Senior Thesis: Winter 2021 Virtual Exhibition - Oakland University Art Gallery

Featuring

(BA, Graphic Design) Mark Darren Angsioco, Brandon Bolleber, Gage Bucchare, Enna Castro, Samiha Chowdhury, Benjamin Colangelo, Nichole Crook, Briana Dennis, Leo Gallucci, Gabriella Garcia, Grace Gilson, Lauren Greear, Daniel Grot, Noah Hirsch, Anna Karcher, Ashley Lee, Tyler Main, Maggie Malfroid, Shannon Mcauliffe, Lauren McGhee, Nicole Miller, Alexander Mikonczyk, Jodi Mitchell, Brody Morgan, Joel Naren, Matthew Nimtz, Eduardo Rojas Jaime, Kyle Schomaker, Andrew Sperber, Sydney Summa, Mason Turrell, Aubrie Urban, Todd Watzke, Sarah Wojno, Cynthia Wong, Jamie Yates.

(BA, Studio Art) Gabrielle Bourgeois, Madison Briggs, Brittney Caudill, Luna Gilpin, Nicole Jendrusina, Madeline Long, Olivia Schmick, Corinne Vens

See all past exhibitions

alexander mikonczyk

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can assist in eliminating the stigma with visible tattoos in the workplace. This project will impact anyone over the age of 18, who wishes to express themselves through having visible tattoos. This project is important because body modification has been rapidly becoming an integral part of society and a unique way of individual expression.

More than meets the eye

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View alexander mikonczyk's Work

andrew sperber

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated with how design can help people be aware when they are being targeted with their own information. This project will impact those who are unaware of or do not understand the threat of corporations knowing everything about you. This project is important because the privacy of people’s information should be considered a human right and satirical design can help spread awareness of this right being violated.

Untitled

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View andrew sperber's Work

anna karcher

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester I experimented with how design can be universal through energy drink brands. This project will impact digital illustration designers and how they look at designing future energy drink cans. This project is important because those who drink energy drinks don't care too much on what's on the outside of the can. What they care about is how good the drink tastes and how much energy it will give them.

Untitled

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View anna karcher's Work

ashley lee

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I explored how graphic design can improve American art museums in the modern era of technology and multiculturalism. This project will impact peoples’ perceptions on art museums and artists overall. This project will demonstrate the impact of art in daily life. This project is important in demonstrating the significance of sharing art and multiculturalism in museums today.

Streetscape Poster Mock Up

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View ashley lee's Work

aubrie urban

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester I investigated how graphic design can grow a small business community through development of various forms of advertising. This project will appeal primarily to ages 16-30 years of age. This project is important as its process will promote a legitimate business, Oxu Jewelry.

OXU Jewelry

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View aubrie urban's Work

ben colangelo

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester I investigated how design can communicate emotions or responses based on color palettes. This project will impact a range of people including designers unsure of what colors to use, and corporations and consumers curious about color theory. This project is important because having a color palette that might communicate something different to an audience can be misleading on a cultural and global standpoint.

Color Buddy

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View ben colangelo's Work

brandon bolleber

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can clarify, emphasize, and communicate the advancement of sustainable energy specifically within the housing market. Most people are unaware of the world’s energy crisis because they don’t feel impacted nor can they see it. This project attempts to create informative graphics that are easy to understand and show the benefits of switching to sustainable energy.

Energy4home

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View brandon bolleber's Work

briana dennis

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can communicate the physical benefits of essential oils. This project will impact those in the natural medicine community, as well as all who are interested in learning more. This project is important because it will offer a simple avenue to learn about natural ways to improve our health.

Drops of Gold

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View briana dennis's Work

brittney caudill

Studio Art

Artist Statement

The twelve drawings in the series Circle of Animals, display life-like animal representations of the elements of nature, such as air, earth, fire, and water. Directly inspired by the Zodiac, each artwork depicts a unique dynamic relationship between spirituality and nature.

