This project primarily examines the physical and mental health of K-12 school children and faculty by implementing biophilic and ergonomic design into the learning environment. By understanding the positive impacts that both biophilic and ergonomic designs had on humans throughout various office space and healthcare environments, this lead into the question of how these tactics could impact the growth and development of children, as well as the positive impacts they could have on teachers. This research was paired with my fall semester interior design studio (fall of 2021), which is the study of schools and other education spaces in order to strengthen this defense and demonstrate ways schools can incorporate these tactics through the eyes of a design student.

The impact traditional East Asian design has had on modern-day East Asian design has not been extensively researched. This paper examines the relationship traditional East Asian architectural design has with more modern styles of design in order to determine and compare the extent to which Western-style influences have had an impact in Eastern societies. This research specifically focuses on the country of South Korea and explores various case studies and articles dating from the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) till present day. By comparing factors related to South Korean culture, the environment, religious philosophies, etc., to architectural trends within the country, we are able to explore the distinct and changing architectural values the society has prioritised over the centuries. This research aims to provide a clearer and more solidified timeline of Korean architectural history which in the past has lacked to address the question revolving around the impact tradition has had on ongoing design trends. I then compare South Korean culture and architecture to other case studies on both East Asian and Western societies in order to determine similarities between past and present architectural styles. The introduction of Western-style architecture in East Asian societies occurred at different critical periods of time and has pushed architectural modernisation to evolve at various speeds and in different directions. By comparing case studies on Japan, China and Korea/South Korea, we are able to explore the various interpretations and the extent to which Western-style design has had influence in this countries. While certain symbolic elements in traditional East Asian architecture have been lost during the modernisation phase of design, there continues to be a link between past and present styles through the emergence of new and improved modern features that have acted as replacements for previous ones. Currently trending in South Korean society is the want to revive and reincorporate traditional architectural features in the city landscape. Perhaps a new vision will emerge where past will become the new modern, and this will encourage an even greater extent of traditional influences on modern architecture in East Asia.

This project is built around the idea of designing hardware for accessibility. In the modern context, many accessibility solutions are built around software. While this allows for a lot of flexibility in terms of features and content, it is an imperfect approach to design for users of all abilities. In particular, blind and deaf-blind users are poorly accounted for in terms of hardware design. They are a user group that is highly limited by the inadequate features designed for their needs, and this project will demonstrate that users feel frustrated by these imperfect solutions to using a smartphone without sight. Not only will this project present its own accessory to accompany software accessibility features, but this project will also try to push first-party manufacturers to design and create their own hardware solutions. LOUIS is a refreshable braille display that magnetically attaches to a smartphone case. It will give braille users the tools they need to not only operate their phone through hardware, but read and write through braille. It includes a braille display that can read out on-screen information using existing software APIs. It also has Perkins brailler keys for users to compose texts, emails and other messages. It is packaged into a thin and highly-portable package that will allow users to continue to pocket their phones easily.

A play about a ghost and a vampire who are roommates who are secretly in love with each other and have never told one another. One day, the ghosts remains are discovered, and the two must race to get them back - with the help of some friends - before a proper burial means that they'll never see each other again.

The aging apartment blocks (nicknamed “khrushchyovka”, or plural “khrushchyovki” for Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev) of the former USSR are facing demolition, despite the fact that many low income families still depend on these units for housing. This paper researches the development of the khrushchyovka and its estate leading up to the post-Soviet period and examines case studies to assess how these buildings can be modernized to spare them from demolition and to continue to serve as a reliable low-cost housing option. Studying how other projects have addressed similar problems in their architecture, these findings will be synthesized to present a full but minimally invasive khrushchyovka retrofit prototype, with improvements that will culminate in a more energy efficient, sustainable, and comfortable living environment for residents. This prototype provides a standardized template of services and improvements to be made, and can be adjusted to include specific features that meet the needs of a certain climate or location. In the early 1960s during the Khrushchev administration, these housing blocks made from prefabricated insulated concrete panels were constructed all over the USSR to alleviate housing shortages. A lot of them have an in practice service life of 150 years, meaning that many are incredibly durable with millions of people still living in them today. With their small size (ranging from 323 to 646 ft² depending on the number of bedrooms), they continue to be a suitable housing choice for low income small families and young people (Aliashkevich 31). Amid the threat of demolition to make way for cheaply made luxury-priced condos, many residents in the former USSR contend that their beloved khrushchyovki should be preserved (Watson), as they still have the capacity to be renovated in the interest of energy efficiency, cost savings, and community comfort.