Digital Commons Network^™

Ikaros: See Through Time, Aisha F. A. Alnouri

Theses

Conventional heritage interpretation often relies on static signage, creating an "information void" where physical ruins sit uncontextualized. This thesis addresses this issue by proposing an interactive spatial information system designed to dynamically display, and contextualize architectural heritage in real time. Designed as a global framework, Failaka Island in Kuwait serves as the primary case study, driven by a personal cultural connection and the need to bridge the island's post-war generational disconnect. Positioned at the intersection of information design, interactive media, and spatial visualization, the system, Ikaros, utilizes Hellenistic Temple B, a 3rd-century BCE sanctuary, as its core testbed. The touchscreen …

Advertisement Recognition And Recall In Urban Environments, Carson L. Ambrose

Graphic Communication

Why is it that certain advertisements are so much easier to remember than others? And how can places like Times Square actually be communicating effectivly through the dense amount of different ads? This project aims to get closer to finding out how design and environmental ad density effect advertisement recognition and recall. To capture the real-world feeling of a dense city, a 3D printed one was created to allow for custom testing and various locations meant for displaying custom advertisements. These ads would be created using a variety of design characteristics such as color, hierarchy, composition, typography, and over all …

Sae What? Magazine - Issue 1 - 2026, Sae University College

SAE What? - Student Magazine

No abstract provided.

Innovator - Fall 2025

Innovator

06 - Message From the President

08 - Time Machine

10 - News

24 - Nureed Saeed ‘99

28 - Cell Mates

32 - Robert C. Sergott, MD

36 - Working Smarter

42 - Question & Innovate

44 - Alumni Impact

48 - Leeor Gal ‘19

50 - Class Notes

56 - In Memory

58 - Trivia

Phrases, Crystal Ching-Lam Tam

Theses

Motivational posters are widely used in educational environments to encourage perseverance, build confidence, and promote positive thinking. However, many of these visuals rely on cliché imagery, generic language, and overly decorative styles, making them feel inauthentic and easy to ignore. In visually saturated campus environments, they often fade into the background, acting as noise rather than as meaningful communication. How can motivation be communicated in a more engaging, intentional, and relevant way for college students? This thesis introduces Phrases, a visual communication system that reimagines motivational design through abstraction, clarity, and restraint. Rooted in Swiss design principles and Gestalt theory, …

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

Design With A Purpose: An Introductory Faith-Integrated Graphic Design Textbook For Christian Higher Education, Rosealine Lemette

Masters Theses

This thesis project addresses the absence of faith-informed graphic design curriculum available to Christian higher education programs creating a curricular gap that limits students’ ability to draw meaningful connections between their profession and Christian identity. The proposed solution in this project is an introductory graphic design textbook that combines foundational design theory, historical context, and hands-on skill building from a Christian worldview. This educational resource will guide students and faculty to view their profession as a divine calling, engaging in the creative process as an act of worship while developing an ethical and spiritually grounded design process. The comprehensive literature …

Greekmate: Communicating Startup Value Through Design And Marketing, Cameron Do-Khanh

Graphic Communication

This project examines how design and marketing can improve communication for early-stage software by applying these principles to GreekMate, a candidate management tool built for student organizations. The software functioned well but lacked a strong brand identity and clear value communication. Using Diffusion of Innovation Theory and research on UX strategy, the project focused on redesigning the brand system and marketing website to make the product easier to understand and more appealing to its audience. The redesign included a new visual direction, updated hierarchy, clearer feature explanations, and a more energetic style that aligned with student expectations. Informal user feedback …

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.

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 …

The Design Report: How Image Generative Artificial Intelligence Is Changing The Culture Of Design?, Katelyn M. Walker

Honors Theses

The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is reshaping the global culture of visual communication professions by automating design and design-thinking, causing an acceleration in the already-shifting values which favor profit, speed, and cost effectiveness over human expression. As the accessibility of GAI models is integrated into creative spaces, opportunities within the profession are beginning to diminish causing introductory and junior level design positions to be highly competitive and out of reach for many beginner designers’ reach. Additionally, GAI is causing the homogenization of global culture and values, ultimately reinforcing the ideas of capitalism. The result has been a …

