Digital Commons Network^™

Field Learning And Employability In Geography, Earth, And Environmental Sciences, Jacqueline Dohaney, Alison Stokes

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Society needs talented Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES) graduates to help address global challenges, but the pathway to professional employment is seldom easy. After graduation, most GEES graduates enter professions requiring broad transferable skills and 'value-added' experiences to thrive in the modern workforce. GEES educators can therefore enhance employability by using field experiences to introduce and develop transferable skills valued by employers. Here, we define employability for our context, explore GEES graduate skills and describe the ways that communication, project management and personal and professional skills can be embedded in field experiences guided by the available literature. We identify …

The Effects Of Color, Framing, And System Certainty Information On Human-Machine Teaming, Bryanna S. Hamblin

Theses

This study examined the effects of socially learned predispositions, such as framing and color, on the use of certainty information from an automated teammate in the context of human-machine teaming. Participants were randomly assigned to a color condition (red, green, black) and saw a series of 30 certainty icons (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) in each framing condition (success, failure). A 2 x 5 x 3 mixed subjects design was used to analyze the effects of each of these factors on the acceptance rates of the automation’s suggestion and the decision response time. The analysis found that color, framing, and …

A Mutually Exclusive 3d Convolution Based Time Dilation Framework For Future Frame Prediction In Video Streams Of Natural Events, Benjamin Robinson

Theses

In this thesis, a framework for predicting future frames from videos of naturally occurring processes will be presented. This is achieved by learning the underlying physical laws of the natural process through the exploitation of spatiotemporal features from the frames of the video. Our framework defines windows containing frames at varying time intervals, which we call dilations, and uses them to predict future frames using a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN). The network architecture accepts six time-dilated windows of input video frames and computes spatiotemporal features for each window maintaining the exclusion of the resulting features across three phases of …

The Progressive Potential Of The Horror Arg: A Digital Ethnographic Analysis Of Instagram Account Sabrinamiller230, Matthew N. Wiebe

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Alternate reality games (ARGs) are transmedia games that exist and operate utilizing a number of digital communication platforms. These games see players employing their digital literacy skills in order to solve narrative puzzles and craft theories with other ARG players – through engaging with the alternate reality fiction presented to them. sabrinamiller230 is a horror themed ARG that takes the appearance of an Instagram profile and presents players with a speculative alternate reality world featuring an alien who critiques humanity’s many injustices. This research paper seeks to address a key problem regarding the lack of digital ethnographic studies of ARG …

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?

A Dynamically Adapting Forecast Cone Based On Ensemble Spread, Michael N. Barletta

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Dynamically based ensemble prediction systems have gained considerable attention because they can provide a greater range of possible forecast outcomes and quantify the uncertainty in forecasts. In turn, forecasters can convey clearer messages to the public on the range of forecast scenarios and display inherent uncertainty in weather forecasts, which can be difficult to do with deterministic forecasts. Although global ensemble prediction systems have demonstrated skill in their probabilistic track predictions, the information contained within them is not always fully utilized beyond the mean forecast and standard deviation (i.e., spread). One way that these ensembles could be better employed is …

Aqualoop (The Four Stages Of Earth's Water Cycle), Precious Onwubuche

Theses

This research investigates the development of an educational initiative that illustrates the water cycle using real-life simulations and moving graphics targeting high school students and older audiences to connect theoretical knowledge with hands-on learning in Earth science education. The initiative utilises visual design strategies to turn intricate hydrological processes into an engaging educational journey. The significance of this project is underscored by statistics showing that fewer than 30 percent of secondary school students master Earth science principles, such as the water cycle. This is based on 2019 information from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Additionally, and notably, more …

Inclusive Design Archive, Roblyn Powley

Theses

The Inclusive Design Archive (IDA) is a conceptual research and design project that responds to the ongoing reliance on Eurocentric, male-dominated narratives in design education. Many art and design curricula continue to exclude underrepresented creators, movements, and methodologies, limiting students’ exposure to the full scope of global design practice. Even well-intentioned educators often lack accessible tools to bring diverse perspectives into the classroom in a structured, research-supported way. IDA offers a solution in the form of a contextual search application that helps educators and students explore topics through three intersecting lenses: Broader Perspectives, Intersectional Approaches and Alternate Narratives, and Concepts, …

Exploring Emotional Awareness Through Interactive Design, Mona Gandomkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This research was inspired by my emotional journey after relocating to the United States. Navigating a new culture, language barriers, and unfamiliar routines brought a complex mix of emotions. These experiences led me to begin to better understand and manage my emotional responses. That process revealed the importance of emotional awareness and became the foundation for my exploration into how design can help individuals recognize and engage with their emotions more meaningfully.

