THESIS PROPOSAL BOOKLET
Research Focus:
In a culture prioritizing speed, efficiency, and consumerism, beauty is often sidelined. This thesis investigates how recognizing and integrating beauty—seen as a deeper, connective force rather than mere surface-level aesthetics—can combat this isolation.
Key questions include:
• How can beauty foster empathy and cultivate caring communities?
• What design interventions might create spaces for “deep listening” and intentional observation?
• How can existing beauty serve as a guide for designers to promote community connection?
Abstract:
This thesis investigates the value of beauty in Western culture, focusing on how it can cultivate deeper, caring communities. In modern Western society, beauty is often sidelined in favor of efficiency and consumerism, leading to a loss of spaces and practices that nourish wonder, empathy, and meaningful connection. My research highlights how noticing and preserving beauty can reconnect us with our communities, environments, and ourselves, promoting a slower, more intentional way of life.
Process Overview:
• Research & Exploration: Extensive literature review and historical research on beauty as a communal and empathetic force.
• Ideation & Experiment Design: Developed exercises like “8-Minute Noticing” to encourage intentional observation and reflection on beauty.
• Participant Engagement: Conducted practical exercises with participants, gathering insights on how they experience and reflect on beauty.
• Design Synthesis: Developed visual and auditory outputs (e.g., trading cards and soundscapes) to communicate findings and provide participants with a lasting, tangible connection to the project’s ideas.
8 Minute Noticing
8 Minute Noticing
Audio Collection
Trading Cards Categorization
Trading Cards
Trading Cards
Trading Cards
MAKING RESEARCH:
I explored these themes in creative research through three different design exercises.
• 8 Minute Noticing – Participants observed an outdoor scene for eight minutes, then recreated it from memory, capturing details they might otherwise overlook. This exercise highlighted both what we notice and miss in everyday beauty.
• Trading Cards – Each participant recorded a “beautiful thing” daily over ten days. Responses were compiled and categorized, then used to create collectible trading cards. Feedback showed that many participants felt more attuned to beauty and connection in their lives as a result.
• Audio Collections – Participants recorded daily soundscapes, blending everyday moments into thematic auditory experiences. This response emphasized the overlooked beauty in sound and encouraged more intentional listening.
CONCLUSION:
My research explored beauty’s role in fostering empathy and community, with exercises like “8-Minute Noticing,” trading cards, and audio collections prompting participants to engage deeply with their surroundings. These activities demonstrated that intentional engagement with beauty can cultivate connection and care for one’s environment. I presented these findings in a final presentation, establishing both a conceptual foundation and practical framework to guide my thesis work in the following semester.
