Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Students Speak: How Cultural Diversity Shapes Campus Life, Pau Medina Aldama, Yuxin Jiang

Student Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Using Biophilic Design To Improve Behavioral Healthcare Environments, Rachel Tuft

Student Research Symposium

One in five U.S. adults – more than 50 million people – experience a mental health episode every year and more than 11% of children are considered severely depressed (Mental Health America). These alarming statistics are rapidly increasing the demand for behavioral healthcare environments. Yet many of these spaces remain sterile, institutional, and lack the warmth and comfort patients need for effective healing. Research shows that as people spend more and more time indoors the lack of connection to nature in contemporary-built environments is negatively impacting human well-being, leading to increased stress, reduced focus, and slower healing. Studies suggest that …

Goodwater Elementary School, Sara Jones

Student Research Symposium

Goodwater Elementary School is designed as a replacement for the existing Castle Dale Elementary School that the community has outgrown. Serving multiple small towns in the area, this elementary school plays an important role in both education and socialization as the area is sparsely populated.

How Does The Evolution Of French Film Noir Continue To Impact American Neo-Noir, Bryce Lifferth

Student Research Symposium

French Film noir, originating in France in the 1940s, is known for its unique use of lighting and conventions such as fatalism and moral ambiguity. As film noir has evolved into modern-day “Neo- noir,” these same elements remain present through contemporary representations.

Empathy In Type, Lauren Watts

Student Research Symposium

This exploration of typography included a survey of questions with typeface examples. The questions paired similar and contrasting typefaces in order to correctly identify characteristics that portray empathy.

Elements Of Design In Frank Lloyd Wright’S Usonian Architecture, Jillian Ereú

Student Research Symposium

“The word “Usonian” (United States of North America) is attributed to writer James Duff Law, who wrote in 1903, “We of the United States, in justice to Canadians and Mexicans, have no right to use the title ‘Americans’ when referring to matters pertaining exclusively to ourselves.” Wright referenced this quote, misattributing it to writer Samuel Butler in Architecture: Selected Writings 1894–1940: “Samuel Butler fitted us with a good name. He called us Usonians, and our Nation of combined States, Usonia.”” (Wright, 2017)

Designing Healing Environments For Pediatric Oncology, Annette Cheng

Student Research Symposium

Children undergoing cancer treatment often spend extended time in clinical environments that can feel cold, stressful, and isolating. This study explores how nature-based and sensory-focused design can serve as positive distractions to support pediatric patients' emotional well-being during treatment. Features such as lighting, green spaces, soft color palettes, aesthetics of the environment, and interactive elements are examined for their ability to create more comforting, human-centered hospital environments. These environments not only benefit young patients and their families but also improve the overall well-being and performance of healthcare staff by reducing stress, increasing job satisfaction, and promoting a more supportive workplace …

The Impact Of Light And Color On Child-Friendly Spaces, Moriah Martin

Student Research Symposium

Light and color significantly affect children's sleep, cognition, mood, and overall health. Proper design can enhance emotional stability, learning outcomes, and physical well-being. This research explores how light quality—brightness, saturation, and hue—along with color psychology, influence behavior, cognitive function, and circadian rhythms. Natural light improves focus, sleep, and mood, while artificial lighting must be carefully balanced to prevent disruptions. Warm colors foster energy and engagement, while cool tones promote relaxation and concentration. Findings highlight the importance of evidence-based lighting and color strategies in educational and childcare settings, ensuring environments that support children's holistic development.

Research And Engagement Day Poster

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

No abstract provided.

Bryant's Ai Hack-A-Thon

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

No abstract provided.

Research And Engagement Day Poster

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

No abstract provided.

Bryant University Research And Engagement Day Program

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

No abstract provided.

Research And Engagement Day Poster

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

No abstract provided.

The Change Of Life Happens: How To Overcome Challenges In Order To Succeed., Robin Cruz

Student Research Symposium

The movies that are part of these exhibit tell about the different situations of students and how they can achieve their dreams. It also shows how to overcome the obstacle that they are facing in the different settings.

Typography Psychology In Luxury Fashion Branding, Gabrielle Foalu

Student Research Symposium

Nóra is a luxury Hungarian fashion house renowned for its conceptual designs and attention to detail. With a legacy of intellectual creativity and innovation, Nóra is defined by its use of unexpected materials and striking silhouettes, blending avant-garde minimalism with historical influences. Nóra's commitment to artistry and craftsmanship results in garments and accessories that are purposeful and elegant, created for individuals who appreciate heritage, precision, and exceptional design.

Nóra wants to be perceived as intellectual, avant-garde, well-crafted, and distinctive.

Boredom Is Good, Meg Demille

Student Research Symposium

In a world driven by instant gratification, finding balance and allowing moments of boredom are crucial for fostering deep thinking and sustained attention.

