Business Commons^™

Coffee Cactus, Mackenzie Haneman

Graphic Communication

Coffee is one of the most well known and enjoyed drinks in the world. So many people go out to coffee shops to get work done, catch up with friends, or just to simply enjoy a local cup of coffee. Yet, many people find it difficult to bring that experience into the comfort of their own homes or have found tools that bring a personal and unique experience. Espresso machines, coffee tools, and unique terminology can be very intimidating for someone who is just starting to learn about coffee or wants to grow their own at home experience. The problem …

Clueless: Revolutionizing Sustainable Fashion And Combating Overconsumption, Tanya Ravichandran

Graphic Communication

“Clueless” revolutionizes sustainable fashion by combating wardrobe overconsumption and the industry’s carbon footprint, using AI to suggest personalized outfits from existing wardrobes tailored to weather and wear history. It enhances user engagement through features like outfit ‘shuffle’ and provides insights into wardrobe utilization and carbon impact.

It’s more than an app; it’s a step towards a greener wardrobe and a healthier planet.

California Off-Road Engines And Components Life Span Assessment, Michael Mccullough, Lynn Hamilton

Agribusiness

The useful life and warranty periods for off-road equipment in California for engines rated at 37 kilowatts (kW) and greater have not been updated since the Tier 1 rule phased in from 1996 to 2000; for engines rated below 37 kW, not since the Tier 2 and Tier 3 rules phased in from 2000 to 2008. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff is seeking information regarding useful life and warranty to evaluate whether amendments to those requirements are necessary after two decades of technology advancement.

Cal Poly researchers called 55 service providers across the state of California to collect …

Graduate Internship Report - Cal Poly Bull Test, Kayla Marie Dubowsky

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

The Cal Poly Bull Test has a long-standing history on the university campus. The program has continued to grow and improve since it was founded in 1956 and with these improvements to the program, the marketing and curriculum need to adapt as well. For this internship, I worked in partnership with Dr. McFarlane on three main projects focusing on rebranding, curriculum development, and the creation of marketing materials. The rebranding consisted of the creation of a new logo and an updated brand guide. The curriculum development consisted of the creation of a marketing module for the enterprise-class that focuses on …

Battaglini Winery: Marketing Collateral Development & Rebranding, Lexi L. Battaglini

Graphic Communication

The Battaglini Winery is a small family-run winery located in Sonoma County. The winery has no existing brand guidelines and any marketing collateral in current use has outdated information and design elements. The purpose of this project is to provide the winery with cohesive and refreshed brand guidelines while using these guidelines to generate relevant marketing materials for consumers.

Maintaining Institutional Memory For Non-Commercial College Radio Fundraising, Samantha K. Riordan

Journalism

This paper outlines how to run a non-commercial, non-profit radio station fundraising program, commonly called a Pledge Drive. Cal Poly’s radio station, KCPR 91.3, hosts an annual Pledge Drive in the spring. KCPR staff, specifically the fundraising manager and marketing director, lead the KCPR team in raising funds that support our operations for the upcoming year. This paper will detail the strengths of past fundraising drives and potential improvements to fundraising drives in the future while addressing the question of: How do college radio stations create continuity in non-commercial radio fundraising to ensure success amid changing economic conditions and the …

Advising Communication In Finance, Jordan J. Schumann

Communication Studies

Communication is an important factor in relationships. When it comes to financial advising and the advisors’ relationship with their clients, it is no different. However, the driving factor of what makes a client choose one advisor over another remains in question. As such a question builds: what does an advisor do to maintain a client and promote gaining new ones? This study examines the experiences current advisors have had in their respective careers. To examine this topic, communication theories (Social Cognitive Theory, Source Credibility Theory, and Uncertainty Reduction Theory) are called upon to inform the outcomes of advisors' experiences. The …

Profitability Analysis Of The Commons, Chloe E. Meyer

Construction Management

Given the current saturated housing market, prices of single-family dwellings have exponentially increased. Due to this housing crisis, alternative housing approaches need to be considered. One potential solution to increasing the supply of affordable housing units is a tiny house village community. Tiny house communities can carry with them a stigma of rundown looks and an RV park aesthetic, but they don't need to. Tiny house communities, at their best, can be thriving communities that are anchored in communal living, shared resources, and affordability.The Commons is a proposed tiny house village development that would be located on 1.6 acres. The …

