Digital Commons Network^™

Mel’S: A Modern Soup Brand Reshaping The Industry, Melody Chaerin Braunstein

Graphic Communication

My senior project focuses on the primary stages of creating a soup brand through market/trend research and branding. During this project, I aim to better understand the process of creating a brand, and the organization needed to flow through different stages.

My project hopes to analyze the current market and determine what it takes to create a successful product that stands out. My goal is to have a cohesive vision of the brand that creates a better baseline for later steps, such as graphic and packaging design, social media, and marketing.

Reframing Greek Life: The Ifc Story, Neal Raghav Parthasarathy

Graphic Communication

Organizations like the Interfraternity Council (IFC) have a hard time with telling a comprehensive story of the positive impact they are making to Cal Poly as well as to the SLO community. Our fraternities spend thousands of hours collectively to serve the local communities, and we collect metrics on volunteer hours, how much funds we raised, etc. However, these are usually communicated in a disjointed way through social media, emails and so on. So the various community stakeholders don’t get the full picture, and the negative perceptions around partying far outweigh the good we are doing. 

As IFC president, I …

Branded Skateboard Series, Max David Munday

Graphic Communication

This project demonstrates how graphic communication principles can be applied to product branding within the skateboarding industry. By combining research on branding systems, visual communication theory, and production methods with practical design experimentation, this project highlights the importance of balancing creative design decisions with real-world production considerations

3d Bouldering Project, Joseph Robison

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

Many indoor rock climbers struggle to make the transition from indoor to outdoor bouldering due to differences in route visualization. This project applies photogrammetry to create 3D scans of outdoor holds with accurate measurements and textures to improve climber visualization. The measurements were then mapped onto a Tension Board 1 simulation. Six climbers were divided into control and simulation groups to test effectiveness. Results showed that confidence and perception of outdoor ability were increased in the simulation group. Performance outcomes were approximately equal between both groups. These findings suggest that visualization tools can enhance mental preparation for outdoor climbing.

Digital Print Ordering System For Ugs, Han Nguyen

Graphic Communication

This project redesigns the UGS digital storefront to make ordering custom prints clearer and less confusing for students. Research showed that many delays happen because users submit incorrect files, such as wrong formats, low-resolution images, or missing fonts. To address this, I created an interactive prototype that guides users step-by-step through the ordering process and includes a built-in file checklist with simple export instructions. Instead of relying on a separate PDF guide, the new system supports users directly within the workflow, helping reduce errors and making the process smoother for both customers and UGS staffs.

Same, But Better: Modernizing A Professional Soccer Team’S Logo, Jessica A. Halladay

Graphic Communication

Valencia CF is a historic soccer club with a highly recognizable crest, and this project focuses on modernizing that identity while preserving its core elements. Rather than creating a full rebrand, the project follows an identity evolution approach, refining the crest to improve clarity and adaptability across digital and physical applications. Guided by research in brand identity, social identity, and visual perception, the redesign focuses on four key elements: the bat, crest shape, typography, and soccer ball. Each component was simplified through iterative sketching and critique-based refinement to improve readability and consistency while maintaining recognizability. The final design demonstrates how …

Immersive Experience Design In Contemporary Theme Parks: A Case Study Of Universal Epic Universe, Roi Andre F. Ramos

Experience Industry Management

The evolution of contemporary theme parks has increasingly centered on large-scale immersive environments designed to transport guests into cohesive narrative worlds. The purpose of this study was to examine the immersive design practices utilized at Universal Epic Universe. A case study was conducted to evaluate five themed lands, four attractions, and four queue environments using a researcher-developed observational instrument. The results of this study determined that Epic Universe effectively sustains immersion through architectural enclosure, intellectual property-based world-building, sensory layering, and interactive technologies that increase guest agency. The park demonstrates a cohesive “self-contained land” model that minimizes negative cues and extends …

