Digital Commons Network^™

Visualizing Equity: A Design Framework For Global Mental Health Communication For Generation Z, Jose Pena

Masters Theses

There is a lot of information about mental health available today. However, for Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, the information proves both challenging to find and difficult to understand. The World Health Organization and other global groups publish a lot of information about mental health inequality, treatment gaps, and workforce shortages. However, this information is usually presented in dense, technical formats that are not meant for young people who are not experts. Many digital mental health tools, on the other hand, don’t give young people the emotional connection, cultural relevance, and visual clarity they need to deal …

Miscela Aura: An Interactive Fragrance Experience, Francesca Delaney

Theses

How can product customization lead directly to design customization? This question is explored through the lens of perfume. The concept of layering and customizing perfume is becoming more of a desired feature in the fragrance industry, opening the opportunity for how design can be used to create an interactive fragrance experience. Miscela Aura is a custom perfume line centered on an interactive brand activation. An interactive display scans your “aura” and gives you a unique color pattern. Each color represents a fragrance note, the amount of each scent controlled by the amount of each color. As the user interacts with …

Murder Of A Creative: Mfa Thesis, Himani Sanjeevkumar Mehta

Masters Theses

In the creative industry, the phrase “fast-paced environment” is often treated as an essential ingredient for productivity and success. The contemporary design landscape operates within an output-driven system that prioritizes speed, visibility, and measurable worth, contributing to the growing commercialization of creativity. Within this framework, the creative process is often diminished or overlooked where it no longer serves efficiency, reducing creativity to a consumable outcome rather than a reflective and sustaining practice. As a result, creative professionals and students increasingly experience creative anxiety, burnout, and paralysis, alongside imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and self-doubt. These conditions are rarely examined as systemic outcomes …

Ethically Implementing Ai To Maximize The Designer's Workflow, Victoria Lyons

Masters Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing technology that has impacted nearly every industry. Graphic design is certainly no exception. AI has provided designers with a multitude of exciting opportunities and new methods to improve their work. At the same time, AI has also created some complex ethical challenges for designers to navigate. AI has the potential to greatly increase workflow efficiency, bring in automation to repetitive tasks, and provide new creative potential, but it also introduces concerns about creative and artistic integrity, intellectual property laws, and transparency with the consumer.

The focus of this thesis research will explore how …

Selling The Impossible: A Critical Study Of Nostalgia, Persuasion And Ethical Implications, Francois Elmaleh

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the psychological, cultural and iconic influence of mid-20th-century comic book advertising and its enduring influence on modern marketing. With a concentration on adolescent readership, it examines how advertisements in comics shaped consumerist behavior through aspirational discourse, gendered address and emotional manipulation. Through literature reviews, visual analyses and case studies—such as the Charles Atlas bodybuilding campaign, Sea Monkeys and X-ray glasses—this research investigates the rhetorical strategies and ethical ramifications of advertising to children.

The objectives are fivefold: (1) to inventory and analyze dominant advertising strategies employed in comic book ads, (2) to explore how they reinforced cultural and …

Designing Intentionally: Color Psychology In Graphic Design, Savannah Jons

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study will explore the role of color in graphic design and the psychological processes behind viewersʼ emotional and perceptual responses. Research will investigate how color psychology is influential on design, how the selection of color guides design appeal, and how it can alter commercial messaging.

The Fruit Of The Spirit Beyond Sunday: A Practical Implementation Of The Fruit Of The Spirit Through Visual And Experiential Learning, Amy English

Masters Theses

In today’s world, modern Christian women recognize the importance of the Fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance—but many Christian women find it difficult to consistently put these virtues into practice. A key reason for this struggle is the lack of practical methods and visual reminders that help women recall and apply these qualities in their daily lives. Without clear, accessible ways to nurture these spiritual fruits, believers may find that their growth in these areas is limited or inconsistent.