Emotions are significant in human life, from social relationships to decision-making. However, many people fail to understand their emotions or how to control them. Individuals experience emotions differently, …

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 …

A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study Of Electric Vehicle Advertisements From The Perspective Of Visual Grammar, Hu Yumeng, Yizhou Yuan

Visions in Leisure and Business

This article aims to explore the application of visual grammar in a cross-cultural context. Taking the visual grammar performance of electric car advertisements in different cultural backgrounds as an example, it analyzes how visual elements in these advertisements reflect visual grammar from a cross-cultural perspective, focusing on the principles of cross-cultural business communication. Based on the visual grammar theory of Kress and van Leeuwen, this study selected electric vehicle advertising samples from China and the United States and analyzed them using content analysis. The study found that although global electric vehicle advertisements have commonalities in conveying core values such 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. …

Preliminaries

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

Abstract not applicable.

The Evolution Of The University Of Al-Anbar Urban Planning Based On The Mental Picture's Diversity And The Contemporary Planning Spaces Filling, Ali Abdulsamea Hameed

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This research concentrated on the role of environmental graphic design (EGD) and the place-making idea in the interior environment of Al-Anbar University. To develop an identity being visual for the University of Al-Anbar internal environment (IE) is this goal of project. The search sought to create and enhance the shape of the internal University of Al-Anbar vacuum by reviving the idea of place building. In order to build and filling the internal emptiness of the campus, the identity being visual must also be strengthened. The descriptive analytical approach was chosen since it was best suited to achieve the goal of …

Attack On Titan Anime Memes: Possible Meanings And Interpretations By Young Adults., Yee-Lin Teo, Sze Seau Lee, Xin Jie Lim

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Memes have unpredictable and diverse interpretations because of their tendencies to be parodies, remixes, or mashups. This study aims to examine the possible meanings which memes may express and the interpretations of memes by young adults within the affinity space of Attack on Titan anime memes. The two-phase methodology involves analysing the memes using Shifman’s analytical dimensions of content, form, and stance, before conducting in-depth interviews with ten young adults who represent insiders and outsiders of the affinity space. The findings discuss how Attack on Titan memes normalise sexualisation, violence, and struggles such as suicidal intentions in young adults. The …

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 …

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 …

From Healing To Hope: The Continuing Influence Of The Chilean Arpilleras, T. Randahl Morris Ph.D., Apr

Kritika Kultura

Since the 1970s, instances of widespread societal terror and extermination have proliferated. The source of such conflicts may involve entities outside of a country but, often, the parties involved in the conflict are states and their citizens. These types of social injustices and human rights atrocities tear apart the very fabric of a society, often resulting from internal wars which pit people who previously lived side-by-side against one another. A constant in these conflicts is the silencing of communication on many levels which creates an opening for multiple forms of art to function as communicative media, visual testimony, and human …

Interactive Meaning Potentials In Weight-Loss Web-Advertising: The Female Body In Crisis, Emily Lau Kui Ling

Kritika Kultura

The common saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words” is no longer questioned in the twenty-first century where information is extensively rendered in visual terms. The rise of digital capture devices and online social media presumes that visual culture is head- ing towards greater influence in every aspect of life. This paper explores the ways visual representations attract the viewer’s attention, and based on Jewitt and Oyama’s analytical framework of visual social semiotics seeks to understand the meaning-making potentials of weight-loss advertising. Three key factors: distance, contact, and point of view are shown to be crucial in creating complex …

Marcos, Brocka, Bernal, City Films, And The Contestation For Imagery Of Nation, Rolando B. Tolentino

Kritika Kultura

The essay maps out the contestation for imagery of nation with the Marcoses on the one hand, and two of the most outstanding filmmakers of the era on the other hand. The Marcoses set out a megalomania of infrastructures and images that echoed the Imeldific vision of “the true, the good, and the beautiful.” I counterpose the major city films of Lino Brocka (Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag) and Ishmael Bernal (Manila by Night) to provide a contest to the official imagery of the nation. These two films uniquely evoke an intimate dialog with and critique of the Marcoses’ …

Reputation Management: Branding A Higher Education Graduate Program To Increase Visibility, Vanderbilt Artaxerxes Brabson Iv

Student Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project offers a comprehensive training tool for non-communication professionals working in higher education programs. Its main goals are to give users (1) a summary of valuable research on higher education reputation management, branding, and strategic communication, and (2) an online toolkit for non-communication professionals to boost the visibility and impact of their educational initiatives. By providing practical, actionable resources, these tools help higher education professionals effectively handle the challenges of strategic communication management. The toolkit is especially useful because it delivers evidence-based strategies and methods that can be directly applied to improve communication efforts in higher education. It …

