertain future challenging the traditional pedagogy? …

Environmental Education In Protected Areas In Petrópolis, Rio De Janeiro: Children As Agents Of Empathy For And Engagement With The Cause Of Nature Conservation, Marianne Von Lachmann, Rita Maria De Souza Couto, Roberta Portas

Learn X Design Conference Series

This article presents examples of environmental education programs and events run in protected areas of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, and a brief overview of novel findings in the histo-ry, sociology, anthropology, and geography of childhood, converging with those from the area of education, in which children’s agency in cultural production, the diversity of children’s cultures, and multiple childhoods are recognized. This article outlines the importance of continued efforts to take children from private and public schools, from kindergarten to high school, to engage in play-ful activities in preserved nature, as demonstrated in the initiatives described. When the full …

Socially-Engaged Distance Design Collaboration, Kardelen Aysel, Can Güvenir

Learn X Design Conference Series

Applied design education was required to replicate the socially constructivist structure through digital tools due to Covid-19 Pandemic. However the effects of the distant design education over the students’ learning experience is not stated yet. For this reason, this study aims to discuss how the affective learning outcomes, creative and design self-efficacy and visual literacy level, of design students. Within this framework, the effects of distance education in the scope of introduction to industrial design course was indicated and discussed through reflections and self-evaluation surveys. The study was held with 26 1st year industrial design students in the fall semester …

Improving Intercultural Collaboration With Visual Thinking, Kelly M. Murdoch-Kitt, Denielle J. Emans

Learn X Design Conference Series

Intercultural collaboration is one strategy for promoting inclusion and innovation in design education. Bringing two or more cultures together in an environment facilitates learning from each other’s varied perspectives and ultimately creates positive interpersonal gains and design outcomes. This study explicates how visual thinking can address unspoken stumbling blocks that can disrupt teamwork. These barriers include unconscious bias, stereotyping, and other deeply held beliefs. This research is based on observations and virtual classroom interactions with remote collaborators located in North America and the Gulf Arab Region. The findings suggest that ignoring the existence of unconscious bias can maintain social and …

Process Based Collaborations: Spanning Boundaries For Future Provocations, Rebekah Ison Radtke, Hannah Dewhirst, Joe Brewer, Ingrid Schmidt

Learn X Design Conference Series

From the COVID-19 pandemic upending higher education, design education has been stretched, challenged, and reckoned with over the course of the past year. Against this backdrop, many have shifted their focus from in-person to online learning modalities. While understanding that is an accessible solution, we also recognize that is at a detriment to col-laboration and creation in traditional design education practices. Seeking to actively foster diverse ways of approaching interior design pedagogy, a collaborative team of faculty cre-ated a platform for multidisciplinary making to engage students in a semester-long work-shop series, entitled, Blender. Blender intends on creating inclusive learning landscapes …

Social Implementation Of Design Workshops Output: Research On Factors Leading To A Project Successful Introduction And Application, Yanfang Zhang, Christian Cruz, Shinichiro Ito, Tokushu Inamura

Learn X Design Conference Series

This paper is a summary of the analyzed experiences collected from ‘social implementation projects’ which started as participatory design workshops. Since there is very little research done on social implementation methods based on these kinds of workshops outcome, this study aims to review the projects that were successfully implemented and clarify the factors leading to their successful social realization. Using a qualitative approach, archival data was reviewed and project leaders were interviewed, which shed light over the characteristics necessary for the successful enactment of the ideas sprung from the workshops. This study shows there are four essential attributes that a …

Inquiry Practice Design Teaching In Application-Oriented University:Idea, Model And Case, Jianpeng Zheng

Learn X Design Conference Series

Inquiry practice is proposed based on the training objectives of high-level application-oriented talents of design major in Application-oriented Colleges and universities. It originates from inquiry learning, but it is very different from inquiry learning, research learning and research practice. Its characteristics of emphasizing free operation, open autonomy and vivid activities are especially suitable for application in practice teaching of design major. Taking the undergraduate course "brand communication design" during the epidemic period in 2020 as an example, this paper discusses the curriculum logic, teaching process and teaching methods of inquiry practice teaching of design major in application-oriented universities, and puts …

On The Signature Pedagogy Of Photography Courses From The Perspective Of Visual Communication Design, Yuanyuan Xu

Learn X Design Conference Series

As globalization deepens and cultural exchange becomes more frequent, the image has become an important channel of international cultural exchange and communication. As a form of light and shadow of contemporary art, it has its own advantages compared with literal communication. The application of lens language in image art and the expression of colour and emotion can bring a strong visual impact, and effectively arouse people's imagination and thoughts. Thus, the image has become a typical symbol of the arts in this era. How the courses of visual communication design adapt to the demands of this era is an important …

