Thesis Projects

 
2021 Kylie Huffman 2021 Kylie Huffman

Perfectly Imperfect: Resurrecting a Legacy of Purpose Through Materials, Forms, and Space

Century-old buildings leave us to retell their stories through their materials, forms, and spaces. I created the phrase “perfectly imperfect” as a way of finding beauty when two materials and/or forms blend with existing materials to form a singular artifact that is perfectly imperfect. Using an estate of grand size and beauty, historic as it is, deserves a mission and purpose grander than its original one-family function. A “legacy of purpose” will be resurrected with this historic estate, honoring Helen Gould’s mission and values in how the estate should be repurposed, as a fashion and textile trade school for high school graduates. If she were alive today, she would want the estate to contribute to the greater New York City’s underserved youth in this way. Three beautiful buildings on this historic site will be greatly enhanced by these renovations and this relevant, contemporary mission.

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2021 Lindsay Bedford 2021 Lindsay Bedford

A New Life: Re-Framing and Re-Purposing the Art Museum of the 21st Century

What is a museum and what is the role this anchor institution plays in the 21st century? This thesis explores this question along with how design can be utilized to create a more equitable and culturally responsive art museum, specifically in an underserved community in Philadelphia. By focusing on equity, access, activism, and advocacy, while providing an environment to promote local initiatives, creativity, and innovation, the museum’s primary function changes from an archive of physical objects to an archive of cultural memory. By structurally changing the institution to have a stronger focus on the visitor and their experiences/connections made in the museum, the museum becomes an archive of the people and their communal identity.

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2021 Pei Tian 2021 Pei Tian

2D Shapes to 3D Forms: Design Functionality & Circulation

This thesis project explores how the elementary shapes and forms cooperate and translate the design functionality and circulation within multiple dimensions. The transition between graphic 2 dimensional and extruded 3 dimensional spatial elements create a complex yet minimal interior architecture which accommodates a diverse range of programmatic functions.

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2021 Jieyi Wu 2021 Jieyi Wu

Using Light to Shape Aesthetics, Comfort and Mood

This thesis project will explore the relationship between light and aesthetics, comfort and mood. I aim to work with light, including temperature and luminosity, to enhance mood and create a sense of comfort in different spaces and times. I am especially interested in empathetic technologies that allow for dynamic adjustment of light based on individual preference and need.

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2018 Neha Basavaraj 2018 Neha Basavaraj

Bio/Digital/Fabrication

Design of the Kiosk/Pavilion is generated at the intersection of 3 separate areas of work: 1) Biology, 2) Design and 3) Fabrication. The project explores use of Mycelium, Bacterial Cellulose with aluminum as the frame in a temporary structure.

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