Leo

Graphite, Ink, and Chalk pastel on Bristol Board14"x 17" View brittney caudill's Work

brody morgan

Graphic Design (Best in Show)

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can assist education by gamifying the learning process. This project will impact elementary school students. This project is important because elementary school is a critical time for students to develop good learning habits, and curricula needs to adapt to the increasingly digital world.

Gamifying Education

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View brody morgan's Work

corinne vens

Studio Art

Artist Statement

Oddities is a five-part painting series depicting larger-than-life skulls in pastel hues representing beauty after death. Familiar animals, such as a dog, turtle, and muskrat are made bare through the soft application of colors typically found in the process of decomposition. I studied how bones and anatomy were portrayed across time, focusing on modern scientific illustrations and Memento Mori artworks in particular. By combining anatomical references with a contemporary approach, skulls are seen as objects to be admired and studied.

Ondatra zibethicus

Acrylic on board24” x 24” View corinne vens's Work

cynthia wong

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can effectively communicate social missions through marketing. This project will impact those who wish to support social causes. This project is important because understanding how design can assist in conveying social impact affects consumer loyalty.

Pepsi for a Purpose

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View cynthia wong's Work

daniel grot

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated with how design can emphasize the negative impacts we have on our oceans and raise awareness around Earth’s issue of mass plastic pollution. This project will impact those that are not fully aware of the issues this type of pollution has on the Earth’s oceans that negatively affects the health of our planet and the wildlife that depend on it. This project is important because Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues to date causing devastating irreversible affects to our planet and awareness of the problem is the first step in preventing further damage.

Modern solutions to plastic pollution

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View daniel grot's Work

eduardo rojasjamie

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can be activated/assisted by the gestalt principles of design. This project will impact people interested in design and is important because every designer should understand these principles and how they work.

Untitled

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View eduardo rojasjamie's Work

enna castro

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can promote & spread Mexican traditions. This project will impact all people that are interested in Mexican culture. This project is important because Mexican culture is rich, colorful, influenced by its ancient civilizations, and has unique traditions plus I want to get you to know the beauty of my culture through something that I am passionate about, Design!

Untitled

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View enna castro's Work

gabriella garcia

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can help bring more recognition to published books of authors of minority groups, such as authors of color, and lgbtq+ authors. This project will impact not only minority authors, but also the readers. This project is important because while minority authors are starting to get a voice in recent years with the call for representation and diversity the industry is still dominated by CIS, white, hetero authors.

Diversity in Publishing

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View gabriella garcia's Work

gabrielle bourgeois

Studio Art

Artist Statement

Illustrations and character designs typify my working interests, particularly viewing experiences that are interactive and involve technology. The visual novel titled Carnival Manor is a fantasy-horror story following the protagonist Bébé, who has been invited to a fantastical party alongside 9 strangers. Once they arrive, however, they find there is more to this party and their mysterious host than they had originally thought.

Carnival Manor

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View gabrielle bourgeois's Work

gage bucchare

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how graphic design can be used to turn people into characters when combined with photography. This project impacts anyone who makes designs, and anyone who views them. This project is important because it helps people process the design that is all around us.

Untitled Magazine

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View gage bucchare's Work

grace gilson

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can emphasize the importance of nature on one’s overall well-being. This project will impact nature lovers who are seeking to improve their mental well-being. This project is important because it will combine taking care of house plants with taking care of yourself both mentally and physically.

Botany for Brains

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View grace gilson's Work

jamie yates

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can communicate mental disorders through the creation of educational motion graphics. This project will impact Generation Z (Gen Z). This project is important because it will provide correction and accessible information about mental disorders.

Mental Disorders

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View jamie yates's Work

jodi mitchell

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester I experimented with how design can emphasize the importance of all natural/clean beauty products for personal safety. This project will impact those who use daily self-care products as well as those in the beauty industry professionally. This project is important as the beauty industry is growing substantially, and the toxic chemicals hidden in many mainstream products have a direct negative effect on the heath of each user, unknowingly.

