MDes, University of Cincinnati, 2008, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Design

Design research is defined more by qualitative than quantitative methodology. A design research literature review reveals a dearth of examples related to the use of the scientific method and quantitative methodology. Qualitative and quantitative studies are complementary and necessary to the growth and validation of a field of study. Over-reliance on qualitative research approaches to the exclusion of quantitative approaches undermines the importance and legitimacy of the design profession. The purpose of my thesis is to explore the use of quantitative methodology in the design process by conducting an experimental research study. The pilot study employs a quantitative approach to evaluating the effectiveness of a graphic design process as applied to a computer-based, interactive program for the communication and understanding of medication risk information by patients and the effects of health literacy and numeracy. The results of the study illustrate that the application of quantitative methodology to testing visual and information design formats shows promise in contributing useful information to the design decision-making process. The primary implication of incorporating quantitative methodologies into design research and practice is an educational one. My research shows quantitative methodology has an important and appropriate place in design research, education and practice though it is currently underutilized.

Committee: Peter Embi MD (Committee Chair); Mike Zender MFA (Committee Member); Mark Eckman MD (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

MFA, Kent State University, 2024, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

Conflict resolution is evolving as an academic field of study, with many new developing theories and practices. Interpersonal conflict comes from interactions between people with real or perceived opposing goals, resources, or viewpoints. From there, people naturally react somewhere on a spectrum of the five conflict styles: competing, collaborating, compromising, accommodating, or avoiding, depending on their level of concern for their needs vs their concern for others' needs. Misunderstanding or miscommunication of these needs and concerns creates significant barriers to conflict resolution. In doing so, individuals may not understand or address the roots of their conflict. For successful conflict resolution, those involved must clearly identify and communicate their issues, reach an understanding, and collaboratively develop solutions to address the sources of that specific conflict. This process relies on communication and collaborative problem-solving. Visual communication design is a valuable resource for problem-solving, sharing information, and providing perspective. There are significant components of conflict resolution based on communication and awareness of an individual's needs and concerns. Miscommunication is a significant barrier in conflict resolution when individuals believe they understand the other without having all the information or understanding concerns and needs from the other's perspectives. Design can play a crucial role in displaying clear communication while creating a user journey to guide through the numerous layers that factor into conflict. Design can create a visual impact to influence new understanding and awareness on both conscious and unconscious levels. This is done by creating new perspectives or motivations through organization and visual messaging to best impact a desired goal. Utilizing interaction design as a tool for communication, can design resolve issues with miscommunication or misinformation as it pertains to navi (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jessica Barness (Committee Chair); Sara Koopman (Committee Member); Ken Visocky O'grady (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Multimedia Communications; Personal Relationships

MDES, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design

Legally blind individuals who can still use their smartphones need a better designed weather alert system because weather emergencies are becoming more common. Using a trend analysis relevant data was pulled from the space before analyzing the current system in place for Wireless Emergency Alerts. From there a survey was compiled to find the best practices for designing an alert for Visually Impaired individuals of which seven responses were received. Currently, in regards to those with visual impairment, the system of notifications in place is not an effective system for emergency alerts. Alerts for people with visual impairments should be high-contrast alerts with a capitalized message in a san-serif typeface. Implementing the use of a full-screen alert should also be carefully considered as well as the current source of this research is directional and needs further results to be collected.