Reimagining The Laguna Lake Driving Range, Audrey Bonifacio, Jessica Rice

City and Regional Planning

The Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and is operated by the city. Recently, the community, city staff, and the City Council have begun a conversation regarding the use of the golf course. To explore the different uses, this senior project presents four alternative developments for a selected area of the golf course. These four uses include enhancing the existing driving range, a sports facility, a children’s center, and a senior living community. To assess these alternatives, the project explores current urban planning theories, development trends, and case studies for each use. Through this …

Ari Still: Developing Packaging Design And Branding To Overcome Saturated Market, Andrea De La Vega

Graphic Communication

The alcoholic beverage market in the United States is facing a period of transformation, affecting the success and longevity of new launches and existing brands. Shifting consumer values and behaviors, generational changes, and an increasingly oversaturated landscape emerged after the immediate effects of the pandemic. Understanding these changes, especially as more members of Generation Z enter the legal drinking age, is imperative so retailers and spirit providers learn what the new generation expects and adapt in response. In a highly competitive market, my project aims to address how a brand can establish itself and be competitively unique, on-trend, and long-standing. …

Boutz Cellars Brand Guidelines, Kristen M. Burr

Graphic Communication

For my senior project, I plan to focus on creating strong brand guidelines for Boutz Cellars, a winery in Paso Robles, California. My goal is to give this winery the opportunity to gather their brand voice, focus, and pillars in one cohesive format, along with the brand’s design guidelines and rules for web and print use. The final deliverable is a designed brand standards slideshow that encourages consistency across print, digital, and promotional materials while strengthening brand recognition and supporting the company’s long term growth and market presence.

Nature-Based And Outdoor Learning In The K-12 Setting, Samantha Bertotti, Cecilia Dunbar, Julia Fazio

Psychology and Child Development

This literature review examines the impact of nature-based and outdoor learning on K–12 students’ academic achievement, socio-emotional development, and mental health. Drawing on a wide range of empirical studies and systematic reviews, the paper highlights how learning in natural environments enhances academic outcomes by improving self-efficacy, cognitive functioning, and student engagement. Evidence consistently shows that outdoor learning fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and deeper conceptual understanding compared to traditional classroom instruction.

In addition to academic benefits, nature-based learning supports socio-emotional development by strengthening peer relationships, promoting confidence, and encouraging prosocial behaviors such as cooperation and empathy. These environments provide opportunities for …

A Reflective Case Study: Mission Plaza Enhancement Project, Emma J. Roeller, Sheridan R. Green

City and Regional Planning

This reflective case study examines the purpose and process that has guided the Mission Plaza Enhancement Project. This leads us to our research question:

How do foundational theories of behavior in public space in tandem with evolving community needs shape the motivations and process behind the Mission Plaza Enhancement Project? What lessons can be drawn from observed behavioral patterns and planner perspectives to inform future phases of the plan?

To gain a deeper understanding of what makes a public space successful and how to record and analyze behavior in a public space, we will use foundational planning literature from the …

Cvj Torque Loss Dynamometer, Malaika Sriram, Coleman Brown, Zachary Norris, Logan Mast, Chris Mattis

Mechanical Engineering

This report details the design and results of a dynamometer testing rig built to measure torque losses in constant velocity joints (CVJs) for Cal Poly Racing's Baja SAE team. The rig spins a flywheel connected to articulable CVJs up to 800 RPM using a motor, then decouples it and measures the spin-down rate from 800 to 100 RPM to calculate angular acceleration and torque loss. The data collected from this dyno will be used to inform freewheel packaging for future Baja car development.

A Ship Between Worlds: Illicit Trade, Empire, And Enslavement In The Voyage Of The Nuestra Senora De Las Nieves, 1819-1820, Carly Eastham

Master's Theses

This study examines the illicit Spanish transatlantic slave trade to Cuba during the post-abolition era through a microhistorical analysis of the 1819 voyage of the schooner Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. Despite international efforts to suppress the trade following abolition treaties, this voyage illustrates how Spanish traders adapted their practices to continue trafficking enslaved Africans, fueling Cuba’s booming sugar economy amid shifting geopolitical and economic pressures. Drawing on primary documents seized by the British navy and analyzed alongside relevant secondary scholarship, this research situates the Cuban trade within the broader Atlantic world’s complex cultural, legal, and economic transformations.

