FIT Institutional Repository

Title

Exist: Existential Provocations

Contributor Names

Woelkers, Grace (Author)

Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. Exhibition and Experience Design (Degree granting institution)

Cowan, Brenda (Thesis advisor)

Lyons, Christina (Thesis advisor)

Date

2022

Degree Information

M.A. Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York 2022.

Department: Exhibition and Experience Design.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 84-08.

Advisors: Cowan, Brenda; Lyons, Christina.

Committee members: Lyons, Christina; Carlson, Brooke.

Abstract

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.

During these years, I decided to pick up the book, The Age of Absurdity by author Michael Foley, which deep dives into why it is so difficult to be happy in modern life. This book introduced me to the gravity of our perceptions and desires in life. Gaining a fascination for existentialism and the absurdity of modern life, I began to ponder how our thoughts and perceptions of "what is" can be projected onto the relation of ourselves with the world around us. Thinking of how this contemplation can push an individual to an eye-opening experience, I believe this experience can be transcendental in human evolution. It's absurd to view the world without the perspectives we are constantly projecting into it because to man, this is to see beyond what we think we know. Down to its core, the world as we know it in its most simple form is a place to be.

From An Introduction to Existentialism by Robert G. Olson, it can be said that an individual's despair already exists, and the existentialist helps them to heal:

With a logic which is wholly indefensible, though understandable enough, he cries: I am in despair, you have reduced me to despair, therefore you are in despair. But no! The existentialist answers. You were in despair in the first place. It is for that reason you have heard and understood me when I stripped you of your illusions. All that I have done is to make you fully conscious of your despair, and now if you will listen further I will help you master your despair.

This new outlook and motivation to find fulfillment and meaning rather than happiness, a fleeting emotion that is inconsistent, as I gathered from the book, has led me to reach below surface level and resurrect the passion for design that I've carried with me my whole life. I understand that we are shaped by our experiences, which brings me to question the intention of someone who is in a great position to shape others' experiences. Wouldn't this person strive to support the growth of another's being through knowledge, wonder, and awe? Wouldn't this person encourage people to lean into themselves and become their potential through these experiences?

From Existentialism in Design of Virtual Reality by Fedico Richard Elditya:

The aim of the existentialist designer is to not dominate the user experience, but rather to design for a controlled accident in which the medium itself is explored, and one's self through the medium, where the overarching purpose is the exploration itself.

How can we, as designers, create more meaningful experiences where the audience is provoked to question their own being by provoking transformative and existential thought? Rather than designing an object with existential intent, can we pull values from this philosophy and translate them into space so the audience can lean into their own existential meaning rather than an object's? If this is possible, would a revolutionized way of existential design be born? These are the questions that have pushed me to explore the theory of designing in order to provoke existential thinking. The aim of the designer of this theoretical approach is to provoke existential thinking in the audience. The hope is that the reader can discover a new way to transcend their space by giving an audience the opportunity to explore one's existence with the world around them.

This document consists of the thesis, which explores the design theory utilized from the framework of existentialism and self-reflection within an audience, and the proposed project that applies this design theory in physical space to provoke existential thought. This first section of this document deep dives into the design theory with the use of analyzed previous case studies, prototyping, and research. I identify the main concepts of existential philosophy and transform each into design elements that can be implemented in a physical space to provide a controlled environment that has the potential for deep self-reflection, introspection, and retrospection.

The second portion of this document explores the mediums and vehicles that can be used to execute this theoretical proposition successfully. In application of the explored strategies and theory, the design development accomplishes a spatial environment that can cause individuals to reflect not only within themselves but also explore the world at large and their relationship within this world. Particular steps were taken to identify the proposed subject, venue, clients, partnerships, and target audiences for this design proposition to fall into place. These particular steps and research were utilized to validate and dive deeper into the investigation of the selected intangible concepts that are proposed to be translated into design elements to provoke existential thinking.

Through the proposed thesis and design project, this paper explores a design theory for experience design that can be implicated in exhibitions, commercial spaces, immersive environments, etc., to perform transformative experiences for individuals on a micro level, and society on a macro level.

Subject

Design

Philosophy

Exhibitions

Existentialism

Experience

Introspection

Space

Rights

In Copyright

The copyright for this work is held by its author/creator(s). Usage of this material beyond what is permitted by copyright law must first be cleared with the rights-holder(s). This work has been made available online by the Fashion Institute of Technology Gladys Marcus Library strictly for research and educational purposes. If you are the copyright holder for this work and have any objections to this work being made available online, please notify us immediately at [email protected].

This item must not be sold to any third party vendors.

Identifier

FIT Repository ID: etd_000925

pqdiss: 30249076

ISBN: 9798371975560

Related Materials

Also available from ProQuest

Type

Text

Thesis

Language

English

Publisher

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,