Untitled

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View jodi mitchell's Work

joel naren

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester I investigated how design can emphasize its importance in the world by showing its relationship with semiotics and explaining why good designs work. This project will impact graphic design professors, students, and professionals. This project is important because since we encounter design every day, it can often go unnoticed, which is why I want to bring awareness to the beauty and science of design.

Graphic Design at a Glance

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View joel naren's Work

kyle schomaker

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can reduce the effects of our ever growing desire for instant gratification. This project will impact everyone, but is mostly focused on younger people and future generations. This project is important because as the desire for instant gratification rises, we must continue to think of new and creative ways to captivate the attention of the viewer.

Fruition

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View kyle schomaker's Work

lauren greear

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can affect the husbandry and care of domestic leopard geckos. This project will impact individuals who are new at reptile care. This project is important because this will inform new reptile owners about the variety of food selections for geckos and act as a nutrition guide.

Untitled

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View lauren greear's Work

lauren mcghee

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can help bridge communication between abled people and the deaf or hard of hearing. This project will impact both hearing and non hearing people fostering better methods of communication. This project is important because it will help the hard of hearing feel more included in society.

The Hearing Empowered Project

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View lauren mcghee's Work

leo gallucci

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester I investigated how design can enhance and enrich a person’s understanding of music. This project will impact the musically curious. This project is important because a better understanding of musical composition and instrumental function allows for a deeper appreciation of the countless genres of it.

Understanding Music

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View leo gallucci's Work

luna gilpin

Studio Art

Artist Statement

You See (But You Don’t See) is a highly political series of paintings addressing movements, such as LGBTQ and BLM rights, which are representative of the lives and deaths of the people impacted. This multi-panel body of work captures the oppressed individuals in a moment of vulnerability, a cigarette hanging from the mouth in representation of the lives lost in the battle for justice. The fictitious figures are dotted with excessive eyes, the “third” eye always closed to express the issue of those who see oppression in action but choose to turn a blind eye to the strife of others.

You See But You Don’t See

Acrylic on panel24"x 24" View luna gilpin's Work

madeline long

Studio Art

Artist Statement

National Parks is a series of ten acrylic and oil pastel paintings inspired by the US national park systems. These parks are a place of safekeeping national history, early heritage, natural resources, and environmental consciousness. By focusing on various landmarks and locations within the parks and highlighting the ecologic difficulty each one faces, I have conveyed the sheer magnitude and diverse beauty these parks have to offer, along with their innate fragility that can manifest in adverse conditions.

Arches

Oil on canvas30"x40" View madeline long's Work

madison briggs

Studio Art

Artist Statement

I have always admired the natural world and the conservation efforts being made to protect it. My drawings and paintings ore heavily inspired by natural elements, such as exotic animals and plant species, and exhibit a strong focus for line quality. Ever Fading is an artwork depicted three suffering rhinoceroses, which opens a dialogue about the impact and ethics surrounding the poaching of endangered species and the fragility of the natural world and how we can preserve it.

Ever Fading

Charcoal on muslin View madison briggs's Work

mark angsioco

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can effectively communicate and share personal stories of hope and truth. This project will impact Generation Z and Young Millennials, and anyone who needs and inspiring message of hope. This project is important because stories of hope and truth are being drowned out by the noise the world puts out and misdirecting people further away from Jesus.

Stories of Hope

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View mark angsioco's Work

mason turrell

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can assist with bringing awareness to Pregnancy & Infant Loss. This project will impact parents who deal with child loss (stillbirth, miscarriage). This project is important because I have suffered a child loss and want to help bring awareness as to why it is important for parents to talk about their child they lost as well as letting other people know it is okay to talk about this topic.

Angel Babies

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View mason turrell's Work

matthew nimtz

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design can capture the personality of a city through brand identity. This project will impact Mackinaw City visitors and the morale of locals toward the tourist destination. This project is important because locations have personality and graphic design is one of the best ways to display those ideas.

