I’m delighted to share a Web site I’m building about my MFA thesis on mental health. To this day I can’t seem to stop thinking about it. I wrote more and practiced new skills and ways of thinking and was more creative in those two years than I ever had been before in my entire life. The prototypes, the interviews, how the topic changed me, how it fits in with current discussions of diversity equity and inclusion and equity centered design, ethics and power in design – it’s still on my mind. I think about what I was starting to explore – like AR and connected home devices and service design and community – and how I was just starting to dip the waters into this world. When I finished I ended up with a cap, gown and a diploma, and for me, the journey hasn’t quite ended. I’m hoping to share this and liberating it out of the thesis book and help me to figure out what’s next for it. I’m still adding content hope that sharing this personal bit of creativity inspires people. We could all use a little more support in this life – and there is beauty in vulnerability and using design to explore it.
Even though I’ve set the project up on WordPress, I can’t seem to get the blog part to work over there yet, so I’ll be adding additional comments over on this blog for now in the ‘thesis’ category. In addition to building the site and exploring how to extend it, I’m toying with the idea of an event series, to bring things away from TED talks and the digital into the virtual fireplace. If you’re interested in hearing more or helping, please feel free to contact me.
Posted By: Rachel M. Murray · In: graduateschool, thesis