How Cultural Differences Affect A Country's Movie Poster., Cater Leland

Student Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Multi-Sensory Graphic Design, Rylee Mottishaw

Student Research Symposium

Multi-sensory design is a design approach that enhances user engagement by integrating multiple senses into the design experience. While traditional graphic design primarily relies on visual perception, emerging research highlights the profound influence of multi-sensory elements in shaping user interaction, emotional response, and information retention.

Grapholinguistics In Graphic Design, Cameron Schumann

Student Research Symposium

Writing systems function as more than linguistic tools; they serve as powerful cultural and aesthetic symbols that influence branding, fashion, and multimedia design. Through an examination of typographic symbolism, foreign scripts evoke themes of mystery, exoticism, brutalism, constructivism, and authoritarianism, shaping consumer perception and artistic narratives.

Where Is The Contemporary Design?, Anna Nelson

Student Research Symposium

Contemporary Design can be described as Design that is reflective of current trends and attitudes in design, specifically post-modern aesthetics and approaches that move beyond past stylistic and theoretical choices, even though it may be referential to the past.

Moral Fibre In Their Very Design, Annie Zaugg

Student Research Symposium

Superheroes shift with the times, their designs molded by what America needs in a champion. Early heroes like Superman were bold and bright- his flowing cape, broad chest, and primary colors embodying strength, leadership, and moral certainty. Draped in red and blue, he was a walking flag, a beacon against distant threats.

Typeface Research In Music, Raquel Nielsen

Student Research Symposium

For my research, I analyzed around 60 album covers from well-known Indie Folk artists. My goal was to observe how the typefaces used on the covers related to the genre's emotional and aesthetic qualities. I paid attention to the style of typography, considering whether the typefaces were more traditional (serif), modern (sans serif), or personal and expressive (handwritten).

The Visual Benefits Of Freeway Sans In Comparison To Highway Gothic, Bryson King

Student Research Symposium

A badly designed road sign might kill you: Death by Typography is a real possibility.

The Brutally Ugly: The Misconceptions And Perceptions Of Brutalism In Design, Brianna Tomadakis

Student Research Symposium

Brutalism in design is often labeled as "brutally ugly," with its harsh use of raw materials, sharp angles, and exposed structures. This label of "brutally ugly" is often appled to both graphic designs and its original inspiration of architecture. This stark, unpolished aesthetic challenges traditional notions of beauty, leaving many to view it as cold or uninviting. However, this style was originally designed as a way to vear away from conceptions of nationalism. The style is not purposely ugly rather it has a more focus on functionalism rather than decoration. Brutalism was intended to be practical, economical, functional, and long-lasting, …

Creative Inequality, Ginger Anderson

Student Research Symposium

Does an art degree define success? Some of the world's most famous artists never set foot in a classroom. However, formal training often provides essential technical skills and industry connections. So, is artistic success about raw talent or learned expertise?

Energy, Water, And The Cost Of Intelligence, Etienne Erickson

Student Research Symposium

Artificial intelligence is a term for a group of technologies that can perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and making decisions. AI has technically been around since the 1950s with basic forms in use such as a self-learning checkers program. However in the past decade this technology has been rapidly evolving and expanding into many forms that are actively used every day. This evolution is partially due to the vast advancements in computing power and data expansion. The use of artificial intelligence now seems to be a regular occurrence in people's lives as personal,convenient, and …

Type Dna, Ashley Brown

Student Research Symposium

In typography, negative space is not merely an absence of form but an integral component that defines and enhances letterforms. The interaction between internal and external spaces within a character – such as counters, apertures, and the spacing between strokes – plays a crucial role in shaping recognition and legibility. For example, the open counter of an "a" or the enclosed space within an "o" directly influences how efficiently the brain identifies these characters. Even subtle modifications to these spatial relationships can alter the perceived weight, tone, and overall readability of a typeface.

Opposition And Expression, Isabelle Johansen

Student Research Symposium

In a culture driven by speed, efficiency, and disposability, tradition has become a quiet act of rebellion. Designers are returning to handmade techniques, ancestral knowledge, and slow processes as a way to reclaim meaning, identity, and sustainability. What was once dismissed as old-fashioned is now powerful again–rooted, radical, and deeply human.

Representations Of France's Nuclear Testing Legacy In Tahitian Cinema, Jacob Rodgers

Student Research Symposium

It was rare in Tahiti for conversations about France and French policies to not include the topic of past nuclear testing, when I lived there in 2021-2023. Film and media also portray distrust.

The Correlation Between Fashion, Music & Design, Mary Marcusen

Student Research Symposium

Fashion, music and design often feel the same because they are deeply intertwined in their responses to the cultural, social, and economic conditions of their time. These creative fields share common influences, whether it's an economic boom, a political movement, a technological shift, or a specific artistic trend. As they reflect the emotions, ideas, and experiences of a given decade, they create an aesthetic unity that makes them feel cohesive. The key to this phenomenon lies in the way these fashion, music, and design communicate the collective mood of the era, which gradually creates a sense of cultural coherence across …