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 …

Pixel Personalities Ai, Patrick Casey

Theses

The Pixel Personality AI project explores how AI characters can be embedded in augmented reality (AR) environments to foster user interaction and storytelling. By situating AI personas within real-world contexts, the project examines how design principles, storytelling techniques, and user-centric technology can create engaging and intuitive experiences. Through iterative prototyping and design refinement, the project addressed challenges in aesthetic design, interface usability, and AR integration. The resulting low-poly aesthetic and customized visual filters enhance spatial storytelling while maintaining a balance between user focus and environmental immersion. This research highlights the potential of AI-driven narratives to reshape AR experiences, emphasizing user …

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 …

Case Study: Creativity And Innovation In Graphic Design, Arberesha Hoxha

UBT International Conference

Design communicates thoughts, ideas, emotions, and narratives in a universal language. Cultural differences, however, have a big impact on how people view and understand design. Storytelling, usability, aesthetics, and symbolism are all impacted by the intricate relationships between culture and design. In a world growing more interconnected by the day, it is critical to recognize and comprehend the impact of cultural subtleties on design. Through the lens of cultural aesthetics, design is assessed. These aesthetics consist of fashion trends, color palettes, and design elements that are representative of specific civilizations. Aspects of design frequently have rich cultural meaning and symbolism. …

Fruiting Bodies, Abigail Weber

Theses

"Fruiting Bodies" is a motion graphic installation that visually interprets the stages of fungi development through imaginative imagery and dynamic typography. Exploring themes of decay and rebirth, it prompts viewers to reflect on the transient nature of existence and the cyclical patterns of life and death. In its original form, "Fruiting Bodies" is projected onto a large-scale 'petri dish' in a continuous loop format and fosters a visceral engagement with its subject, creating a sense of intimacy and connection with the ever-changing life around us. Its visuals guide viewers through the key phases of fungal growth, redefining fungi as symbols …

Variations On Noise, Clinton Van Arnam

Masters Theses

Variations on Noise is a three-part collection: an index, a set of interviews, and a perspective on a working practice in graphic design and sound.

If noise is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, how do we define it and use it as a catalyst for dissonance and change? As a designer, I use noise algorithms to generate pseudo randomness and break up repetitive textures. As a musician, I use noise to create scores and performances that challenge our perception of what is comfortable and uncomfortable.

Seven interviews with designers, artists, musicians, and a Tibetan monk offer ways to approach the …

The Ai Effect: Rethinking Design Workflows For Enhanced Productivity And Creativity, Israel Adeleye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming how designers work with computers. This thesis explores the developing relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and design processes, focusing on how it impacts the creation of digital experiences. This study examines the impact of AI on design, highlighting how AI can improve efficiency and creativity alongside ethical challenges and the need to preserve human uniqueness in digital creations. It investigates AI's effects on design workflows, creativity, and the designer's evolving role through interviews, content analysis, case studies, and surveys. The aim is to understand AI's influence on designer productivity, innovation, and …

Sonic Space: A Music Visualization And Interaction System Using Particles, Yi Sun

Theses

Along with the rapid development of digital music formats and portable technical products, individuals can rely on technology to have access to new music besides traditional methods like recommendations from the social circle. While music apps provide users with a more convenient and efficient way to enjoy music through a music recommendation system, users are also limited by the music recommendation algorithm based on genres, artists, instruments, acoustic features, context, or moods. People who wear headphones often isolate themselves from the external world and others, passively absorbing content recommended by the system. Music, as an art form, serves more than …

Program Review: Art And Design Department, Sam Rapien, Victoria Goro-Rapoport, Christopher Strickland

Academic Program Reviews

No abstract provided.

The Problem Of Communication Of The Sign And Symbol In The Design Of The Brand In Society: The Differences Resulting From Forgery And Imitation (Analytical Study), Sattar Al-Juboori

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

The research problem focused on studying the consequences of communicating through signs and symbols in the context of the current world, given the huge amount of diverse industrial and commercial products and the challenges related to distinguishing those products. The research aims to find out the problem of perception of the sign and symbol in the designs of logos and trademarks for the consumer, the role that the sign or symbol plays in the symbolic representation of the consumer, and the desires and motivations that the brand raises for the consumer in the purchasing process. The research community is limited …

Multitudes, Madison Otter

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Identity is a fluid and layered experience enriched by contradictions, the power of interpersonal relationships, and continuous growth. Recognizing oneself as a blend of opposing traits—strong and tender, contemplative and restless—reveals that humanity is anything but black and white. With each passing day, we evolve, bringing new perspectives and insights with us. As Walt Whitman wrote, "[we] contain multitudes.''

Although no single artistic medium can fully capture this for me, using multiple modes of expression allows me to explore and approximate it. This realization was the origin of my thesis.