Committee: Brigid O'Kane MFA (Committee Member); Todd Timney M.F.A. (Committee Chair) Subjects: Design

MFA, Kent State University, 2023, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

This thesis explores the relationship between design thinking methodologies and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The work includes a case study of a national advertising campaign conducted by the author, a designer for Bellwether Enterprise (BWE), examining the transformative and adaptable nature of design thinking in shaping marketing projects. It emphasizes its influence on the perception and strategic direction of CSR efforts within the company. The research comprises two main themes: the examination of design thinking methods and their impact, and the exploration of CSR in terms of internal employee engagement and external effects on client relationships and business growth. The paper highlights how CSR enhances brand development with design thinking as a guiding framework, focusing on audience understanding, value proposition definition, and the creation of a visually and verbally coherent brand identity. The second section of the thesis centers on BWE's "Working Together" advertising campaign, celebrating a decade-long partnership with Enterprise Community Partners. The campaign involved in-person interviews with residents in affordable housing communities across the United States, emphasizing visual storytelling through documentary-style short films, portrait photography, written content, a microsite, and a 3D online exhibition. The paper evaluates the campaign's effectiveness, discussing outcomes, addressing challenges, and offering recommendations for future content creation using design thinking principles. The project aimed to authentically depict the experiences of affordable housing residents, contributing to BWE's CSR initiatives. The author's application of design thinking principles facilitated creative and innovative engagement strategies, aligning the campaign with the needs of both the organization and its audience. This thesis serves as a comprehensive exploration of the transformative potential of design thinking wh (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jessica Barness MFA (Advisor); Ken Visocky-O'Grady MFA (Committee Member); Sanda Katila MFA (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Design; Marketing

MFA, Kent State University, 0, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

This thesis investigates the practices of female designers affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The inadequacy of research on female designers with ADHD in academia propels the study. Women with ADHD are often left undiagnosed until later in life due to their distinct presentation, while men tend to be diagnosed during childhood. Significant life events, such as pursuing higher education or conducting thesis research, may lead a woman to pursue a diagnosis. This thesis seeks to employ design research methodologies to examine the intersection between female designers and the late diagnosis of ADHD. Historically, ADHD research has been largely focused on hyperactive boys, leading to gender inequality in the discourse on ADHD. However, women and girls tend to exhibit different ADHD symptoms. This research aims to foster dialogue on the combination of female designers and ADHD, with a view to appreciating their unique perspectives and impact on design and, at the same time, advocating for their recognition as an asset to any team. Additionally, this research contributes to developing AI and virtual assistants that provide essential external structures for female designers with ADHD by proposing a conceptual application that utilizes research results and AI to create a virtual assistant to aid female designers with ADHD in reaching their full potential.

Committee: Jessica Barness (Advisor); Aoife Mooney (Committee Member); Ken Visocky O'Grady (Committee Member) Subjects: Artificial Intelligence; Design; Higher Education; Psychology; Womens Studies

MDES, University of Cincinnati, 2022, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design

Visual communication designers use place branding to enhance the perception of and attachment to neighborhoods. While this can help neighborhoods grapple with obtaining external funding and attention, scholars across disciplines have scrutinized place branding, naming potentially harmful effects, including gentrification. These effects are partly due to visual communications designers being ill-equipped in these fluctuating and variable places. This exploratory study calls attention to the complexity inherent in branding a neighborhood and provides the beginnings of a neighborhood-centered design methodology for visual communication designers as they enter these spaces. This study uses five ethnographic methods: interviews, online survey, photovoice, visual ethnography, and mini-workshops. Together the methods collect 148 instances of participation within Cincinnati, Ohio's East, West, and Lower Price Hill neighborhoods to examine a neighborhood-centered design methodology. Additionally, the visual ethnography gathered 800+ traces of visual communication design across the neighborhoods. The analysis method utilizes eighteen quality of life themes derived from local responses to reveal patterns in qualitative data. Results showed idiosyncrasies across the methods, and demographic descriptors (neighborhood, age, race/ethnicity, and quality of life), which back up the study's proposition that branding a neighborhood is complex. One of the most critical insights is the need for multiple methods for inclusive representation and closer proximity to neighbors. Some methods are better at achieving this than others. The risks are high when branding a neighborhood, and the task is precarious and highly political. Instead of reducing the community to one concept, a neighborhood-centered design methodology—nine rules of thumb and eighteen cues—guides designers toward many projects that amplify existing needs, desires, and efforts from the bottom up. Doing (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Matthew Wizinsky M.F.A. (Committee Member); Stephanie Sadre-Orafai Ph.D. (Committee Member); Claudia Rebola Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