Mackinaw City

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View matthew nimtz's Work

nichole crook

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester I experimented with how design can activate the senses and explore different types of mental illnesses that can impact a person’s daily life. This project will impact those who suffer from mental illnesses or have friends or family that struggle as well. This is important because there is often misinformation and stigma surrounding mental illness.

Untitled

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View nichole crook's Work

nicole jendrusina

Studio Art (Best in Show)

Artist Statement

Planetary Portraits is a photographic portrait series of nine people, each representing a planet in our solar system. Using aspects from the mythology of the gods they were named after, as well as the planets’ physical characteristics we are aware of, each is given a personified human form. Through these human forms we recognize ourselves, while also still experiencing separation from these elevated celestial beings.

Venus

Digital PhotographyDimensions Variable View nicole jendrusina's Work

nicole miller

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated how design communicates through the psychology of color and its influences on emotional response and decisions. This project will impact anyone who can see color as those people are all affected by how color is conveyed through design. This project is important because Graphic Design is about delivering a message and invoking an emotional reaction through colors leading to appealing and fascinating outcomes. Interactive Book: https://online.fliphtml5.com/gezze/bwne/

The Psychology of Color

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View nicole miller's Work

noah hirsch

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I will investigate how design can help reduce stigma and increase education surrounding mental health awareness. This project will impact on the general public and help them be allies to those who struggle with mental health issues . This project is important because it provides a stronger sense of allyship and education to those who may not have been exposed to mental health initiatives.

Speak Up

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View noah hirsch's Work

olivia schmick

Studio Art

Artist Statement

In observing nature, I see similarities between plants and humans. I grew up and currently live on a small farm and aspects of that lifestyle are often included in my charcoal and graphite drawings. In this portrait series titled Persist, pressed flowers and leaves are positioned alongside expressive figures to convey deeply personal moments of pain, apathy, and joy.

Pain

Charcoal, pressed flowers, and pressed leaves on illustration board22” x 30” View olivia schmick's Work

samiha chowdhury

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I challenged how design can help the elderly mobile phone users with improving their quality of life. This project will impact seniors who experience cognitive changes such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. This project is important because it enhances digital interaction experience for cognitively impaired seniors.

Mem List

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View samiha chowdhury's Work

sarah wojno

Graphic Design

Artist Bio

This semester, I challenged how design influences gender stereotypes by advocating for a more gender-neutral approach. This project will impact the public perception of gender as well as those who don’t identify with traditional gender roles and identities. This project is important because as designers, we should use the tools and skills we have at our disposal to be more inclusive.

suds

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View sarah wojno's Work

shannon mcauliffe

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I investigated and experiment with how design can emphasize handmade visual techniques, specifically linocut, as a way for designers to reconnect with their craft. I will complete this by minimizing issues of budget and time. This project will impact designers returning to the ways of the Industrial Revolution and their clientele. This project is important because the results of this investigation could lead to new knowledge in linocut techniques and new and unique design innovations.

Linocut Tales

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View shannon mcauliffe's Work

todd watzke

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I experimented with how design can help an individual brand themselves in order to turn a hobby into a business. With this project I will be branding my short film making hobby in order to trick people into thinking my videos are being made by an entire studio and not one guy in his mom’s basement. This project is important because proper branding is what creates consistent customers. This project will serve as an example of how a product doesn’t need to be better than its competitors in order to look like it is. Given we’re flawed humans it’s often true that looking better is more important than being better.

Toddle Twaddle Studios

Digital IllustrationDimensions Variable View todd watzke's Work

tyler main

Graphic Design

Artist Statement

This semester, I challenged and experimented with how design can help communicate and emphasize the effects of recycling. This project will impact young adults and younger generations. This project is important because recycling can help balance out the toll of pollution in the world; while most people know about this, some are uninformed as to the extent of the benefits of recycling, as well as how they can do a part in recycling.