The process of creation itself, whether quick or deliberate, is …

A Production Pipeline For An Ai-Powered Design Course, Gerry Derksen

IASDR Conference Series

We are entering a period of disruption in design which is up ending the process and in turn changing design education. By extension, the practice and profession will also be changed because of artificial intelligent (AI) tools which use machine learning (ML) technology. Current commercial versions of AI tools have already produced novel results sending a signal to design educators to consider the implications and future of design teaching. This paper introduces a new course being developed at our University in Graphic Communications to develop a pipeline which uses only online AI content generators to produce designs based on a …

Deaf Communication Awareness, Emily Grace Cruz Amponin

Theses

Whenever a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing person or a group of deaf people converse with people who aren’t deaf, they know various communication approaches such as writing notes on paper or phones, basic gestures, talking clearly, or lip reading if they grew up with an oral method. A Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing person may have hearing devices: hearing aids or cochlear implants, or they have none of these hearing devices. The Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people are trying and willing to communicate with their relatives, employees, customers, classmates, or instructors. However, people do not look at a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing person or a …

Kilroy Was Never Here: An Ar Mystery Game, Madeleine Baum

Theses

Kilroy Was Never Here is an augmented reality mystery game which uses design to influence urban exploration. It uses storytelling to enhance engagement with an environment, and generates an immersive experience for the user. It invokes a variety of methodologies, most notably discovery, transformation, and engagement. An alternate reality is generated through colored filters, motion graphics, and moving typography which both informs the user of the story and guides them through their environment. Discovery encompasses both clues and new locations for the user to visit as they unravel the mystery of the disappearance of the main character, Kilroy. Clues transform …

Artificial Games, Jake Johnson

Theses

This thesis project is an attempt to create an integration of augmented reality (AR) technology and tabletop board games, with a focus on tackling the challenge of maintaining engagement and capturing the attention of modern audiences who are often drawn to more interactive forms of entertainment like movies and video games. Specifically, the project explores the concept of augmenting older tabletop games with a combination of futuristic digital graphics and overlays with original physical game elements. The project sees and recognizes the problem, which is that the disparity between the level of engagement offered by traditional tabletop games and the …

Design Implications Of Feeling Playful: Play Moods + Atmospheres In Dialogue, Helle Marie Skovbjerg, Shanti Sumartojo

Nordes Conference Series

Based on a research project Play Stories the aim of this paper is to explore how a combination of theories about play moods and concepts of atmosphere can enrich the field of play design. The paper explores pairing through two design experiments. It shows how play’s atmospheric qualities insist that designers attend to how these moods emerge, and the shifts that happens when the moods emerge. The contribution of the paper is: Atmospheres help us understand the dynamic of moods, and we therefore have to design for several moods; atmospheres show us the multiple elements that can configure when designing …

Moodify, Jiaqi Liu

Theses

Abstract Degree: Master of Fine Arts Program: Visual Communication Design Authors Name: Jiaqi Liu Advisors Name: Mike Strobert; Adam Smith Thesis Title: Moodify This paper proposes a research and solution to address the major psychological risk factor of pathological rumination, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and other chronic conditions. Rumination and worry are identified as key components of mental illnesses and may be underpinned by the same cognitive process. This paper proposes a combined approach of Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) treatments to reduce worry and/or rumination. The proposed solution aims to assist users in …

Cultivating Collaboration: Optimizing Communication Between Designers And Non-Designers, Haley Constance Tebo

Masters Theses

Clients and designers, having different tacit knowledge, fail to effectively communicate with each other during the design process. These inadequacies risk relationships, reputations, and project success. This issue has long been recognized in the field of design, often as a concern with client involvement. This research aims to identify these complications in the design process and inform how they might be amended. Specifically, it investigates how the relationship between designers and clients can be improved in order to garner better communication and greater project success. In this context, clients are defined as non-designers that commission design professionals. A literature review …

A Case Study Exploring Effective Pedagogical Practices In Teaching Art And Design Hearing-Impaired Students In Bahrain, S. Al Hashimi

Information Sciences Letters

Although the education of hearing-impaired students has significantly progressed towards achieving quality education in many countries, it is not yet clear in Bahrain how their education should be managed. There is a scarcity of research about the way that art and design can effectively be taught to the deaf. Moreover, there seems to be a misconception that art and design can be easily taught to people with hearing impairments. However, there may be challenges that could prove this assumption to be incorrect. Therefore, this paper attempts to examine the challenges faced by hearing-impaired students and to recommend how best educators …