Reducing Scope 3 Emissions By Investing In Regenerative Agriculture In Supply Chains, Stephanie Cain

Master's Theses

The agricultural industry has an opportunity to shift to a more sustainable practice that helps restore vital topsoil, improve water quality, reduce environmental impact, and sequester atmospheric carbon into the vast soil carbon pool. However, to implement these practices at considerable scale, agricultural producers require access to resources and capital they rarely have and can be difficult to acquire. As a company, investing in regenerative agriculture in supply chains can lead to reduced Scope 3 emissions, more resilient supply chains, and better marketability as an investment fund, an employer, and a brand. Insetting regenerative agriculture can protect supply chains against …

Cutting Board Business Model, Austin W. Dasis

Construction Management

This paper covers a business model and investment proposal for a cutting board business. The cutting board industry is a lucrative sector where there is room to grow as a business while being profitable. There are alot of factors that go into starting a business and making it successful. The student has put this together to be able to give it to a potential investor to demonstrate what he has done and what he plans on doing upon an investment. The student enjoys woodworking and wants to be able to start his own business but has minimal knowledge of what …

Light Bulb Moments: Where Do Student Entrepreneurs Get Their Ideas, Stern Neill, Mark Bieraugel

Marketing

Understanding how to support creative ideation is an important, yet, elusive, issue for marketing educators. To shed light, this study proposes ideation as a malleable state influenced by “outside-the-brain” resources. By examining venture concept ideation, this study captures the ideation–environment relationship using experience sampling to tap into the daily lives of student entrepreneurs. The findings identify how entrepreneurial ideas emerge from specific external interactions and engagements, which are contextualized using two Japanese conceptualizations of space, ba (場) and ma (間). The results inform both marketing education and entrepreneurial marketing.

The Dedicated Truck To Take You To The Train Station: A Case Study On Ram's Marketing Strategy Through The Hit Series, Yellowstone, Hailey Keidel

Experience Industry Management

A company’s marketing strategy is crucial to said company’s success and expansion throughout its lifecycle. When looking at the automotive industry and its marketing standards, RAM is taking a step beyond with its partnership with Yellowstone. The purpose of this study was to analyze RAM’s marketing strategy in the Paramount series, Yellowstone. A case study was conducted on RAM through a tool created by the researcher with data collected from RAM’s core site, Yellowstone’s core site, and a variety of news and statistic outlets. The results of this study determined that RAM’s marketing strategy is highly successful in connection with …

The High Tide Inn Rebrand, Caroline Turnbull

Graphic Communication

For my Senior Project, I found a small Inn in Maine that was just purchased by a new owner. The previous owner of The High Tide Inn was very old and had owned the Inn for a long time, running on word of mouth and the quaint charm of the location. Their website was not a priority and had not been updated in decades. It was not mobile friendly, up to date, or easy to navigate. The logo reflects a charming sign on the property, but does not translate well digitally. In addition to this, there is no vector file …

Laguna Love: A Sustainable Bikini Collection, Aubrianna L. Davenport

Graphic Communication

Graphic Communication can be applied to various industries of design. As a Cal Poly student I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. During that time I studied fashion and product development, which sparked my desire to become a textile designer one day; I specifically hope to work in the surf apparel industry. Whilst taking textile design classes abroad, I learned that I could apply my love for graphic design to the fashion industry quite seamlessly; I am thankful that Graphic Communication has provided me with the skill sets in Adobe Creative Cloud, especially, when applying my knowledge …

Parental And Family Leave In The California Construction Industry, Hailee Malins

Construction Management

Struggles between work life balance often result in lower levels of job and life satisfaction, and higher rates of inefficiency and employee turnover, with varying impact on employees based on seniority, gender and parenthood. Policies such as paid parental leave have shown positive effects on work life balance, but there is a lack of information on leave policies within the American construction industry. Focusing on California, this research aimed to determine employee's understanding, use and acceptance of these leave policies. Using a survey, we gain a better understanding of these goals. Rates of confidence in knowledge of paternal and family …

Dunites Wine Company: Digital Redesign, Alexandra Messner

Graphic Communication

This project is a digital redesign for Dunites Wine Company, a small San Luis Obispo wine brand. By improving their website usability and consistency, Dunites Wine Co. can generate excitement and awareness about their brand. The end deliverables will include photography, refreshed branding, and an updated website.