MFA, Kent State University, 2021, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

More than 800 golf courses in the United States have closed in the last ten years. That number is significantly larger than new courses opened. This thesis seeks to analyze how visual communication design helps to entice the millennial age group to participate in on-course golf play. The research focuses on millennial's feelings towards golf, what drives them to participate in new activities, and finally, how can visual communication design help to entice millennials to play golf. The secondary research focused on millennial habits, social media, content marketing, user-generated content, and other golf-specific statistics. To gather more of the needed data primary research was conducted through a series of surveys focusing on millennial participants. Through the use of secondary and primary research, this study aims to help not only the struggling golf courses but also to inform designers in what ways design can be used to get a millennial audience to try a new experience.

Committee: Sanda Katila (Advisor); Jessica Barness (Committee Member); David Roll (Committee Member); Ken O'Grady Visocky (Other) Subjects: Communication; Design

MFA, Kent State University, 2019, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

The rapid growth of municipal solid waste (MSW) is considered one of the serious environmental issues that our planet Earth is facing, and packaging waste contributes to an extensive part of municipal solid waste. Our increasing level of concerns and awareness about environmental issues has influenced many industrial corporations to incorporate sustainability principles into their packaging designs. However, while these companies put much effort into developing innovative technologies and materials to manufacture their sustainable packaging, developing compelling visual communication methods is overlooked in order to effectively interact with consumers about their sustainability development. Corporations and designers need to acknowledge that implementing effective signs is as critical as developing methods or materials for sustainable packaging to resonate with many consumers since they are ultimately the end-users of the packaging. Visual and verbal signs on packaging have a major role in branding products and communicating with consumers. Therefore, signs such as logos and labels on packaging can be a tool to promote the value of sustainable packaging and educate consumers on the importance of sustainability. Educating consumers is essential in order to modify their purchasing and consuming behavior to be environmentally responsible, which consequently help reduce preventable waste. This thesis is an investigation into developing compelling visual and verbal signs on sustainable packaging to effectively communicate with consumers to enrich sustainability in our society. The findings of this thesis provide insights into consumer needs and difficulties toward sustainable packaging and sustainability signs. This study also broadens the knowledge base of designers and corporations creating a successful visual communication on sustainable packaging, and its significance in modifying consumer behavior.

Committee: Jessica Barness (Advisor); Aoife Mooney (Committee Member); David Middleton (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Design

Master of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, 2018, Design

This research is an investigation of interactive data visualization systems, methods, and techniques, guided by a practice-led design research process, case study applications, and qualitative user research. The study specifically documents the design process of interactive data visualization applications developed to illuminate the environmental effects of the Syrian War, using interaction design techniques which are a powerful tool to map complex events and dynamic situations. Design, ethnic culture, and environmental issues have informed this thesis study, guided by design for social change. The preparatory work on dance and digital design contributed to the technical understanding needed for this project, which has become practicing Interactive Data Visualization: Applications Used to Illuminate the Environmental Effects of the Syrian War. As a designer from Turkey, I believe I have a responsibility to use creative means to facilitate social development and change. My aim was practicing methods of data visualization through case study applications to reveal long term impacts of urban destruction caused by the Syrian War. As a Turk who has closely observed the impact of wars in the Middle East region. Data visualization applications were created with a report from the PAX for Peace Organization. My first case study application was presented in a 3-dimensional construct, enabling viewers to interact with data through touch technologies. My second application was an interactive webpage designed with the same data set in a simpler layout. To assess the applications, usability testing was implemented to compare and analyze the possible improvements and future applications of the user interfaces. The intent of gathering feedback was to discover whether data visualization, interactive interfaces, and design-thinking methods have the potential to improve understanding, communication and innovative thinking by enhancing the effectiveness of the delivery of complex, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Brian Stone (Advisor); Maria Palazzi (Committee Member); Yvette Shen (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

