Thesis Proposals

Proposal # 1

Title:

Online Design Community

Introduction:

As a design student, it is very important to update ourselves so that we can produce
the most interesting work. Some design students tend to follow their own guts and
come up with ideas on their own in order to keep the originality of the work. Others
would use inspirational references to help them think. Neither method is wrong or
perfect. Students who follow their own guts might find out later that someone has
already thought of their ideas. Students who use references may rely too much on
other people’s work that they cannot think of ideas on their own.

There is one more important element to design students, discussion. Every critique,
every conversation tends to help us think deeper about our projects. We become
more intelligent by trading ideas with each other, and we often get inspired from
just a random conversation. It is unfortunate that discussion can only stay alive
within a small group. Eg, a discussion involves group of friends.

A discussion involving a whole school is highly impossible, not to mention
discussion over schools. This is where blog become very popular among young
adults, because they are trade & share information with a wide range of people.

Abstract:

My goal is to create a communication system that can allow all the design students
in the world to share with each other. It acts in a very similar manner to facebook,
where people can chat, and make friends. However designers can also upload their
portfolios, projects, and ideas onto the website for discussion. I’m also plan to add
tutorial programs and worldwide job board.

The Research Question:

We always know what we want to do as designers, but we are so caught up in our
own works that we rarely pay attention to other designers. Is helping each other
going to make us better designers? Or it’s only going to increase your competitors in
the future?

Audience:

Primary target are design students from all other world. Even though I want to focus
on North America, it would be more interesting if there is a mix of culture in the
system, so there are more varieties of people and design.

The Secondary target is design firm. This community system is filled with creative
designers, thus it becomes very easy for firms to look for interns that suits their
company.

Realization:

This should be a web‐focused project, since the best way of communication is
through Internet now.

There will be flash animation involved to make the site more interesting.
Branding for the website is going to take place as well. It would be great if I can
make up a brand identity for the system.

Learning Outcomes:

My biggest goal for this project is to become extremely familiar with web‐based
design, because that’s what I plan to do in the future.

Literature Review:

McDonough, William. & Braungart, Michael. Cradle to Cradle. North Point Press; 1st
edition, April 22, 2002

This book if filled with interesting ideas and thoughts. Since environmental
protection is becoming such a big part of our society, designers have to be careful
with their designs. Young designers are filled with environmental protective ideas,
because we were taught to protect the planet every since elementary school. It is
important to read this book and discuss the topic with young designers who plan to
save our planet, because they are the minds of the future.

Susan, Daffron. Web Business Success. Logical Expressions, Inc, October 10, 2006

"Web Business Success" explains the basics of how a Web site works in easy‐tounderstand
terms. It teaches readers how to communicate and negotiate when
dealing with Web developers and designers. It also includes a complete index and a
glossary of terms. It will become a handy book when I need to know something
about the web, or when I’m dealing with more experienced designers.


Proposal # 2

Title:

The “Future” of Graphic Design

Introduction:

A lot of people say that graphic design is “dead”, because it’s splitting into so many
different medias. Graphic design used to be solely printing, but now it can refer to a
number of artistic and professional disciplines, and all of them focus on visual
communication and presentation.

Personally I feel graphic design has been divided into two major categories. One is
material based, which include packaging design, stationery design, book design, and
etc. The other category is electronic based, such as websites, flash animation, and
digital illustration. Both have their strengths and flaws. The material based graphic
design can be very interactive, and it gives you a sense of ownership when you
posses them. Electronic based graphic design requires almost no actual material to
create, and it still works great, but it can never achieve the intimacy that objects
gives.

My generation (born in 1980s) is capable of adapting both type of graphic design,
but as time goes on, less and less kids will see the existence of material graphic
design, because there are only so little resources left.

Abstract:

My goal is to create a series of material based graphic design (a pop‐up book is what
I’m thinking) that is suitable for kids. It is to be interactive in a way that digital art cannot replace. The reason I want to do this is because I think the future generations deserve to know the origin of graphic design, and hopefully it will help to keep the old style alive a bit longer.

The Research Question:

How to make children become aware of the original graphic design, and how to
make me appreciate it?