Feasibility Of Funding Construction-Related Projects With Cryptocurrencies, Farbod Pourdehmobed

Construction Management

The current method of acquiring funds for construction projects consists of loans and/or a board of investors. With the emergence of the cryptocurrency industry in the past five to ten years, an influx of cash has been inserted into the market and is simply being held captive by government regulations. With development and construction being an attractive investment for most anyone, these "crypto billionaires" are insistent on financing possible projects. The issue lies within the construction industry and the possibly outdated financial system and whether it is capable of adhering to certain requirements that come with the usage of crypto …

Let It Burn: A Case Study On The Risk Management Practices Of Burning Man Project, Ethan S. De La Torre

Experience Industry Management

Risk management can be defined as a decision-making process of planning, identifying, analyzing, developing a response for, and controlling potential risks with the goal of minimizing the negative impacts of those risks. Risk management is an essential practice for all events, especially large-scale, live entertainment events. The purpose of this study was to examine the risk management practices for Burning Man. The instrument utilized in this study was a best practices guide developed by the researcher. Data were collected prior to, during, and following Burning Man 2022: Waking Dreams. Sources of data include printed material and online sources published by …

Amplifying Southern Charm: A Case Study On Visit Music City’S Digital Media Practices, Susanna Cleary Honggui Hoffman

Experience Industry Management

Digital marketing has become a vital player for companies, especially destination marketing organizations (DMOs), by helping them grow and expand their brand image. Digital marketing includes email, social media, and search-engine marketing. The purpose of this study was to examine Visit Music City’s (Nashville’s DMO) digital media marketing tactics. Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) is the company that is behind the brand Visit Music City. The research was conducted utilizing information from NCVC’s website and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, TripAdvisor, and YouTube). Visit Music City sends a weekly newsletter called Amplify, they have a strong social …

Immerse, Interact, Impact: A Comparative Analysis On Selected Experiential Marketing Activations At Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival 2022, Phoebe R. Saul

Experience Industry Management

The commercial marketplace is becoming increasingly experiential. Experiential marketing activations, particularly those done at music festivals, are emerging as a highly valuable marketing tool to impact brand recognition and loyalty through the creation of unique branded experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiential marketing design practices utilized at selected branded activations within Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival 2022. A comparative analysis was conducted on three selected experiential marketing activations at Outside Lands: The House by Heineken, the Music Den by Toyota, and the Ocean Love Tour by Gray Whale Gin. The findings concluded that the …

Site Development Feasibility Study, Andy A. Tenekjian

Construction Management

A feasibility study in the world of construction is deemed as a preliminary due diligence process in which key components of a project are addressed to determine if the project is viable or not. These components are related to time and money, and the end goal of a feasibility study is to determine if the initial investment of time and money is worth the amount of future financial return. What deems a project successful in the preliminary stage is up for interpretation. Each developer and investor have their own return on investment threshold in a multi-family project like the one …

A Business Plan For Construction Companies Entering Into Real Estate Development, Dylan Michael Barrett

Construction Management

The construction industry is one that has been lucrative yet difficult to navigate at times. Companies must continually adapt to potential changes in the market and shifting consumer demands while ensuring that their core business ideologies are not abandoned. For these reasons, many construction companies have found that being flexible in the work they do proves to give consistent results for their businesses. One way to change business models is to pursue real estate development. Its lucrative rewards prove a great additional revenue stream. This project aims to provide insight, via a business plan, as to how a construction company …

Assessing The Cost And Fuel Consumption Of Off-Road Agricultural Equipment, Michael Mccullough, Lynn Hamilton, Cory Walters