MFA, Kent State University, 2017, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

This thesis is an investigation into sustainable business models and the different evaluation methods utilized in social innovation design. Over the last twenty years, there has been an increase in awareness and desire within the design industry to utilize design as a way to help solve some of the large, systemic social problems facing people all over the world. To make this work financially and sustainably, designers are utilizing a variety of for-profit and nonprofit business models. However, these business models are potentially hindering social innovation designers' access to the resources needed to measure the impact of their work. Social innovation designers are co-designing and developing services, programs, systems, and products with nonprofits and communities that are dealing with these social problems. Social change work of this nature requires designers and their partners to be engaged in measuring the long-term impact of their work in order to truly make lasting change. This has led social innovation designers to turn to evaluation methods used in the parallel fields of social work, community organizing, education, and public health, in order to track the impacts of their work. These evaluation methods also play a key role in helping social innovation designers better communicate the value they bring to their clients and partners. By utilizing and integrating these evaluation methods into their design processes, social innovation designers are leading the way for this field to gain broader acceptance and support.

Committee: Ken Visocky O'Grady MFA (Advisor); Jessica Barness MFA (Committee Member); Sanda Katila MFA (Committee Member) Subjects: Design; Entrepreneurship; Social Work; Systems Design

MFA, Kent State University, 2016, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

What are the sensory limits of design? Will emerging technologies continue to push design into new realms of practice? How can multimodal environments adapt to users providing more holistic sensory experiences? What is the role of a graphic designer, in the growing world of multimodal design? My thesis research investigates the ways audio and visual cues combine to create more dynamic and immersive environments. These two sensory medias may increase comprehension of information, engagement, and navigation within a designed environment experience. A preliminary investigation surrounds multimodal design, focusing on the use of multisensory interaction design. The research will then turn to the practice of designing sound and design utilizing sound. During this study I documented my process through a video diary and photos of my journey into incorporating audio media into small video base test experiments and large scale multistage designed environments. Sound connects. It asks us to surrender ourselves and to immerse ourselves in the sensory world and in participatory experience. It incorporates and creates communion. With sounds, there is opportunity to better understand how these two medias work together, with the goal to eventually enrich user comprehension, engagement, and navigation while in an environment.

Committee: Jessica Barness M.F.A. (Advisor); Ken Visocky O’Grady M.F.A. (Committee Member); Daphne Peters M.A./M.F.A. (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

MFA, Kent State University, 2016, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

This thesis will address the challenges of living with MS by researching visual communication in a printed context to ensure that current best practices are creating accessible and comprehensible communications for this audience. The primary and secondary research will focus on three specific symptoms common in the community. Visual impairment, cognitive changes and fatigue are key manifestations of the MS community and the symptoms that could be most affected by inaccessible design choices. The following thesis research has four main purposes: 1.) to describe the nature of and the need for accessible print communications by addressing the challenges of living with MS; 2.) to access and identify issues related to the current system of print communications, if any; 3.) survey and interact with the MS community in reference to print communications and visual methods; and 4.) create a framework for design teams working on communications that serve people within the Multiple Sclerosis community.

Committee: Ken Visocky O'Grady (Advisor); Jessica Barness (Committee Member); Sanda Katila (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Composition; Design; Health; Health Care; Health Education; Marketing; Mass Communications; Mass Media

MDES, University of Cincinnati, 2016, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design

Marketing and society over decades have manipulated the archetype of male depression. So much so, the visual approach to a communication strategy approach for men has become primarily focused on private moments of the mental condition. Although this current strategy is successful in depicting pain, the imagery does not relate with outside viewers (family and friends) causing a disconnect in awareness. As a communication strategy, this formulates a false symptom appearance. This thesis argues the appearance of depression the symptoms are not unfamiliar to suffering males so the visual reminder is unnecessary. This problem calls for a design need that contrasts todays current scare-tactic marketing. Today's tactic of scaring the viewer/audience lacks an empathetic understanding of the mental health condition. These tactics contribute to men's unwillingness to ask for help due to the social stigma. More specifically, first-year college freshman. A small pilot study was developed to understand the target audience further and test a visual language using an empathetic design approach.

