The Thesis Kit
2023
Branding & Product Design
SKILLS
Packaging, Editorial, Illustration, Brand Identity, Screen Printing
OVERVIEW
The senior year of college is a challenging and emotional time for students, filled with confusion, exploration and preparation. While completing a thesis project is essential for obtaining a degree, many students find it overwhelming due to the competing demands of job hunting or post-graduation preparation. The word 'thesis' itself can induce anxiety and feelings of inadequacy, making it daunting to select a topic and complete the project.
<The Thesis Kit> is a thesis project questioning the term 'thesis' itself. It presents the thesis as an opportunity for creative exploration and personal growth, rather than a solitary and daunting task. The kit is packaged in a playful box filled with fun items, intended to motivate and inspire seniors as they embark on the next phase of their careers. The kit uses messy handwriting and hand-drawn illustrations that juxtapose with clean bold typeface to convey the personal voice and thoughts on the thesis process, reflecting the anxiety and stress of senior students.
<The Thesis Kit> offers a humorous and satirical approach to the thesis process, encouraging students to approach their work with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose. It fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared experience among students who may feel lost or overwhelmed in their senior year. The kit provides a lighthearted break from the stresses of the thesis process, allowing students to relax and approach their work with a positive mindset.
When I began my senior year as a communication design student, I felt overwhelmed by the pressure, stress, and uncertainty that came with being in my final year of college. I had many questions about my senior thesis project and I felt like I had to create something extraordinary, but I wasn't sure where to start. I also worried about job hunting and the next chapter of my life after graduation.
As I struggled with these problems, I noticed that many of my fellow students were going through the same thing. That's when I decided to question the term "thesis" itself and ask why not make a thesis about thesis?
Hence, I created <The Thesis Kit> to offer a fun and satirical approach to the thesis process, encouraging students to approach their work with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose.
DESIGN SYSTEM
As <The Thesis Kit> is specifically designed for BFA Communcation Design seniors at Parsons, I devloped a design system that is directly inspired by and derived from the school's distinctive aesthetics and values.
I chose the school mascot, Gnarls, as a representative of us and used the black and Parsons red color palette. The kit features hand-drawn illustrations and messy handwriting that juxtapose with clean bold typeface to reflect the personal voice and thoughts on the thesis process, mirroring the anxiety and stress of senior students.
CONTENTS
The kit includes practical items to help seniors stay organized, as well as items to help them relax and approach their work with a positive mindset. A Thesis calendar is also included, with my own annotations for the real timeline of the thesis journey, as well as to-do list sticky notes to help seniors plan their day-to-day schedules and avoid procrastination. <The Thesis Kit> also includes a tote bag with a screen-printed illustration that reflects the humor and sympathy I always try to incorporate into my designs.
DESIGN PROCESS