Rethinking Experiential Learning In Design Education: The Shift Of The Systemic Design Course To A Multimodal Online Learning Environment, Alessandro Campanella, Eliana Ferrulli, Silvia Barbero

Learn X Design Conference Series

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has generated serious consequences on the higher ed-ucation sector, highlighting its existing vulnerabilities and forcing it to face complex challenges. However, the current situation can also be seen as an opportunity to deeply rethink the learning activities and the environments in which they are carried out, whether online or in the class-room, designing long-term innovation plans that extends beyond the end of the crisis. The paper aims to explore the process of redesigning an experiential and social learning course for an online learning modality. The reported case study, the Systemic Design course held in …

Track 10: Design Educators As Change Agents, Xiang Xia, Ziyuan Wang, Yang Zhang

Learn X Design Conference Series

In this track, the collection of the invited 16 submissions exemplifies teaching and learning experiences in design education research including 12 research papers, 2 case studies, and 2 workshop proposals. The submission explored the theme from different cultural perspectives which ranged from the insight of teaching creativity and design thinking, designers in a studio, design knowledge and methods applied in design classes, and the leadership and related course settings. Moreover, these studies employed diverse methods including verification research, case studies, exploratory study, protocol study, and empirical studies.

Ankara 2019: Insider Knowledge, Naz A.G.Z. Börekçi, Fatma Korkut, Dalsu Özgen Koçyıldırım

Learn X Design Conference Series

The fifth conference of the Learn X Design series, DRSLXD2019, was held in Ankara between 9-12 July 2019, hosted by Middle East Technical University (METU).

From Eyes To Ears How To Deal With The Acoustic Element ‘Voice’ As A Visual Designer, Daniela Hensel, Birgit Bauer, Stefanie Voß

Learn X Design Conference Series

As part of the ‘software evolution’ (Mens, 2008), acoustic rather than visual interfaces are increasingly developing into the decisive contact point in the interaction between the product or service and the user. Voices, ‘VUI’s, play an important role the design of communication, yet communication designers are not yet firmly established in this field and, for example, the process of voice selection is often described as a particular hurdle especially when the selection needs to align with strategic parameters of a brand. This raises several questions: What role can communication designers play in the future in the complex field of designing …

Framing Research Assistants’ Pedagogical Roles In Design Studio Courses: Initial Findings, Koray Gelmez, Pelin Efilti, Enver Tatlısu, Tuğçe Ecem Tüfek, Onur Yılmaz

Learn X Design Conference Series

Participants of a design studio regardless of the titles and responsibilities apparently influence both teaching and learning processes. Even though it is possible to find several studies focusing on design teachers and design students, scholars have been silent to investigate the teaching activities of research/teaching assistants in a design studio course context. This study is an attempt to understand and frame the perceived pedagogical roles of research assistants in design studio courses. In this sense, we designed a survey addressing in-studio roles and responsibilities, the relations with the instructors, the effects on the student learning process, the factors shaping pedagogical …

Transformative Teaching Practice Through A Design Thinking Approach In Social Settings: A Reflection On The Delivery Of A Design Research Methods Module In A Graphic Design Programme At Undergraduate Level, Janey Deng Klingelfuss, Markus Klingelfuss

Learn X Design Conference Series

An acknowledgement of the transformative nature of education; one in which design educators are seen as active agents of change, is not new. However, acknowledging the importance of such a phenomenon is fundamental to exploring academic practice in design education. In relation to social contexts and transformations, meeting stakeholders’ needs is increasingly significant to how universities set out graduate options and outcomes for students. Higher education is expected to play a key role in developing the multiple skills and capacities of design and creative subject students for future work in the creative and cultural industries (Ashton, 2017; Naudin, 2013; Nesta, …

Preparing To Introduce Design Thinking In Middle Schools, Michael Robert Gibson, Keith Michael Owens, Peter Hyland, Christina Donaldson

Learn X Design Conference Series

This case study critically analyses and describes knowledge gained and understandings constructed by a team of university-based design educators and researchers who engaged in the planning necessary to begin introducing specific aspects of design thinking in middle school classrooms in an Texas city of more than 140,000. (Middle schools in the U.S. typically educate students aged 11 to 14 years.) This piece articulates key insights about how and why the introduction of design thinking should be collaboratively and strategically planned if it is to function as an effective augmentation of a college preparatory curricula, and the learning experiences that constitute …

Problems In The Reform Of Design Teaching And Solutions :Taking Shandong University Of Art And Design As An Example, Lei Sun

Learn X Design Conference Series

This article takes the teaching reform of the undergraduate program in Shandong University of Art & Design as a case for study. Through surveys with students, teachers, and employers, it finds out three core challenges faced by the design majors, and proposes three correspondent solutions, namely to use “aptitude-based teaching to cultivate talents”, “learning-assisted teaching to classify the teaching system”, and “learning-promoted teaching to innovate lectures”, which lead to a philosophy for the reform, where student’s development is regarded as the very foundation of all learning, and their achievement as the orientation of all work. This article analyses the common …