Committee: Dennis Puhalla Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Oscar Fernandez M.F.A. (Committee Member); Dianne Hardin M.S. M.Des. (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Ohio University, 2014, Studio Art

This thesis investigates the ways that language--both visual and verbal--reflects and perpetuates damaging perceptions of women in contemporary American society. I propose that the words and images we use to describe and depict women help harmful ideas about womanhood and femininity circulate in our culture. The written portion of this thesis, submitted here, contains the manuscripts of three artist books: Girls Will Be Girls; Gaze, Assess, Adjust; and Words and Images: Women Online. Though these books address specific issues--dominant male perspective in mediated messages, depictions of women online, and the use of the word girl to refer to young women--they illuminate a broader relationship between our language and the inequities and complexities that American women face today.

Committee: Molly Schoenhoff (Advisor); Laura Larson (Advisor) Subjects: Design; Gender; Gender Studies; Language; Mass Communications; Mass Media; Womens Studies

MDes, University of Cincinnati, 2010, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Design

Current challenges in visual communication design demand an understanding beyond the semantic and semiotic elements of visual language. Today, interaction between humans and visual information is a relevant issue because of the complexity of information and artificial systems that create difficult human use. This implies that design needs a deeper understanding of how human differences and needs affect the performance of visual communication design in interaction. Contemporary approaches such as universal design or human-centered design intend to provide designers with methods and tools to improve interaction between design objects and human beings. Often, the design principles of these approaches try to cover broad human requirements, but not particular human differences and needs relevant to communication. This thesis is an exploratory research that studies visual intelligence and mood as two of the major hypothesized human differences for visual communication design. Qualitative and quantitative evidence shows that visual intelligence predicts adequate interaction patterns and qualitative observations of mood states indicate that high tense arousal and anger/ frustration states negatively affect the interaction with visual information. In addition, data suggest that mood change might be negatively associated with interaction experience, showing that mood effects have the potential to be used as a measurement of interaction design quality. Limitations and implications of these findings are discussed for further design research.

Committee: Paul Zender MFA (Committee Chair); Renee Seward (Committee Member); Gerald Matthews PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

MDes, University of Cincinnati, 2007, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Design

This project considers a body of research about play, inclusion, and the characteristics of children with Down syndrome balanced with first-hand feedback from parents. These findings were used to explore a multi-sensory (visual and tactile) solution for modeling the steps of asking to play for children with Down syndrome who have limited verbal skills. The proposed solution is an educational toy that explores three-dimensional form, color, shape, pattern, and texture to enhance communication and reinforce secondary learning concepts like color and shape recognition, object manipulation, and sequencing. A follow-up practice component is essential to the concept, allowing the child to build confidence through rehearsal. The visual support was tested at an annual Buddy Walk, where both typically developing children and children with Down syndrome were observed. Key findings from this event, project limitations, and implications for further research are outlined in the evaluation section of this thesis.

