Comfort Toys

Benjamin Evjen Assistant Professor Utah Valley University When I was young my mother had epilepsy. I remember her seizures always began with a heavy sigh, raising in pitch until her body fell against a hard surface. Pots and pans crashed and chairs tipped as mom’s body crumpled to the floor. When this happened at home … Continue reading “Comfort Toys”

What Can Machine Learning Contribute to Empathy in Design? How to Build a Journey Map Using Big Data and Text Sentiment Analysis

Sarah Pagliaccio Principal, User Experience Designer Black Pepper What can machine learning contribute to empathy in design? How to build a journey map using big data and text sentiment analysis. Art and design are meant to reflect the world around us, show empathy for those we design for, and reflect the emotional state of our … Continue reading “What Can Machine Learning Contribute to Empathy in Design? How to Build a Journey Map Using Big Data and Text Sentiment Analysis”

Body Type

Samantha Flora Co-Founder and Designer JAM Studios and Fat Kid Type Foundry Centered around issues of identity, the body, womanhood, and how they interconnect with design in the context of body image and the body positivity movement, Body Type: An Analysis of Fat Identity and Fat Bias in Graphic Design, is an extensive body of … Continue reading “Body Type”

Design for Decentralized Studio Learning

Lisa Hammershaimb Associate Dean of Curriculum, Graphic Arts Independence University Due to financial concerns and shifting learner demographics, in many institutions, the hallmarks of studio pedagogy (small course sizes, dedicated unique learning spaces and extended course-meeting times) are eroding. The new reality for many programs is one where educators are expected to balance an increase … Continue reading “Design for Decentralized Studio Learning”

Social Homelessness on US Campuses

Yeohyun Ahn Assistant Professor Art Department UW Madison Asian women faculty on US campuses may experience the highest levels of isolation, marginalization, exclusion from decision making and networks, and disrespect. This is a multidisciplinary design project to raise awareness of the marginalization of Asian women faculty on US campuses. It includes Asian Women Scholars, and the software, Being … Continue reading “Social Homelessness on US Campuses”

Neuron Focus Support – Eliminating Distraction Through Facilitated Goal-Oriented Task Management

Abhinit Parelkar Graduate student College of Computing & Digital Media DePaul University Gerard Panganiban Graduate studentCollege of Computing & Digital Media DePaul University Initially inspired by people with attention-deficit disorders, this project seeks to assist people who often struggle to establish goals and accomplish tasks in a world that is continuously providing distractions. This project … Continue reading “Neuron Focus Support – Eliminating Distraction Through Facilitated Goal-Oriented Task Management”

Facilitating Justice through Design Research

Mariam Asad Graduate student Georgia Institute of Technology Whereas much academic scholarship engages with the concepts and principles of justice; design research is a unique opportunity to challenge oppression by leveraging design-based resources and practices. This presentation will discuss some concrete and pragmatic examples of design research work that tries to materially contributes to community-based … Continue reading “Facilitating Justice through Design Research”

Material Voice: Communicating with Substrates

Meridyth Espindola Graduate student Vermont College of Fine Arts BFA, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth In the context of graphic design, we translate material significance through substrate semiotics. While substrates are necessary for the representation of visual art and design, that’s not all they do. They also send messages through visual and haptic communication. We can … Continue reading “Material Voice: Communicating with Substrates”

How AI is Changing Design

Scott Theisen Executive Creative Director Deloitte Digital Everyday a few more pieces of software and technology are being worked on, distributed and connected using some flavor of AI. What does this mean for how we design artifacts, software and services? What might this mean for us as professionals? How might this start to change our … Continue reading “How AI is Changing Design”

A Tool for Understanding: Giving Voice to Diverse, Non-traditional and Low-Income Students Through Teaching Letterpress Printing

Vida Sacic Associate Professor Northeastern Illinois University Visual communication skills provide a backbone for participation in a shared cultural exchange. Yet, universities often fail to offer tangible ways to foster long term accessibility and inclusion. Northeastern Illinois University is among the nation’s leaders at graduating students with the least debt while serving the most diverse … Continue reading “A Tool for Understanding: Giving Voice to Diverse, Non-traditional and Low-Income Students Through Teaching Letterpress Printing”