M.F.A and Ph.D. RESEARCH
Thesis: Using Design as a Tool: To Build a Visual Bridge for South Asian Students at U.S College Campus
This thesis explores challenges faced by South Asian students upon their arrival in the United States for higher education and the resources provided to them for adjustment. It also investigates practices being utilized for the accommodation and further instructional tools provided to the international students struggling to adapt to the new environment. Through methodological design research and information acquired, the gaps have been further explored in order to assess the requirement of potential modifications. In order to formulate a solution to the identified problems after employing primary and secondary research, this paper provides a systematic resolution through incorporating design strategies and constructing of an interactive framework prototype for enhancing the communicational level among concentrated communities of international students for elevation of their adjustment and ease of navigation in the United States upon arrival. The prototype will focus on how different design techniques can be used to create a user friendly experience by using design guiding principles and design concepts to develop a digital space that the user can personalize according to their needs.
READ COMPLETE DISSERTATION
Future Research Interest
The idea behind virtual campus started off in an interactive design class where the goal was to create an interactive design to address a community concern.
After discovering the potential of the medium, it gradually became my area of interest and research. The immersive medium is growing and has grasped the attention of the audience which proves that this medium has a lot potential for mass communication. Already platforms like AltspaceVR, Horizon and Hubs, all these platforms are fairly
young and have some limitations yet the number of audiences for these platforms is growing every year. Most digital platforms used today by schools and colleges to provide education are aimed at providing access to knowledge and information, where the instructor can moderate discussions, grade test submitted by students and leave comments. This form of education is functional but lacks the fundamental element of actually being in a class room which leads to lack of engagement.
Before computers every student relied on documenting information in a notebook and relied on gaining information through books but today it's hard to imagine being a student without a computer, it won't be wrong to say that the evolution of technology made computer the natural successor. Virtual reality promises to be the next successor as it provides a more immersive learning experience. Virtual reality can be used to enhance student learning and engagement. VR education can change the way information is delivered; it works on the premise of creating a virtual space which can enable students to not only see it but also interact with it. When students read about something, they often want to experience it. With VR, they aren’t limited to word descriptions or book illustrations; they can explore the topic and see how things are put together. Virtual reality is a new medium, people associate it more with entertainment rather than education because of which the educational tools required to
enhance the learning and teaching experience are not available in the immersive medium yet.
The purpose of this study is not to make current technology available look obsolete but to enhance that online learning and classroom experience. The primary function of this research aims to explore how the immersive medium can be shaped to provide better tools of engagement to educators and students. Information and data collected
though this research could open new avenues, it could enable students thousands of miles away from campus to get a virtual campus tour, learn about the facility and interact with their prospective faculty from the comfort of their home. It will allow designers and developers to produce better tools to aid a better learning experience for the students. This research will help enhance the educational experience overall and prepare future generation of educators to take advantage of this technology.
This is the first interaction design project that first introduced me to the immersive medium. The project was designed as part of a gallery exhibition for graduate studio class during my M.F.A in spring 2019 which focused on creating awareness on climate change and global warming.
The model was designed in 3DS Max and MAYA and then transferred to Unity for development. The user was assigned to complete task that directly impacts
the weather outside house. Irresponsible choices made the weather environment bad, responsible choices changed the outside environment more green, animals showed up and improved the visibility.
Concept Renders
Concept render will help to visualize what the virtual space could look like, these concept renders are based on real world campus of Kent State University at Kent, Ohio.
Concept renders are designed in 3DS Max and Blender Octane and can be exported to Unity 3D to create experimental virtual space for research purposed.
Reference Images
Graduate Studio in Taylor Hall at Kent State University was captured with a 360 camera to be used as a reference structure for this 3D space. Below are the real world pictures of graduate studio.
