Senior Portfolio Thesis Project

Below is the Senior Portfolio Thesis Project guidelines.
You may find it helpful to narrow down your magazine ideas or any other design project you have.
cheers,
a.

GRAPHIC DESIGN THESIS: Fall 2009

The purpose of a graphic design thesis is to define the complex intersection between personal voice, conceptual thinking, and the ability to conduct and use research effectively in the service of creating a compelling, finely crafted design portfolio.

This is an opportunity to identify an area of interest you feel passionate about, research it, and create a visual language that defines it for the audience, takes the audience through your thought process as you researched and uncovered the topic, and creates a dialog with the audience.

THESIS: A STATEMENT OR THEORY THAT IS PUT FORWARD AS A PREMISE TO BE MAINTAINED OR PROVEN, LITERALLY OR FIGURATIVELY.

In researching and producing a thesis book, you are creating a narrative. The idea is to elucidate an original observation and to make us, your audience, reconsider the topic or see it in a new light. You are engaged in the process of making an argument. What is the core message?

Make sure you have a point. What stance are you taking? What is your argument?

What is the one thought/feeling/smile you want your audience to walk away with after experiencing the piece?

Consider the tone of your narrative. Is it authoritative, reverential, tongue in cheek? Your thesis may take form in any medium(s), including motion, type design, installation, print, packaging, etc. Along with other mediums, you will be creating a final thesis book.

The visual language you develop for your thesis book should be derived from and appropriate to your subject/content.