Agribusiness

Since 1995, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission rules have mandated that off-road engine manufacturers gradually phase in lower emitting diesel engines across all tractor and other off-road equipment sold in the United States. Starting in 1996 with Tier 1 emission standards for tractors between 175-750 horsepower (hp), all tractors were scheduled to be rated as Tier 4 Final by 2015. During the transition period, emission credit agreements made between manufacturers and EPA allowed for nonattainment of some tractors such that several tractor models were produced post 2015 that did not meet Tier 4 Final standards. Tier 4 standards are …

Linking Managerial Capital With Explorative Strategy And Growth In China, Stern Neill, Minhua Wu, Terry W. Noel

Marketing

Purpose –This study aims to consider the effect of managerial capital (psychological, intellectual and social) on business strategy and growth. Per upper echelon theory, managerial capital enables high-level managers to drive firm performance in uniquely personal ways. The authors test the effects of managerial capital on a manager’s dominant regulatory focus (promotion and prevention balance) and whether having an explorative strategy mediates the relationship between dominant regulatory focus and the percentage of business unit growth expected from new lines of business.

Design/methodology/approach – Survey data from a sample of 211 Chinese executives were used to assess measurement and test …

Converting Horizontal Media For Vertical Platforms, Eric A. Hernandez

Graphic Communication

Today, most media is viewed on mobile phones and seen on a vertical screen. There are very few methods for converting horizontal media into vertical media for vertical platforms. This manual shows new ways to redesign horizontal content so that it looks better on vertical displays; I imagine watching things like the Super Bowl or the The Grammys on TikTok or Instagram with a new broadcast design that is more attractive.

Visionaire Branding Company, Toni Joy Forsythe

Graphic Communication

It has been a goal of mine to one day launch my own branding and marketing agency, therefore this opportunity has allowed me to ideate what the agency would look like in terms of branding and business. I developed Visionaire Branding Company, a branding and marketing agency located in Central California. Creativity has always been at the forefront of my ambitions and Visionaire is a reflection of my passion for taking businesses to the next level and doing it with a vision.

Branding The Cal Poly Transfer Center, Ryann Joy Swift

Graphic Communication

The Cal Poly Transfer Center was established in 2020 in the midst of an ongoing pandemic; naturally, this led to the challenge of building recognition and engaging Transfer students with the center. As the first and only graphic designer, I saw an opportunity in creating the visual foundation for this organization, one that could be well understood and built upon by future designers. This is important as the Transfer Center is quite unique in its specific demographic of transfer students; they fall under an older age group and I want to create said foundation that reflects this; mature, professional, modern. …

"Yay Area Fest" Proposal, Taira Tyler Matsuzaki

Graphic Communication

As an avid hip-hop music lover and producer, I always envisioned the creation of my own hip-hop festival theme and lineup. I used my senior project as an opportunity to execute this vision while showcasing all of the skills I have acquired as a Graphic Communication student. My project encompasses the creation of a marketing flyer, website prototype, app prototype, and social media animation for a hypothetical hip-hop festival. These deliverables highlight my abilities in learning new tools, graphic design, UI/UX design, and project management.

Mother Lou Studio: Branding For A Handcrafted Jewelry Business, Amanda K. Hall

Graphic Communication

In the height of the pandemic I gained interest in jewelry-making. Needing a new hobby, I researched the many methods of making jewelry and soon began practicing the craft. Sand casting became a form of meditation, and I hope to gain more experience in silver smithing in the near future. For my senior project, I wanted to combine my personal, creative abilities with the skills I have learned through my Graphic Communication courses. This project showcases my design and business skills, while building a unique brand that will be a part of my future career.

Take Flight Music Festival Branding, Maxwell Bo Chen, Jake Oxenham

Graphic Communication

We created a branding and design campaign for the Take Flight music festival on campus. The project covered many aspects of event creation and marketing such as name, logo, content creation, social media, printed media, vendor outreach, and administration outreach. All these pieces had to work together to create a strong and cohesive brand image for this event which would help ensure a successful turnout and event overall.