Audience:

Primary targets are children of course, age from 5‐10. Sometimes kids need to be
kids, and that doesn’t mean play video game all day or chat on the phone all night.
When I was a kid, I used to tease myself with all kinds of imagination. So I want to
show them, life can be fun even without the fancy technologies.

The Secondary target is the parent. Growing up in the old world, they should know
the value of material graphic design.

Realization:

A pop‐up storybook is what I plan to do, or it can be a series of pop‐up books telling
different stories.

In order to make the thesis project more interesting, I’m planning to design a popup
book that will teach children how to make it. So they can use their imagination to
create their own stories.

Learning Outcomes:

My biggest goal for this project is to raise the next generation’s interest in graphic
design, or at least let them become aware of it.

Literature Review:

Jackson, Paul. The Pop‐Up Book: Step By Step Instructions for creating over 100
original projects. Owl; July 26 2001

This book is notable for its clear instructions and bright, colorful illustrations. “This book offers an instructional guide leading the craftsperson through an introductory section of basics to sections covering techniques and original design. The step‐bystep projects are exercises in technique only, with complex constructions shown as examples.” It is quite helpful when I’m searching for references and techniques that will suit my own design.

Hiram, Fitzgerald. International Perspectives on Child Psychology and Mental
Health: Development and Context; Prevention and Treatment. Praeger Pub, Feb 28
2010.

This is a very new book, the reason it is important is because child psychology is
very hard to understand. If I want to write a book that suits kids, I need to
understand what their psychology. Another reason this book is important is because
it tells me about children’s mental development, this is in direct relation with the
story, I have to be careful with the storyline, so it doesn’t affect their mental growth negatively.


Proposal # 3

Title:

The Endangered Encyclopedia

Introduction:

Animals are mistreated all over the world, yet we know so little about them. I have
always been an animal lover and I feel that it’s time to let their voices be heard.
There are many non‐profit organizations in this world, yet everyone is just doing the
same old donation campaign. I think they should have done something more
practical instead of asking money. For example, I saw this series of photographs of
bears captured in dog cages, and their paws are cut off for money. It was very
devastating and bloody, but at the same time, I feel that I just saw through the world
a bit more.

I think those kind of photos need to be revealed to the world, people only think that
bear paw is tasty, but refuse to think where it came from. If more truth like that are
revealed into the world, no one will take animal protection as joke any more.

Abstract:

My goal is to build a campaign for these poor & endangered animals, so people can
do whatever they can to help prevent from their extinction. The campaign is about
revealing the truth to the audience; I will mainly focus on destroyed habitats,
polluted animals, mistreated animals, and forbidden hunters. I think these are the
most sensitive topic when it comes to animal rights, and no body really like to talk
about them.

The Research Question:

(Main Question) How to save those endangered animals with your own hands
instead of your money?

The first question is more about us as individuals, we can start by creating less
pollution, use less paper to save trees, and etc.

(Minor Question) What can we do to help restore this nature balance, by bring
endangered animals back into our world?

This question is more about asking how to restore the environment, and
questioning whether we can live our lives without harming the animals.

Audience:

Target audience is everyone, because everyone is involved in this topic. We all can
do some parts to help prevent animals dying.

Realization:

This should be a online encyclopedia project, so that more people over the world
can look at the same time.

There will be a photo bank storing all the endangered animals and their living
conditions.

Large format posters will take place in subway stations for advertising purposes.
A small instruction manual that lists all the things we can do to help prevent their
extinction.

Learning Outcomes:

I will learn a lot more about animals by the end of this project, and I will also be
learned the art of persuasion, because advertising is the key to this project.

Literature Review:

Shevelow, Kathryn. For the Love of Animals: The Rise of the Animal Protection
Movements. Henry Holt and Co. Jun 24 2008

This shocking book tells the story of the brave, eccentric individuals who worked to
stop heartless animal abuses in 17th and 18th century England. This book is
essential reading for people interested in both the history of legislation to protect
animals, and animal ethics issues. It’s a good reference source.

Baur, Donald. Endangered Species Act: Law, Policy, and Perspectives. American Bar
Association, Aug 16 2009

This book explains the Endangered Species Act, its implementation, and the issues
facing the protection of endangered wildlife and its habitat. I need to read this book
in order to become more familiar with the current situation. This book also helps me
to locate the most endangered animals quickly.