Art and Design Commons^™

Traces Of Communal Touch: Matrixial Encounters With Pre-Service Art Educators Across Two States, Kate L. Wurtzel, Laura L. Mccartney

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

The matrixial sphere, as put forth by artist and psychoanalyst Bracha L. Ettinger, is a shared and transsubjective space that is beneath the conscious, under the touchable and perceptible; it is a space where we encounter ourselves and one another in shared trauma, healing, art making, and the lived experience overall. This co-authored essay explores how a shared matrixial space and the matrixial gaze, which is not always visual, have been experienced through the square boxes of ZOOM as part of a collaborative, long-distance art exchange project. The project, focused on Spontaneous Creation-Making (SCM) sessions, as outlined in Barbara Bickel …

Aesthetic Wit(H)Nessing In Times Of Trouble: Propositions For Working Affirmatively With Difference Within Matrixial Pedagogical Practice., Nike Romano

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

This article explores how Bracha Ettinger’s notion of matrixial aesthetic wit(h)nessing fosters opportunities for dealing with memory and trauma in classroom encounters during times of trouble. Drawing on my experience of teaching a history of art and design curriculum at a University of Technology in South Africa, the intention is to highlight the crucial role that Ettingerian Matrixial Theory (EMT) plays in building trust in troubled educational spaces. Concerned with the ethical implications of surfacing and transforming traumas, the inquiry begins with a discussion on how South Africa (SA), and SA Higher Education (HE) in particular, are saturated with traumatic …

Artist-Theorist Invocation: Bracha Ettinger's Notebook Pages, Bracha L. Ettinger

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

[Editorial/Curatorial note] This special issue on Ettingerian Matrixial Theory, Education and the Arts opens with 10 pages of meta-feminist notes from Bracha Ettinger’s Notebooks, 2009-2011. Exhibited at Castello di Rivoli, Turin, Italy in 2021. All images © and courtesy of Bracha L. Ettinger.

Full Issue_ Artizein_2024, R. Michael Fisher, Barbara Bickel

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

This special issue, Ettingerian Matrixial Theory, Education and the Arts attunes with and brings together the cross-currents of creative and scholarly works that are emerging internationally between Ettingerian Matrixial Theory (EMT), Education and the Arts.

Orbital Thinking: Planetary Orbit As A Model For Neurodivergent Thought Experiences In Animation, Thomas Labow

Honors Projects

As an artist diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, the aim of my research is to artistically explore neurodivergent experiences using gravity-assisted space flight as a visual metaphor for episodic memory and the pivot between correlated ideas. “Orbit of Attention” is a short animated film that visualizes interconnected mental processes through the use of a character-driven narrative. The creative choice of depicting ideas as planets is inspired by the gravity-assisted flight path of the Voyagers’ grand tour of the solar system. In visualizing unconventional thought processes, “orbital thinking” was used to model episodic memory. As a research project, this film …

Dim111.2 Visual Response Presentation Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

Redacted example of a visual analysis and personal visual response, as in-class presentation slides.

Dim111.2 Design Analysis Essay Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

Visual analysis essay of a historical design piece, exemplar.

Dim111.2 Visual Analysis And Visual Response, Sae University College

Exemplars

Redacted example of a visual analysis and personal visual response, as in-class presentation slides.

Ani219 Project 3 24t3 Student Exemplar Example 1, Sae University College

Exemplars

This is a distinction-level submission for ANI219, Project 3 in 24T3.

Use Of Creative Outlets To Impact Quality Of Life For Individuals With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Andria Burden, Helen Carey, Zeida Gutierrez

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) profoundly impacts quality of life by limiting participation in meaningful activities. This mixed-methods study explored the role of creative outlets in enhancing quality of life for individuals with ALS. Quantitative data from the ALS-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form (ALSSQOL-SF) and qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews revealed key themes of adaptation, purpose, community, and quality of life. Findings indicate that creative outlets foster self-expression, social connection, and cognitive engagement while reducing isolation. Recommendations include integrating tailored creative activities into occupational therapy (OT), emphasizing group settings and early introduction to promote adaptability and community-building. This study underscores …

Amazed: Teaching Architectural Design Styles With A Board Game, Monisha Sooklall

Publications and Research

Future architects can better solve problems or develop their design styles when they study the designs of prominent and influential architects. My board game Amazed educates players about four architects' architectural design styles. These four chosen architects are part of an extensive list of architectural pioneers. These architects were selected based on their designs that push the boundaries with curves, designs with curves in different ways, designs that capture the relationship between light and material, and designs that use glass and steel in modernist architecture. The architects whose designs were examined for this board game are Ludwig Mies van der …

