Graduate Theses
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Conservation of a Pair of c. 1865 Silk Walking Boots
Alexandra Blach
- 2023
- Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice
- Text
- Thesis
The subject of this paper is the conservation treatment of a pair of c. 1865 red silk boots. The contents of this paper describe the identification, testing procedures, treatment proposal, and conservation treatment of the boots.

Exist: Existential Provocations
Grace Woelkers
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
An abundance of hardships, suffering, and despair have been experienced, especially in the past five years. These years have caused emotions of hopelessness and sorrow, making it difficult for some to see beyond their troubles. With this being said, it should also be noted that because of these wrenched years, positive transformations have been seen in societies. A journey to find their niche, their purpose, and the meaning of their life, has pathed a thirst for well-being. The exploration of one's purpose or meaning in life in relation to the world around them can harness powerful insights.

It's Magic: Let Words Guide You
Shamysia Waterman
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
In an experiential environment, the ultimate goal is to evoke a sense of awareness in the visitor that ends up being unique to the individual. No matter the topic, a visitor should be able to leave the environment having learned something as well as questioning the topic they've engaged in, yearning to know more. The purpose of this thesis to an experiential exhibition design execution followed this notion in its playful eagerness to remind those that their words have access to creating a whole world of magic, if one simply wishes to tap into their innate imagination.

Tune In
Alison McNamara-Marsland
- 2023
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This document is arranged in two sections. Part I explores my thesis theory where I discuss how and why music affects the brain both physiologically and emotionally. I also explore the concept of divergent thinking and its positively correlated relationship to the act of listening to music. Part II describes the application of the theory as an applied exhibition project. In this part, I describe a developed experiential design project I created in order to implement and demonstrate my theory. The project focuses on the phenomenon of music leading to an increase in divergent thinking in order to enable visitors to approach topics from new perspectives and unlock creative insights. The topic I chose to use as the subject of my exhibition was climate change due to the doomerism mindset that causes many people to feel stuck and uninspired. Feelings of hopelessness prevent creativity and innovation therefore it is important to shift people's mindsets and approach to the topic. This is why divergent thinking, facilitated by the incorporation of music, can be incredibly impactful on both individuals and society.

How Museums Reshape Audience Engagement through Social Media Marketing
Dominique D. Castro
- 2022
- Art Market Studies
- Text
- Thesis
To stay relevant in their communities, museums must reflect and take time to build trust, maintain a positive reputation, and develop innovative ways of shaping culture. Navigating through a fluid time in the age of digital media, museums have taken advantage of their online presence to stay relevant. However, with museums experiencing a push from the public for change, how can museums shape culture through communication via social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, while still being authentic to themselves? This thesis will examine data from three large, renowned American museums; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and The Art Institute of Chicago. By using the social media reports from the museums marketing platforms and their own operational reports, it will show how each museum builds and shapes a community online, collecting research through accredited journals and publications on marketing, arts marketing, and the digital development of arts institutions. The data will be analyzed, identifying major developments over time in the digital marketing world, comparing the data between the three institutions, and examining how these changes have been applied across the board.

Connection, Immersion, and Perspective-Taking in Shared Spaces
Natalie Henson
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
Immersive virtual experiences and games have been shown to build self-efficacy, perspective-taking, and empathy in participants through devices such as avatar-like embodied experiences and collaboration within the environment.

Bonding Across Distances: How to Create Shared Emotional Experiences in Remote Settings
Hsin-Yi Chang
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
In this research, I explore how shared emotional experiences can be created in remote settings that effectively engage physically distant participants and foster interpersonal bonds. The document is organized into two parts:

Sound Playground: Consciousness and Soundscape Design in Experiential Environments
Jami Sparano
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This paper occurs in two parts. Part one contains theory and research, whereas part two synthesizes the theory and research into an applicatory museum exhibition design.

The Color in You
Hua-Wen Kao
- 2023
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This thesis document consists of two parts. The first part explores my theory of using the senses to keep people mindful and staying in the present moment, through the inspiration of contemporary artist Marina Abramović to think about the connection between human senses and the environment and the self. Although the flow of emotions and mindfulness are invisible and difficult to quantify, the theory I propose includes case studies and secondary source validation about how sensors connect with human emotions, as well as primary source research in the form of interviews with Susye Greenwood and theoretical prototype testing. The research work supports my premise regarding the connection between senses and emotions and human well-being.