This thesis explores how combining intentional spiritual habits with creative visual tools can make …

Virtus Fidelis: Design In Modern-Day Catholicism, Elisha N. Butryn

Honors College Theses

Art plays a major role in how we view the world, and particularly, how we view religion. This thesis explores those themes and how design appears in modern-day Catholicism, and how Catholicism can impact design through the development of the brand Virtus Fidelis.

Achilles, Sreelekha Samala

Theses

ACHILLES is a speculative design project and conceptual artifact. It is not intended to function as a medically certified or biomechanically operational prosthetic arm. Instead, it operates within the realm of design research, using visual realism and luxury aesthetics to explore how assistive technologies could be perceived differently in cultural, emotional, and commercial contexts. Using 3D software to experiment with color, pattern, and texture, I designed a realistic mockup to demonstrate how Achilles could appear in a high-end commercial setting. Instead of animating the model, I focused on camera motion to highlight the prosthetic from multiple angles, emphasizing its sculptural …

The Technological Impacts Of Graphic Design: Visual Adaptations Of English Borrowed Terminology In Arabic - A Case Study Of Arabic Typography, Safaa Jahameh, Faten Al-Jazzar

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study explores how English terms used in Arabic visually adapt due to technological influences on graphic design. It examines the impact of Western visual design technology on Arabic visual terminology and aims to reveal the extent of these influences. The research highlights how technology reshapes language, focusing on both visual culture and linguistic adaptations. It investigates new English terms related to the Arabic language and analyzes the evolution of Arabic typography across various technological stages. The findings are based on discussions about language interaction, such as how exported technological language interacts with the host language. The study also reveals …

Graphic Design And Automation, Ellen Fixsen

Masters Theses

This research examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and DIY-centric template tools in the area of graphic design and how they affect businesses using them for branding and visuals, and how that impacts the graphic design industry. Although the use of AI in graphic design is a fairly new trend, the technology has been developing over the last several decades, if not longer. With AI definitely here to stay, it has become vital to explore how businesses and designers will move forward and utilize the tools it offers. Incorporating historical and statistical evidence, professional insights, case studies, …

Beyond Color: Design Approaches For Conveying Mood And Music Genre In Album Covers For Color Blind Accessibility, Victoria Erdmann

Senior Honors Theses

In the music industry, album cover design serves as a pivotal visual medium that not only acts as a marketing tool but can also shape a listener’s perception of the music. Designing album covers that are accessible to color blind individuals presents a unique challenge in an industry where color plays a significant role in design choices. This thesis examines how color vision deficiency impacts the perception of album art and defines four approaches that designers can take to ensure inclusive visual communication. By analyzing how contrast, typography, texture, and imagery can effectively convey genre and mood, designers can create …

The Space Between, Alexander Dixon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The Space Between investigates the intricate relationship between perception and reality. By integrating graphic design principles with the optical qualities of glass, the exhibition creates visual distortions that challenge and redefine our understanding of the world. The pervasive use of black throughout the exhibition signifies the vectorized image, a vital element of graphic design and the technological abyss prevalent within our society. The fundamental geometric shapes, coupled with minimalist sculptural forms, employ a graphic approach to highlight visual communication's influence on perception.

Graphic design has a history of shaping public perception. The basis of graphic design is the act of …

Using Graphic Design To Develop And Promote A Character Development Program, Mia Mummau

Senior Honors Theses

There are many out-of-school time (OST) programs such as sports, art, and community clubs. The majority of these programs have been strategically designed to assist with child development. Non-profit organizations, such as OST programs, struggle to gain funding and parental support due to the inability to communicate their message effectively. Branding is key for the programs to capture the attention of children and parents to better communicate core values and positive intentions. This project will assist a football team's character-building program in its communication of the vision, scope, and sequence. This will help gain parent buy-in and donation of resources.