Hidden In A Handbag, Emmaline Landes

Honors Theses

The Hidden in a Handbag exhibition is comprised of a series of three medium size paintings using a heightened color palette. The painting style used for the artwork draws on elements of Photorealism as pioneered by Aubrey Flack. My work focuses on the personal act of revealing the contents of a woman’s spilled purse. By requesting that friends and family share the spilled contents of their purses without alteration, as well as the contents of my own purse, I capture a raw and private glimpse into these women’s daily lives. These paintings are rendered in larger-than-life detail, so that these …

Unpacking Bias, Accountability, And Ethical Practices In Ai, Manya Chandra, Micol Hebron

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This study is based on understanding how text-to-image generative AI platforms perpetuate biases such as racism and sexism and decoding how this bias is programmed within large language models and datasets. In this study, the results of generative AI are analyzed through the lens of affect and affect theory, as they are applied to investigate the machine learning and computer theory behind generative AI algorithms. The purpose of the study is to explain why generative AI is biased and whether this bias is generated due to current trends or to deficits and biases within the database that it draws information …

Little Shop Of Patriarchy : Analyzing Constructed Vs. Essential Gender Roles, Taylor Gadsden-Deterville

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Frank Oz’s Little Shop of Horrors (1986) is more than a silly kooky musical. The comedic plot dramatically dances with themes of domestic violence, poverty, and sexism. For this project, my poster will explore the expectations and representations of femininity and masculinity set up at the film's beginning versus the end. The film’s context will connect to research involving gender essentialism (innate, biological sex) and gender constructionism (socially constructed gender roles). I will analyze the roles of Seymour, Audrey, and Orin to exhibit how they discover their constructed and essential gender identities. The film represents Audrey as a ditsy hyper-feminine …

Exploring The Sublime Through Sound Design: A Multiplatform Approach, Elsie Mader

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The world around us has always vibrated with constant sound. That audio provides context for everyday activity, the background against which all life is played. To highlight its significance in the human experience, this study explores the impact of audio on emotion through my sound design for Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins' morality play Everybody. Creating and describing the design process, this study seeks to discover how sound influences emotional response, shapes mood, and complements visual elements. Aiming to discern what soothes or incites audiences, the design focuses on a juxtaposition between familiar and unfamiliar sounds. Special attention is paid to base elements …

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 …

Review Of Creative Design And Innovation: How To Produce Successful Products And Buildings, Tomás García Ferrari

Book Reviews

No abstract provided.

Classroom To Console, Ashton Headley

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

In an era where technology is continuously growing and intertwined into daily life, the field of education has seen drastic changes and innovation. Including changes we see today, with the ability to connect to class online, procter tests, submit assignments etc. And amongst these innovations, educational games have surfaced as a resource for helping learners across various age groups. By merging entertainment/gamification with educational content, these games offer an interactive and entertaining approach to acquiring knowledge and learning essential or non-essential skills. Whether it is implemented in classrooms, workplaces, or home settings, educational games are transforming the educational environment effectively …

Ethics And Environmental Impact Of Video Games, Anushka Chokshi

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

As video games grow in popularity, concerns regarding their ethical and environmental implications are brought up. While once, topics like their impact on child development or harm to Earth might have been considered minor or irrelevant, these concerns are now voiced in numerous articles across the internet, amplifying the urgency to develop games in an ethical context before matters are blown out of proportion. For the purposes of exploring both past and present views, this work draws from older and newer sources surrounding many topics on the idea of game development in the video game industry. Essentially, video game development …

Craving A New Look: Rebrand Of Cafe Crepes, Joan Yun

Graphic Communication

Cafe Crepes, located in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo, is an established business that has been serving customers for over 10 years. However, despite their prime location and experience, Cafe Crepes often goes unnoticed and struggles to attract attention from the community due to their poor brand image and visibility. Cafe Crepes' current brand image is outdated and visually uninviting, primarily due to their existing logo, color scheme, and typeface. Additionally, Cafe Crepes suffers from low brand visibility due to minimal and inconsistent advertising efforts.

The goal of this senior project is to transform Cafe Crepes' brand image …

The Process Of Creating A Visual Identity System From Scratch, Daisy L. Macias

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

A visual identity system is a collection of design elements that work together to maintain consistency through various applications. A study of iconic brands clarifies how a design is successfully executed. This creative project began with selecting an industry, writing a creative brief, curating mood boards for visual research, brainstorming a brand name, creating a set of graphics that aid the brand identity, and implementing these graphics together to create a successful visual identity system. For this project, an indie cinema was selected, and based on existing visual research for this industry, the design style referenced contemporary art. The final …

Forging A Niche: Preparing Models For The Animation Pipeline In A Changing Industry, Grayson Wiles

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

This culminating experience shows a complete and comprehensive skill set in the animation pipeline using three diverse 3D models: Baba Yaga, the Orc, and the Roo Fighter. This work includes reposing, retopology, UV mapping, texturing, and rigging. Each model was selected for its unique attributes and challenges, showing versatility in anatomy, efficiency, and communication. Spurred on by a dubious job market and the improvement of AI tools, this project showcases the author's capabilities to fulfill multiple roles in the animation pipeline, providing an advantage for employment in the digital media industry.