Jeff Koons and Daniel Arsham as Successful Cases of Interdisciplinary Artists to Follow for Sean Go Art
Sean Go
- 2022
- Art Market Studies
- Text
- Thesis
This thesis comprises a case study (Part 1) and a business plan (Part 2). The case study investigates the relationship between two artists, Jeff Koons and Daniel Arsham, and brand collaborations drawing on theories of artification. Theoretically, strategic synergies can be realized when artist branding and consumer brands or luxury companies work together. The business plan outlines a strategy for Sean Go Art to develop sculptures as a product extension to paintings and prints. The case study essentially outlines strategies that worked well for both Koons and Arsham, which sets up reasons why a product extension through sculptures would be effective for Sean Go's art practice to grow in critical acclaim and financial success.

Climate Change and Its Metacognitions in the Metaverse
Hansa Hatrote
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This thesis document is organized into two sections. The first section explores the strategies of Metacognition– the process of thinking about one's own thinking and learning– and how the study of the human mind helps us understand how we conceptualize climate change. As climate education becomes more crucial, finding new effective ways to educate and inculcate climate-conscious behavior is vital. With the rise of metaverse technologies, various studies in the field of education prove the effectiveness of virtual reality– a simulated 3D environment that enables users to explore and interact with virtual surroundings. This study will examine how these technologies can be integrated into physical experiences to educate visitors in anon-traditional informal learning experience. This study will then explore how these strategies can be adapted and applied to an exhibition environment to increase climate awareness, inculcate climate-conscious behavior and pave the path to a greener future.

Multiverse: A Journey Through Infinite Parallel Dimensions
Jaipreet Uppal
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
Part one of this paper delves into the suggested idea for enhancing visitor experiences through physical environments in order to create a transformational experience. The idea investigates the multiverse's philosophy of parallel universes with infinite possibilities, and how this relationship may be used in the design industry to assist creating exciting experiences that are transformative for visitors through enhanced sensory experiences and altered perceptions. The paper begins with explaining the significance of each individual concept discussed in order to build the fundamental framework of each. Part one of the paper backs up and enhances the central notion offered by using three case examples. Part one lays the groundwork and research for the new suggested design theory.

Give & Take: Conservation of Our Landscapes
Joseph DeLaunay
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
With demand for multimedia experiences ever increasing, exhibitions must learn how to balance the use of technologies while integrating a path of interactions to engage visitors' capability of taking in information. This is done while challenging visitors to work and interact with the subject in many ways.

Timeless Design: Enduring Practices for Sustainable Pop-Up Exhibitions
Jose Victor Campos Gomez
- 2023
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This document is divided into two sections. Part I explores the theory, while Part II shows the project in which the theory was applied.

Visualizing Chinese Americans: An (Auto)Ethnography of Making Meanings through Art as a Chinese American
Pingting Tu
- 2022
- Art Market Studies
- Text
- Thesis
Despite more than a century of living unequally to the rest of the country, most Chinese immigrants have chosen America as their diasporic home. While Chinese Americans have been a part of the making of America as a country for more than two centuries, America has not been telling the full story about Chinese Americans and their experiences in the land of dreams. In my essay, I am using my personal experiences as a Chinese American as the launchpad of the research. I draw on a combination of historical and theoretical research to analyze Chinese identities in American society and the evolution of Chinese and Chinese American art and how it is situated in the American art scene. I aim to discuss the contemporary Chinese American experience through an autoethnographic lens using three Chinese American artists at different stages of their careers: experienced, mid-career, and emerging. I used interviews and field studies to learn about these artists. Through this paper, I study how they settle and fit in the contemporary art world to understand their perspectives on topics like success and tradition related to being Chinese American and how this identity migrates into their artworks. Whereas Chinese Americans have been largely portrayed as victims of the American historical narrative, though it is not untrue, I attempt to tell the stories of little ordinary triumphs achieved by Chinese Americans, including myself to reshape the perception of us and celebrate us as "dreamers", "doers", and "achievers".