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 …

Dress The Mess: An Art Therapy Awareness Social Media Marketing Campaign For Young Adults Dealing With Trauma, Victoria Leigh Alba

Masters Theses

This research analyzes the effects of art therapy on young adults between the ages of 18-29 dealing with emotional trauma. The research includes an in-depth exploration of various types of art therapy: visual art, dance, music, photography, and visual journaling. Furthermore, the study explores the lack of awareness of art therapy and how, through a social media awareness campaign, the narrative can be advanced to promote art therapy awareness. Finally, this paper aims to provide insight and practical strategies through a social marketing guerilla campaign, “Dress the Mess,” by incorporating photography, graphic design, and the social media platform Instagram to …

Sarah Boris, Emily Gaugler

Communication Design: Design Pioneers

Boris Sarah Boris has been in the art and design industry for over fifteen years, but some might say she is just getting started. Boris worked for design industries and art organizations such as the Barbican, the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), and Phaidon Publishing, but in 2015 she took a more independent approach and opened her own design studio in London, Sarah Boris Design. Since opening her studio Boris has pursued personal explorations, collaborations, and commissions. Her work is clean, bright, and impactful, and she is gaining admiration from students and design critics. She has a gift for creating …

Next Gen: Guiding Dads As They Spiritually Guide The Next Generation, Deylan Michael Smith

Masters Theses

The spiritual development during the teenage years are pivotal in determining the religious and spiritual values as teenagers transition into adulthood. As serious as this stage of development is, there is a lack of involvement in the faith development of teenagers on the part of parents, specifically Christian fathers. With this lack of paternal support during faith development, the percentage of those leaving the church during adolescents and early adulthood is rapidly increasing. The aim of the research was to understand important milestones in spiritual development of teenagers, why Christian dads are uninvolved in this development, and best strategies for …

Visualizing A Woman’S Journey Through The Old Testament Prophetic Books: Improving Female Study Methods Through Visual Supplementation, Olivia Martin Smith

Masters Theses

Christians are often less likely to read the Old Testament prophetic literature compared to other books in Scripture. This poses a problem within the Church for Biblical literacy and understanding Scripture as one complete narrative that points to Christ. The aim of this research was to discover what causes a struggle for Christian women understanding the prophetic literature, why Old Testament prophetic literature is important for women to study, and the best methods for communicating this information to a female audience. The following research questions were asked: 1. What is the standard perspective of an average Christian when studying Old …

Living My Best Life Gifting Program, Jessica Gilmore

Masters Theses

Living My Best Life (LMBL) is a qualitative research study that explores how creative products can help provide a positive impact on children. Research shows that various forms of art are utilized in therapy, classroom settings, outreach programs, and in homes to help children overcome complicated, disturbing, and disruptive behavior due to adverse circumstances they have experienced in their life. The research revealed how strategy that utilizes and implements creative products and activities can actually alter the perspective of children in a more productive and optimistic manner. The products serve as long and short-term interventions against negative thoughts and actions. …

Raising Consciousness: Challenging Diversity In Christian Publishing, Michael Omari Johnson

Masters Theses

The Christian publishing industry has overlooked the importance of diversity, particularly its impact on black American audiences. While studies show that diversity and inclusion can lead to more innovation through problem-solving, there persists a paradox where a lack of opportunities, disparities in wealth and employment and systemic prejudices can play a role in the ethnic and racial homogeneity of the Christian publishing industry. Thus, there are many barriers preventing people of color from emerging to the market, reflecting in the storytelling, content creation and audience of African-descent followers.

The Effect Of Social Development On Graphic Design Practice, Hussam Al Qur’An

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

This study aims to explore the effect of social development on graphic design practice and how interactive technologies present new challenges for designers to deal with ethically and culturally. It also explores the issues of graphic design in terms of a form of art verses a form of social science or communication. The goal is to gain better understanding of the meaning of graphic design and the role of graphic designer in today’s society. Reviewing the literature revealed how graphic design as a discipline has changed in response to number of factors. This study explained the core of the communication …

Processes That Cause Invisibility For Women In Australian Graphic Design., Jane Connory