Architectural Narrative: Exploring The Convergence Between Architecture And Film In Narrative Construction, Cynthia A. Carbajal

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

This study explores the relationship between architecture and film, focusing on how both disciplines function as storytelling mediums through spatial and visual techniques. This research analyzes how both fields help shape experiences and the built environment. The methodology employed in this research consisted of analyzing selected films and specific architectural projects to assess the compositional techniques used within these works. The findings reveal a similarity in how architecture and film use cinematic and spatial design techniques to evoke an emotional response and heighten a narrative's depth, thereby enhancing the user’s experience. This study suggests a deeper understanding of this interlinking …

Shifting Perspectives With Procedural Modeling Techniques And Vertex Animated Textures For Real-Time Interactive Morphing, Stephanie Schulze

All Theses

As humans experience reality, they intake external stimuli using sensory receptors to process information, forming a perception. Perceptions are subjective and shape each individual’s reality. Naturally then, by changing one’s perceptions, their experience of reality is altered, for better or worse. To emphasize the idea that perception is malleable and encourage a mindset of questioning alternative ways to look at a situation, an interactive experience in Unreal Engine is developed where a dull cityscape morphs and transforms into a surreal oversized nature scene. Procedural modeling techniques are used to create a variety of morphing assets, while Vertex Animated Textures are …

Pokémon Go: Fostering Community In Location-Based Augmented Reality, Miranda Ward

Communication Studies

While most modern video games are played from the comfort of one's own home, Pokémon GO (2016) is a game that requires people to leave their homes and interact with other people in the real world. Pokémon GO contains community-building mechanics that reward players for interacting with each other and catching Pokémon. Due to this, players use third-party applications to organize meetups, particularly through Campfire, which is an app owned by the same company who created the game, Niantic. Uses and Gratifications Theory can be applied to understand why players choose to play Pokémon GO and what needs the game …

Body As Instrument: Crafting A Spatial Representational Language For The Dancer's Body, Avery Boland

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This project explored the intersection of dance and architecture using choreography, photography, and architectural principles through the development and application of a graphic notation system. Focused on the works of modern dance pioneer Martha Graham and photographer Barbara Morgan, the study tested the representation of the body in space through the use of Graham's choreography as captured by Morgan.

The results of the study demonstrated the effectiveness of the representational language in capturing the spatial dynamics of the human body in Martha Graham's choreography through the notation of “frame” and “plane”. Through a comparative analysis of the selected dances, the …

& Adalaide, Avery Reinhold, Special Collections, Fleet Library

11th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2025

Entry for the 11th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, Main Reading Room. Juror: Roger S. Williams.

Environmental Storytelling In Video Games Through The Lens Of Film Noir, Samuel Hagen

All Theses

My project is an interactable video game experience showcased through the lens of film noir, that focuses on the capabilities and benefits of environmental storytelling in video games. With a heavy focus on immersion, my project forces the player to explore a murder scene and encourages them to formulate their own narrative about what has transpired. My project fuels the player’s ability for self-reflection and self-acceptance through the player’s personalized and unique interpretations experienced while exploring the scene I have created. In my paper, I discuss the aspects of environmental storytelling and immersion in video games and how they have …

Beauty In The Mundane, Madeline Caniglia

Theses

This project focuses on challenging what compositions are considered valuable as art. The primary focus is on the relationship between light and shadow and how it contributes to the revelation of finding beauty in the mundane. This project involves studying old masters like Caravaggio and Edward Hopper while employing their techniques and methods in my artworks. Through a series of oil paintings, I depicted everyday objects and scenes to demonstrate how classical techniques, paired with contemporary subjects, help bridge historical and artistic practices with modern art.

Gamified Learning: Applying Game Design Thinking In Education, Qiaoxin Deng

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Gamification is an Education Strategy It has gained popularity in recent years. Gamification is a means to foster student engagement and improve their learning journeys. It's about applying game design elements in non-game contexts. This is primarily used in educational settings. Gamification of learning makes it more engaging and fun by introducing rewards, challenges, and competition. By adding rewards, challenges, and competition, gamification makes learning more interesting and interactive (2020).In this essay, I will be discussing the concept of gamification. Its advantages and disadvantages will be explored. It will also give examples, including Duolingo and Quizlet, to illustrate how it …