Exploring The Experiential Reading Differences Between Visual And Written Research Papers, Bryan Howell, Asa Jackson, Henry Lee, Julienne Devita, Rebekah Rawlings

Learn X Design Conference Series

Visual or pictorial research papers have emerged in recent years in academic conferences as a non-written archival contribution. Dual Coding Theory teaches us that visual knowledge is distinct from written knowledge and is arguably a universal language (Dreyfuss, 1984), with the ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, precision, and efficiency (Tufte, 2001). This study explores the reading experience differences between a visual and written research paper containing identical content from design, engineering, and business disciplines. Reading experiences were assessed using a ‘think, feel, and do’ survey, and comprehension was assessed with a quiz. Participants tracked time spent reading and …

Designing Criteria For Developing Educational Multimedia Games, Chaitanya Solanki, Deepak John Mathew

Learn X Design Conference Series

Increasing research is being done into the relationship between learning and games in recent years. Player engagement and intrinsic/extrinsic motivation have shown to be pertinent in improving the quality of knowledge retention in game-based learning environments. Similarly, the use of multimedia in game-based learning environments has also shown to have significant potential for effective learning; however, it is unclear whether a generalized criterion can be designed for it. This work presents a review of theories and guidelines that pertain to learning environments, game design, and multimedia learning, in an effort to distill the key elements which can help develop design …

It’S The Cultural Difference That Makes The Difference: International Collaboration In Multidiscipline, Transcultural, Design Pedagogy, Clive Hilton, Muxing Gao, Rong Wei

Learn X Design Conference Series

For three years, the Communication University of Zhejiang (CUZ), China, and Coventry University (CU), UK, have been collaborating in an annual project that sees multidisciplinary, transcultural groups of undergraduate and postgraduate design students engaging in projects that help prepare them for future employment as culturally aware global designers. Its focus is on an enhanced under-standing of the importance of cultural dimensions, research led collaboration, and the need for em-pathetic, coordinated communication. In these accelerated, Collaborative Online International Learn-ing (COIL) projects, the students self-direct their actions to rapidly break down initial inhibitions in becoming effective, creative problem solvers who, by the …

Assessment Of Ideation Effectiveness In Design Thinking: The Impact Of Morphological Analysis In The Process Of Creative Problem Solving, Farzaneh Eftekhari, Mohammad Jahanbakht, Farnoosh Sharbafi

Learn X Design Conference Series

Creative problem solving (CPS) emerged as a critical soft skill for students, yet the evaluation and effectiveness of the CPS methods is not fully understood. This study examined the ideation effectiveness of junior design students. Students are asked to ideate for a complex challenge, a 1000-floor elevator in two phases, with a morphological analysis (MA) method introduced to them as an intervention after the first phase. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the MA method in the students’ ideation process and their creative thinking by using four measures of novelty, quality, quantity, and variety using the quantitative and qualitative methods. …

Nonprofit Social Media Internships: A Handbook, Allison M. Laroy

The Cardinal Edge

This brief research report provides details on a study that examines how nonprofits can best prepare their interns and how interns can best prepare themselves for a role in engaging audiences through social media. Through a literature review on nonprofit social media and internships, a series of qualitative interviews with interns and supervisors, and the researcher’s lived experiences as a social media intern, a handbook was developed for nonprofit social media internships. This guide is relevant to the specific experiences of nonprofit social media internships, includes advice on training, mentorship, and best practices, and finally, it incorporates further resources on …

Between Yarn And Electrons: A Method For Designing Textural Expressions In Electromagnetic Smart Textiles, Erin Lewis

Nordes Conference Series

The design of smart textiles presents a discrepancy of scale where the designer works at the level of structural textile design while facets of the material express at scales beyond one’s senses. Without methods to narrow this gap, certain expressional domains of the textile are closed off from design possibilities. The aim of the research has been to design a method for observing, visualizing, and describing expressions of electromagnetism in textiles. Through a method of textile surface scanning, one can produce a visualization of its electromagnetic field. Woven textile samples observed through this method reveal a textural quality that exists …

Scaling Up Diversity And Inclusion: From Classroom To Municipality, Annukka Svanda, Martina Čaić, Tuuli Mattelmäki

Nordes Conference Series

This paper investigates opportunities for scaling up the diversity and inclusion of international residents at the level of municipality service offerings. The starting point is a set of small-scale service design projects actively involving municipal representatives and university students. This collaboration was part of a service design course at Aalto University addressing challenges faced by the municipality of Espoo, Finland. Through triangulation of three data sources i) precourse meetings, ii) email surveys during the course, and iii) semi-structured interviews with participating municipal representatives after the course, this paper offers insights on how smallscale service design collaborations can facilitate the scaling …