Rêvê La Drame, Pranjal Yogendra Sawai

Theses

Rêvê La Drame envisions the future of luxury branding by merging Audrey Hepburn's timeless elegance with the transformative capabilities of augmented reality (AR). This thesis addresses the growing demand for immersive and personalized consumer experiences, proposing a pioneering model that integrates traditional design principles with advanced technology to redefine engagement in the fashion industry. The project includes an innovative identity system featuring cinematic storytelling and AR interactions, such as a giant virtual shopping bag installation showcased at flagship locations like the MET. This thesis presents Rêve La Drame as a transformative approach to branding in the evolving luxury fashion landscape …

Amorfe: An Ai-Integrated Interactive Brainstorming Interface, Ipshita Pal

Theses

Amorfe is an interactive multi-touch digital interface that reimagines brainstorming and collaboration using artificial intelligence (AI). Designed to make ideation more dynamic, the platform allows participants to explore, merge, and refine ideas in real time. AI is a creative catalyst, offering unpredictable outcomes and streamlining the brainstorming process. This makes Amorfe engaging, intuitive, and inclusive, encouraging active participation. The platform’s potential was demonstrated through a hypothetical scenario: “How do we create more green spaces on the RIT campus?” Four participants explored various brainstorming phases through touch interaction, leading to the creation of a prototype simulation video and a promotional video. …

Dissonance, Shreya Talegaonkar

Theses

Cognitive dissonance represents a profound psychological phenomenon where conflicting beliefs create mental tension. My thesis, Dissonance, transforms this abstract concept into an immersive multimedia installation that visually explores the human mind's intricate journey of reconciling internal contradictions. Using Cinema 4D, Adobe AfterEffects, and Resolume Arena, the project creates dynamic 3D animations projection-mapped across an 8x8x6 cubic feet space. Carefully designed blackout curtains and strategic seating immerse participants in a transformative narrative of psychological exploration. Audiences navigate through four distinct phases: Consistency, Chaos, Turmoil, and Adaptation. Each phase invites viewers to experience the unsettling yet profound journey of internal conflict resolution, …

A Comparative Analysis Of Diversity Statements In Public And Private Higher Education Institutions, Andrew Julian Aquino

Communication

This study undertakes a comparative analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements from public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States (U.S.). Employing qualitative thematic and comparative analysis, the research examines how these HEIs articulate and communicate their DEI commitments, with particular attention to the use of actionable language and communication strategies. Grounded in Social Change Theory, the study theorizes the potential role of DEI statements in fostering institutional transformation and advancing social justice. Guided by two primary research questions — (RQ1) What external factors are reflected in the language of the DEI statements of public …

Skincare Brands Strategies To Maintain A Competitive Advantage, Tracey Hicks-Kearse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Skincare companies are facing significant challenges in remaining competitive due to a lack of brand loyalty. To stay competitive, skincare brand leaders must adopt innovative strategies to increase product awareness and foster brand loyalty. Grounded in Michael Porter's Theory of Management, this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies skincare brand leaders use to strengthen brand loyalty and sustain a competitive advantage. The study involved five skincare brand leaders in New York City who implemented these strategies. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, social media, and websites. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged: …

Building Bridges An Inclusive Practices Toolkit To Empower Neurodivergent Adults In The Workplace, Gloria Saldana

Student Theses and Dissertations

In this toolkit, designed for managers of neurodivergent employees, we will dig into the complexities of neurodivergence, specifically of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This toolkit aims to promote inclusivity within the workplace. We need to bridge the gap in improving neurodivergence education by understanding characteristics and communication differences, identifying cues, stigma, and consequences of actions ( e.g., bullying). Prioritizing each person's needs allows neurodivergent individuals and employers to discover natural talents and thrive within a diverse society. Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, managers will learn strategies for clear and concise communication, facilitating smoother collaboration, and initiating changes in the …

Program Review Report 12-17-24, Angela Brock

Program Review Committee

No abstract provided.

Ucc Minutes 12-17-24, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

Skincare Brands Strategies To Maintain A Competitive Advantage, Tracey Hicks-Kearse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Skincare companies are facing significant challenges in remaining competitive due to a lack of brand loyalty. To stay competitive, skincare brand leaders must adopt innovative strategies to increase product awareness and foster brand loyalty. Grounded in Michael Porter's Theory of Management, this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies skincare brand leaders use to strengthen brand loyalty and sustain a competitive advantage. The study involved five skincare brand leaders in New York City who implemented these strategies. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, social media, and websites. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged: …