Andrew Mears MA Design Systems Thesis 2019

Can You Connect With Me?

The technology (i.e., smartphones and social media) designed to connect us all is not sufficient at making us feel socially connected. More specifically, these technologies challenge our agency to create new meaningful in-person connections because they disconnect us from the present social environment, inhibit our capacity to have meaningful in-person conversations and create social barriers between people in physical spaces. Through design research tactics, this thesis explores the question, “Are smartphones a barrier to in-person connections?” From the key findings and insights of this research, the outcome of this thesis establishes a design strategy framework and evaluation tool that may be used by designers who care about this issue. The framework asks the question, “How might we design products, services or experiences that empower individuals, groups and communities to be more mindful of their smartphone use and more likely to create in-person personal connections with the people around us?”

SJ Bowden MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2021

Inbar Sharon MA Design Systems Thesis 2022

Ameenah Carroll MA Design Systems Thesis 2022

Maddy Silberger-Franek MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2022

Katie Vellman MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2023

Miguel Rodriguez MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2023

Brendy Hale MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2023

Betsy Lance MA Design Systems Thesis 2021

Samantha Caruthers-Knight MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2021

Katherine Mitchell MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2018

Amelia Bauerly MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2019

Andrew Mears MA Design Systems Thesis 2019

Ophir El-Boher MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2019

Amber Marsh MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2019

Mijounga Chang MA Design Systems Thesis 2020

Emilie Jensen MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2020

Audrey Lewis MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2020

Leah Payne MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2020

Katie Scott MFA Collaborative Design Thesis 2020

Alicia Navarrette MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Jake Mcintire MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Jessica Stein MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Jessica Riehl MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Olivia Guethling CD MFA Practicum 2015

Crystal Rome MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Emilie Skytta MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2014

Peter Tichnell MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2014

Colin Cheong MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016

Celina Coppetti Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Joel Newman Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Michelle Vorce Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Amanda Schurr Collaborative Design MFA Practicum 2017

Kailey Fry MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Alicia DeMellier MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2018

Jacob Richardson MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2014

Katie Mays CD MFA Practicum Spring 2013

Emma Conley CD MFA Practicum Spring 2013

Shannon Paine MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Melody Rowell MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2015

Luke Zimmerman MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016

Matthew McCasland MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016

Asa Wright MFA Collaborative Design Practicum 2016