The case …

Empirical Comparisons Of Partial Dimension Reduction Algorithms In High-Dimensional Regression, Nathan Greenfield

Master's Theses

In high-dimensional regression problems, dimension reduction methods are often used to address the challenges of multicollinearity and estimation instability. Partial dimension reduction extends these ideas by applying dimension reduction to a subset of the predictors, while the remaining predictors are modeled without compression. This approach is particularly useful when it is important to retain variability and interpretability in certain predictors.

This thesis investigates the empirical performance of partial dimension reduction algorithms and introduces a novel algorithm, Iterative Partial Residual (IPR). Two algorithms are considered: a baseline algorithm, Marginal Residual (MR), and the proposed IPR method. Their predictive performance is evaluated …

Improving Cellular Retention And Distribution To Promote Arteriogenesis In A Mouse Model Of Chronic Arterial Occlusion, Nancy Huang

Biomedical Engineering

Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease (PAOD) affects millions of people in the United States, creating pain, discomfort, and limited mobility due to restricted blood flow from obstructed arteries. While current treatments include lifestyle changes and revascularization procedures, these options are often insufficient or inaccessible because of procedural pain and socioeconomic barriers. In some cases, this can lead to critical limb ischemia and amputation as a last resort. Increasing blood flow to the extremities by enhancing collateral vessel growth, a biological process called arteriogenesis, with cell-based therapies can redirect blood flow around obstructions and has potential to mitigate and treat the effects …

Iud Insertion Pain Management, Sandhya Sridhar, Olivia Armas, Lucy Campochiaro

Biomedical Engineering

This project focuses on developing an atraumatic cervical stabilization device that serves as a modern alternative to the traditional tenaculum used during IUD insertion procedures. Current devices rely on sharp metal prongs that pierce the cervix and often cause significant pain and bleeding. The goal of this project is to design a device that provides the same stability and control for clinicians while eliminating the need to puncture cervical tissue. The device is intended to be used by gynecologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, primary care physicians, or any medical professional performing an IUD insertion. The device is intended to be …

Risk Management Strategies Used By Project Leaders In Construction Projects On The East Coast, Dylan David Decuffa

Construction Management

Construction projects are often defined by their visible outcomes, structures completed on time, within budget, and built to the required standards. Yet beneath these outcomes lies a less visible force that quietly shapes whether success is achieved or compromised. Uncertainty is present in every phase of construction, influencing decisions, performance, and ultimately the trajectory of the project. The ability to recognize and respond to this uncertainty may separate projects that proceed with stability from those that experience delays, escalating costs, and diminished quality. Project managers, superintendents, project engineers, and other related fields play a central role in navigating this uncertainty …

Assessing The Current Experiences With Electrically- Powered Construction Vehicles Within The Heavy Civil Industry, Matthew Joseph Beauchesne

Construction Management

Heavy machinery, such as cranes, trucks, dozers, and more, are a necessity to build dams, bridges, highways, and all the other types of projects within the Heavy Civil Construction industry. Traditionally, such machinery is powered using fossil fuels - gas or diesel - which in turn affects both the efficiency and emissions of these vehicles. This study focuses on the prospects of using alternative energy - namely electricity - to power such vehicles, and these electric variants differ from their fossil fuel using versions. The methodology of this paper involved seeking out construction contractors within the Heavy Civil sector who …

Impact Of Regional Heat Differences On Construction Productivity: A Comparative Study Of California’S Central Valley And Central Coast, Berthalidia Acosta

Construction Management

Construction productivity is influenced by many environmental conditions, particularly extremely high temperatures. In regions where high temperatures are normal, workers experience increased fatigue, require additional safety controls, and can even lead to scheduling conflicts. This senior project evaluates how heat differences in two parts of California affect productivity by comparing two projects managed by the same general contractor: one located in California’s Central Valley (Sacramento) and one located on the Central Coast (San Luis Obispo). Throughout the study, there will be two data sources seen: weekly labor recap reports focusing on a particular task (Concrete) and semi-structured interviews with industry …

