The latest exhibit in the DI HUB might make you a bit emotional.
The Stories Connecting Generations exhibit features 23 projects from the namesake class that pairs sociology and visual communication design students with an older adult partner, usually a resident of an area senior center, who they build a relationship with throughout the semester. At the end, they are tasked with transforming the life experiences of their partner into a visual design.
鈥淲e talked early on that it's almost impossible to represent a person's entire life,鈥 said Jessica Barness, professor in the School of Visual Communication Design (VCD). 鈥淎nd so, everybody was encouraged to focus on either a single story, or a single point in time or just an idea that resonated with them through the stories.鈥
That led students to create a wide range of projects across all disciplines of design that are unique to their partners.
Devna Bliss-Hosack, a senior VCD major, learned her partner had a recurring dream throughout her life of running through an imposing landscape. The dream was important to her partner, so she decided to use virtual reality software and make it a tangible reality.
鈥淢y biggest takeaway is I鈥檓 taking her story and turning it into reality,鈥 she said.
In a way, the projects are living memorials to their partners, documenting their youth, careers, family, worries and accomplishments throughout their lives. And that is why Manacy Pai, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology who co-teaches the course, said there wasn鈥檛 a dry eye in the room when the previous class unveiled their exhibit. She expects this one to be no different.
鈥淗uman beings have a lot of rich experiences that they could share; all of these older adults, they鈥檙e very resilient,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his project shines a light on these experiences.鈥
The Stories Connecting Generations exhibit is on display in the DI Gallery and MuseLab through Friday, May 19, 2023.