Date of Award
Spring 5-31-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Industrial Design
Department
Industrial Design
First Advisor
Ayako Takase
Second Advisor
Hannah Chung
Third Advisor
Saloni Bedi
Abstract
There are moments when people hesitate to speak their emotions or needs —whether it’s love that feels too shy to articulate, needs that risk sounding too forceful, or feelings too vague to verbalize. By shifting the priority of emotion and communication factor ahead of pure functionality, this thesis posits that objects can serve as an alternative medium of communication.
This thesis begins by examining the root causes of communication difficulties and the coping strategies people use, ultimately identifying five situations in which objects can effectively substitute for verbal interaction. Building on these categories, the thesis explores how an object’s features, form, and interactive elements can be designed to aid communication. Within this framework, the resulting prototypes act as reference cases, demonstrating their potential to enrich interpersonal exchanges in nuanced and meaningful ways.
Recommended Citation
Yang, Hsin-Ning Alin, "the Red Thread: Objects as Medium" (2025). Masters Theses. 1499.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1499
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Included in
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