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Graphic designers are generally invisible as the authors of their own work. A deliberate effort must be made in order for them to be seen and acknowledged. The collaborative nature of design, associations with clients, and the involvement of production teams further hinders an individual graphic designer’s visible authorship. However, gender also has a major influence on the invisibility of women in the history of this industry. Historically, the most celebrated practising graphic designers in Australia have been men, as evidenced by their overwhelming presence in books and on Hall of Fame platforms. My research has explored and addressed the …

Branding On A Budget: Marketing In The Nonprofit Sector, Nicholas Biere

Honors Projects

“Branding on a Budget: Marketing in the Nonprofit Sector” This service learning project combines academic research with experiential service learning. The purpose of this project was to create a strong brand for BeInstrumental, a nonprofit music education organization from Toledo, Ohio through the creation of a graphic branding plan. Principles of visual communication technology, graphic design, marketing strategies, branding, and graphic design are all implemented in this project.

A Study On The Visual And Verbal Languages Of Typography, Ellyn E. Duncan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

It takes a person 0.05 seconds to form a first impression of something new. While first impressions are quick and surface level, they are generally important in the lasting impression developed by the individual. I believe graphic designers have the ability to manipulate the first impression of their work by using the different languages of typography to command the attention of an audience and direct a planned impression. Through the testing and research of this thesis study, I aim to provide examples of how people share common responses and interpretations of visual elements and show that the visual and verbal …

Exploring The Enneagram Through Visual Aesthetics: Profiles For Personal Home Décor, Sarah K. Casmass

Masters Theses

The home is an environment that is the prime center for self-expression, personal sanctuary, and solace. On a psychological level, the home is a representation of the individual and, therefore, that individual should identify and find pleasure in their personal home space. Decorative art has long provided visual solutions for our innate desire to accentuate our spaces and express ourselves. However, there is a need for a connection between the visual arts and the augmentation of our basic psychological needs through home décor. With countless resources available for an individual to become more self-aware, there is a deficit in the …

Elizabeth Hein, Senior Art Exhibition Portfolio, Elizabeth Hein

Senior Art Portfolios

Elizabeth Hein's Senior Art Exhibition Portfolio, showcased in the Baer Gallery from April 8th to May 3rd, 2019. Works include graphic design, package design, and a zine.

A Systems Approach To Graphic Design Practice, Parisa Farmoudehyamcheh

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Over the past few decades, design issues have gotten more complex, and designers got responsible for solving more significant problems, from object-level problems to system-level problems to societal-level problems. This thesis is an exploration of employing a systems approach for solving these complicated issues. The systems approach helps designers to look at matters as a whole and consider all connected pieces in a network all together. In this way, proposing solutions to those problems will address all those parts and will solve them at the same time. In this thesis, I will study and analyze case studies such as Canva, …

Design As An Accompaniment To Performance Art: Incorporating Imagery To Amplify Emotional Impact, Brianna O'Neal

Masters Theses

Design as an Accompaniment to Performance Art: Incorporating Imagery to Amplify Emotional Impact is an investigation of how graphic design can be used to increase the emotional impact of a performance art piece, such as spoken word or music. The research indicates that memory plays a significant role in informing the emotion felt. The felt emotion then allows the viewer to form a perspective on the artistic piece as a whole. However, it is important to note that an individual’s memory cannot be controlled by the artist. Therefore, it is necessary for the artist to place a direct focus on …

Seeing By Creativity: A Creative Execution Designed To Bridge The Gap For The Visually Impaired, Breann Carty

Masters Theses

This research explores how design can simultaneously reach people who are visually impaired, along with those who can see, by integrating inclusive design. Research reveals that the visually impaired are frequently overlooked by graphic designers. These findings further show that blind individuals feel excluded from society. The aim of this study is to generate a collection of work that effectively combines visual design and braille to provide visually impaired people with a similar experience to those who are not disabled. To determine the most effective way of combining design elements and braille, experiments within focus groups were conducted. This exploration …