Semester Award Granted

Spring 2025

Submission Date

May 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Mehrdad Sedaghat Baghbani

Abstract

This research was inspired by my emotional journey after relocating to the United States. Navigating a new culture, language barriers, and unfamiliar routines brought a complex mix of emotions. These experiences led me to begin to better understand and manage my emotional responses. That process revealed the importance of emotional awareness and became the foundation for my exploration into how design can help individuals recognize and engage with their emotions more meaningfully.

Emotions are significant in human life, from social relationships to decision-making. However, many people fail to understand their emotions or how to control them. Individuals experience emotions differently, which may fluctuate from one extreme to the other, depending on circumstances. Understanding emotions help us show self-compassion to ourselves and others when times are hard. It also allows us to make thoughtful decisions for the future rather than just reacting to what's happening right now. Understanding and managing emotions nurtures personal well-being and fosters empathy and collaboration. As a medium of interaction and engagement, interactive digital and physical design has the unique potential to facilitate emotional awareness. This study aims to achieve this goal through interactive posters and immersive installations, which invite viewers to connect with their emotions, fostering reflection, dialogue, and self-awareness.

This research investigates how design can enhance emotional awareness, which is defined as the ability to recognize, label, and manage emotions. It will explore how interactive design can be used as a tool to help people identify and express their emotions and evoke empathy and emotional intelligence in shared contexts. This thesis explores how people can be empowered to better understand their emotional experiences through interacting with design, fostering both personal growth and societal well-being.

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