The Art of Being: A Look Into How Holistic Wellness Practices Can Facilitate Safe Exploration of One’s Personal Well-Being in Order to Enhance Spatial Experiences for Future Generations
Zuzanna Zmijewska-Walczak
- 2023
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This document is arranged in two sections. Part I explores research on Generation Z seeking forms of well-being, and the theory of the social media platform, TikTok, enabling individuals to safely find wellness practices that work for them. Through research, case studies, prototyping, and interviews, I focused on the aspect of community-driven wellness, which derives from the study of Tiktok's unique algorithm forming micro-communities across the world. In promoting human connection, social media platforms possess a connective power that transcends physical space; nevertheless, it is imperative that humanity continues to maintain a connection in the physical world in order to feel a sense of community and belonging. As intimidating as it is, every individual can find wellness within themselves and can find their personal community, the wellness journey begins.

Hong-Yeon: Red Thread of Fate: An Immersive Experience Designed to Build Empathy for People Suffering from Early Cognitive Impairment Leading to Dementia
Jace Son
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This document is arranged in two sections. Part one explores theoretical research, and Part Two outlines the application of this theory in an applied project.

In-Sync: Movement Synchrony in the Post-Pandemic Work Culture
Emily Y. Schmidt
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This document is comprised of two sections. Part One explores the theory, and Part Two outlines the application of this theory in an applied project.

Encoded: Prioritizing Consumer Consent, Choice + Co-Creation from URL to IRL
Marlyka Williams
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
Society is digitizing at immense speeds and scales. Whether one is prepared for the continuous next normal, amid the age of digitization and the corporatization of the Internet, data has now, in many ways, become the new form of currency. This thesis and exhibition project, therefore, explore the marketing and customer experience sector as it relates to hyper-personalized retail environments. Driven by the demand for privacy, this project's futurist approach forges new consumer-brand relationship tactics through transparent channels of how companies can ethically utilize customer personal data to provide hyper-personalized customer experiences.

Roaring Elephants: The Legend of Salsa
Sarah Felter
- 2022
- Exhibition and Experience Design
- Text
- Thesis
This document is divided into two sections. Part One addresses theory and Part Two tests that theory through an exhibition design project. Part One examines memory as an artifact that can be viewed and explored in museums. The theory being explored is that of utilizing different collection methods within exhibition design to generate the same accessibility that comes from person-to-person storytelling. It looks at studies that display the fallibility of memory and its incredible subjectivity while also acknowledging the need for nuance while studying history.

"Weird Nonsense" Humor and Trauma in the Work of Eva Hesse
Eve Adsetts
- 2022
- Art Market Studies
- Text
- Thesis
Eva Hesse was always in on the joke. She was fascinated by the absurd. After fleeing Nazi persecution as a young child, she lived a life of extremes. In an effort to deal with her trauma, Hesse combined her artistic talent and survivor humor to create a unique style of sculpture that influenced generations. Scholarship on Eva Hesse paints her as a tragic and wounded feminist figure or a traumatized genius lost too soon. Instead, this paper presents Eva Hesse as a survivor, and her work as a humorous tool. As Hesse managed her trauma through her art and therapy, her art became funny and crude, a stark contrast from the dark abstract paintings and drawings of the beginning of her career. Through an exploration of "Holocaust humor," this paper analyzes the work of Eva Hesse as it acts like a Holocaust joke.

CFMM Capstone 2012: Innovation through Diversity in the Beauty Industry
- 2012
- Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management
- Video
- Lectures
- Thesis
Class of 2012 Capstone Presentations: Innovation through Diversity in the Beauty Industry.

Diversity & Global Leadership: Capstone 2012 – Cosmetics and Fragrance
- 2012
- Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management
- Video
- Lectures
- Thesis
Class of 2012 Capstone Presentations. Innovation Through Diversity In The Beauty Industry. Diversity & Global Leadership. Joseph Aphinyanaphongs, Jeanine Bernstock, Maria Ellena Ferri, Manami Kuwamura, Margaret Martin

CFMM Capstone 2016: The Future of Innovation
- Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management
- Video
- Lectures
- Thesis
Today, innovation is the product of symbiotic relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and synthesis across domains. But what does the future hold for innovation? Gaduate students in the Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management master's degree program revealed their research findings on The Future of Innovation.

CFMM Capstone 2015: The Future of Luxury
- 2015
- Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management
- Video
- Lectures
- Thesis
Class of 2015 Capstone Research Presentations.