Factors Impacting Wildland-Urban Interface (Wui) Fires: A Systematic Literature Review, Albert Jimenez

Construction Management

Fires in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) pose a significant danger to communities. The WUI refers to the space where development meets vegetation. Significant research has been conducted into wildfire and WUI vulnerability across the world to help combat vulnerability. These include the identification of factors of vulnerability to create indices that quantify vulnerability, and address scope gaps and inconsistencies within literature. However, existing research seems to be fragmented in finding the WUI vulnerability factors and often it focuses on wildfires and not WUI fires. The objective of this systematic literature review is to synthesize wildfire vulnerability factors identified in the …

The Impact Of Bilingual Superintendents On A Multilingual Job Site, Cesar Barajas

Construction Management

Language barriers are frequently encountered on construction job sites. Construction crews can often be limited in their proficiency when speaking English and in states like California, construction superintendents oversee a lot of Spanish-speaking crews. This study aims to identify if bilingual superintendents lead to better performing projects. Communication impacts major metrics of project performance including schedule, rework costs, safety performance, and coordination across trades. This qualitative study includes superintendents, project managers, and field crew semi structured interviews backed by survey answers. Interview participants discuss specific examples of how communication can affect jobsite performance both negatively and positively. Subjects are asked …

Evaluating The Feasibility Of Recycled Asphalt Pavement And Warm Mix Asphalt In California Highway Construction, Ryan A. Milanesa

Construction Management

California’s highway infrastructure faces increasing material costs, limited aggregate availability, and aggressive greenhouse gas reduction mandates. Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) offers a practical solution to reduce virgin binder demand and improve sustainability. However, Caltrans maintains conservative RAP limits due to concerns regarding stiffness related cracking and long term durability. This research evaluates the feasibility of increasing RAP content to approximately 40% when combined with Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technologies under California performance standards. A performance based framework was developed by reviewing federal guidance, peer-reviewed fatigue studies, life cycle cost analysis, and environmental assessment literature. Findings indicate that high RAP mixtures …

Life Cycle Assessment And Cost Analysis Of Exterior, Electrical, And Appliance Systems In A Prefabricated Mass Timber Residential Unit, Ella Rohrbough

Construction Management

This study presents a detailed process-based life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of selected building systems within a prefabricated mass timber residential unit constructed through an interdisciplinary design build project at California Polytechnic State University. The research focuses specifically on exterior envelope systems electrical infrastructure and major appliances. Material quantities were derived from a comprehensive construction material takeoff and modeled in OpenLCA using the ecoinvent database. A cradle to site system boundary including modules A1 through A5 was applied to quantify embodied environmental impacts such as global warming potential acidification fossil fuel depletion and human toxicity. Results indicate …

The Future Of Commercialized Bamboo Construction, Katie Hunt

Construction Management

Bamboo construction is a niche area of research and development in the sustainable construction realm. The material has impressive structural properties and minimal carbon emissions relative to the world’s most common building materials (concrete, steel, and timber). It has long been used to build homes in tropical regions around the world. Outside of these regions, bamboo is rarely used for construction despite its abundant benefits as a sustainable building material. This report took an interview-based approach to address why bamboo is not more popular in the American commercial construction market and where it has potential for growth in the global …

Immigration-Related Workforce Instability And Its Impact On Residential Construction Operations In California, Ana Castro

Construction Management

Labor availability has become a major challenge for California’s residential construction industry, especially as immigration policies change and its workforce becomes more unstable. Most past research looks at overall labor statistics and industry trends, but not at how these issues affect construction projects day to day. This qualitative case study looks at how immigration policy and labor conditions affect the daily operations of a residential construction company in California. The research is based on six semi-structured interviews conducted with five superintendents and one executive leader. The results show that immigration-related labor challenges differ by location within California. Participants commonly described …

The Media Today, Jon Kuzmich

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

How Many More?, Allison Aggarwal

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Fed Up, Lauren Goette

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Where Is Home?, Katie Miyoshi

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.