Date of Award

Spring 5-30-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Graphic Design

First Advisor

Bethany Johns

Second Advisor

Hammet Nurosi

Third Advisor

Anther Kiley

Abstract

“Nothing to see here” is a suspicious phrase.

Whenever we hear it, we pause and become alerted. Something is most likely indeed happening, and worth noting — mishaps ranging from either an embarrassing coffee spill, unfair abuses of privacy, or insidious early signs of a pandemic.

Historically, states and national entities have always valued the power of information to allow them to see more, and see better — all the while obstructing the path to clarity for ordinary citizens. Systems and infrastructure have become expressions of authority, rife with distortion and deception. Familiar systems are commandeered to surveil us, yet most of us fail to notice them.

I encourage us to rethink and scrutinize our interactions with modes of communication. As a graphic designer, I make information visible through compelling narratives — gaining an overhead view while unearthing critical data. My practice is an attempt in protecting information’s integrity and resolution.

This thesis scrutinizes the built environment, questions power imbalances, and reclaims potent mediums. “Something to see here” transforms and re-frames a cliché into a call for awareness, and an everlasting quest for alternative perspectives.

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