Committee: Dennis Puhalla PhD (Advisor) Subjects: Design and Decorative Arts

Master of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, 2012, Industrial, Interior Visual Communication Design

Interaction design is an emerging field for visual communication designers. There has been a big demand for designers especially in Silicon Valley and in the software industry in general. In instances that I investigated, visual communication design curriculum has not been updated to teach students the interaction design skills they will need in their future jobs. To support this emerging area, visual communication design education needs to evolve into more technical and behavioral knowledge and less of artistic and manual skills. One point that needs to be explored in academic settings is the collaboration with other disciplines. Since the software industry is the emerging field for visual communication designers, the collaboration with computer science and engineering is extremely important. There are misconceptions from both design and computer science students that can be demystified while they are still in college. The benefits from such collaboration will not only lead to a better understanding of professional practices, but it will also stimulate different ways of thinking and allow for students to start building their professional network. After the analysis of visual communication design curricula from different programs in the United States, this thesis proposes changes to the current curriculum at The Ohio State University, as a case study. Every curriculum in the country is different, but the recommendations to the Ohio State program can be adapted according to the needs at each school. Instead of a proposal for the perfect curriculum, this thesis is a call to action for Design Departments to think about their mission, the future of the field of visual communication design, and how it is best situated in a growing collaborative environment.

Committee: R. Brian Stone (Advisor); Jodi Forlizzi PhD (Committee Member); Rajiv Ramnath PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

Master of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, 2009, Industrial, Interior, and Visual Communications Design

The complexity of today's design problems, the global economy, rate of change in new technologies, the challenges of sustainability development requires diverse design teams, comprised of multiple disciplines as well as multiple cultures, to look at broader and different perspectives and larger scopes of investigation. Due to the multilayered and multifaceted interactions between team members, effective communication and collaboration among people in multidisciplinary design teams becomes critical to ensure a project's success. Research shows that one of the most important aspects of collaboration is effective information sharing,shared knowledge and shared understanding among all team members. Design teams traditionally share information verbally as well as visually through representations such as drawings and sketches, three-dimensional models, project walls, or conceptual maps. Consequently, an important aspect of communication is the role that visual thinking and visual communication practices play in the success of the design team. The exploration and finding of a current frame of reference for creating and utilizing visual tools for communication, capable of serving as a common means of expression for multidisciplinary teams, is the purpose of this thesis research.

Committee: Carolina Gill (Advisor); Elizabeth B.-N. Sanders (Committee Member); Wayne Carlson (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2005, Art Education

This study explores how the way students learn through visual culture can inform the design of Web-based art education instruction. It focuses on four interrelated topics relevant to current art education curriculum and Web-based learning in higher education: technology and learning, constructivist theory, visual culture, and graphic design. A literature review of each topic in addition to undergraduate student interviews about their experiences contributes to discussing ways to improve Web-based instruction. This interdisciplinary case study presents a critique of the current usability guidelines and standards used for developing websites. The research places an emphasis on the visual interface that serves as the main form of communication between the function of the website and the student audience. The information provides a foundation for interactive design recommendations applicable to Web-based instruction. Recommendations made as a result of this research are applicable to improving constructive, inquiry-based teaching and learning environments in art education and related academic disciplines.

Committee: Robert Arnold (Advisor) Subjects:

MFA, Kent State University, 2012, College of Communication and Information / School of Visual Communication Design

This research explores the hypothesis that the identity and environmental design of a business, whether created intentionally or not, attracts customers because it affirms some aspect of the customer's self-concept. Two online surveys featuring photo-simulated shopping experiences in eight shopping scenarios—grocery stores, book stores, shoe stores, bakeries, wine stores, coffee shops, sit-down restaurants, and clothing stores—were distributed to online survey participants to evaluate self-concept, purchasing behavior, the application of retail patron images, store choice, and consumer perception of brand personality. Although connections to self-conflict were not conclusive, the findings of this research imply that consumers make judgments about the quality and availability of merchandise and service based on the exterior of a business. Consumers are also able to convey whom they think shops at a given store, an additional motivator for patronage. The research displays that it is important for retailers to have an understanding of their target audience in order to connect with them, and that predictive value may lie in consumer preference for similar store types.

Committee: Ken Visocky O'Grady (Committee Chair); Sanda Katila (Committee Member); Jerry Kalback (Committee Member) Subjects: Aesthetics; Architectural; Business Community; Design; Interior Design; Urban Planning