GRO - Thesis

For my thesis I collaborated with GRO to develop a series of illustrations as well as the interactive installation ‘Sanseskabet’ in relation to the opening of their new urban farm, Øens Have. The final products – a series of art prints and the interactive product ‘Sanseskabet’ – incorporated empirical insights gathered in the process through methods of design thinking and user based design in order to most efficiently meet GROs communication needs.

On the more academic side of things, our thesis investigated how we might merge academic theories and methods with a creative design process in relation to the development of a visual communication products. We took a look at the potentials that this merge presents in regards to communicating in a relevant way. We made use of theories on strategic communication, branding and visual communication as well as methods like fieldwork, interviewing and focus groups within a design thinking framework to uncover the potential of merging the academic approach in the shape of theory og methodological work with the more creative and artistic process.

The thesis concludes that the academic and research based approach to the design process allows us to evaluate and explicitly follow our decisions in the process and when we work in this intersection between academia and the creative arts it is possible to base the development of the product on a well-informed and concrete basis that is based on empirical data. The result is then that there is a strength in trying to uncover the mysteries of creative processes with academia and to use a research- based lens to inform and better understand the design practice in relation to the visual communication.