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    Making waves : a design concept for reactive tsunami education : an exegesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the Master of Design at the Institute of Communication Design, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2013) Kremer, Klaus
    In New Zealand the public has access to a range of educational material to assist with understanding tsunamis and their inundation zones. However much of this material is hard to find, is of limited availability, and is also likely to be limited in its effectiveness because of its non-interactive design. This applied design research project explores the capacity of communication design to deliver clearer information about tsunamis to the general public. It uses animated information graphics and mobile media in the design of an educational tool for disaster awareness. The new tool developed during the project offers the current generation of technologically-enabled users more ways to learn, and access to more information, about tsunamis. The tool also combines an educational function and a warning function. Design aspects are based on an evaluation of how warning messages are received and understood by intended audiences. The project has focused on the use of existing warning material for visual communication. The project is based on research into information design theory: how a rich texture of data in a comparative context can be implemented in a complex arena such as disaster education, and how good design can cater for diverse cognitive reception or learning styles. The project incorporates this theory into the design of an interface with the objectives of (I) offering an alternative and attractive way of visualising inundation zones and other information to an audience that may be indifferent to existing information and advice about tsunamis, and (II) utilising mobile devices and its distinct technological advantages of location and communication access to enable the dissemination of warning messages. These objectives combine to offer future potential as an additional communication channel for a directed and immediate warning through use of GPS data and geo location, plus reactive user interface design adapting to an emergency situation.
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    Shared sensory experience : a design strategy for dissemination : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Bourke, Kate
    This study explores the theory of emotional contagion and then offers insights as to how communication designers could practically apply aspects of this theory to a communication campaign. Schoenewolf (1990) describes emotional contagion as “a process in which a person or group influences the emotions or behavior of another person or group through the conscious or unconscious induction of emotion states and behavioral attitudes” (p. 50). A significant aspect of this theory involves joint consumption. This suggests that an experience of an event differs when more than one person is involved. Ramanathan and McGill’s (2007) recent study suggests that a stronger positive or negative evaluation of a shared experience is achieved through the creation of emotional contagion. When considering this, an opportunity exists to establish recommendations for the design industry to employ in order to enhance an audience’s response. In order to be successful in constructing a pertinent strategy it is critical to consider the way in which people perceive experiences; central to this theme are the five senses. Research into the five senses which include sight, sound, smell, touch and taste, indicates the significant impact over an individuals’ emotions and decision making process. To date the human senses have been largely neglected within the design industry due to conventional use of mainstream media. Through using non-traditional media, participants could be connected on a more sensory level through means of interactive involvement. From a holistic perspective the overarching methodology will be that of research for design (Frayling, 1993, as cited in Downtown, 2003). The emphasis will therefore be on providing insights and ideas as to how the design industry could, through non-traditional media, embrace emotional contagion. Supporting methods will be a combination of the following: 1. Case studies. These will include an analysis of precedents 2. A self generated design campaign. The focus will be tourism. This has been chosen because of its experiential and shared nature.
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    Public prototyping : a participatory design process exploring the application of co-creative sketching : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design, Massey University, Institute of Communication Design, College of Creative Arts, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Pittar, Luke
    The objective of this research is to demonstrate that co-creative sketching as a part of the participatory process has the potential to support the developmental nature of a visual communication tool used to promote the exchange of experience. The tool is intended to create an informative hub that influences a travellers experience of a location. Ethnographic research as reflective sketching was conducted in the Tongariro National Park. Within this setting reflective sketching located the kitchen and common area of traveller specific accommodation as an ideal collaborative environment to conduct participatory design research. In this collaborative environment snowboarders and skiers who are aged between 20-30 years are identified as the target audience. This specific audience participated in co-creative sessions throughout the design process, resulting in the participatory design of the tool. The design aim of the visual communication tool was to promote the exchange of experience between snowboarders and skiers about a specific location. This was achieved by adapting generative tools made up of a visual language which supported the word of mouth exchange and individual expression. The exchange of experiences was facilitated by co-creative sketching with the visual language during a state of play. Playful co-creative sketching supported word of mouth dialogue between the snowboarders and skiers in a way that co-created an informative visual representation of the dialogue or contextmap. The resulting contextmap represented an image for experience which was beyond an individuals conception and made individuals tacit-knowledge accessible to audiences within and outside the moment of exchange, creating an informative hub which influenced the specific audiences view of experience for a location. An action research methodology is used during the course of this research, informed by the approaches of co-creation, context-mapping and generative tools. These approaches constructed a theoretical framework for the participatory development and co-creative sketching of the communication tool. This supportive thesis discusses the context, the theoretical concepts and provides an in depth account on the research through design process; the week-by-week participatory process undertaken to develop the visual communication tool.
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    Mapping the environmental footprint of the Central Plains Water irrigation scheme : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the Masters of Design at the Institute of Communication Design, Massey University, Wellington, NZ
    (Massey University, 2009) Ivamy, Dean
    In the statement Mayor Parker is referring to a complexity of issues that involves a plethora of hard-scientific and statistical information. The diversity of opinions regarding the scheme’s benefits and potential negative implications also create misunderstanding for the general public. This prompts the hypothesis of this design thesis, which suggests that statistical data when visually mapped and in the context of its physical environment can provide significant cognitive and ecological awareness for the viewer to understand the economic and environmental implications of the proposed irrigation scheme. Both the areas of cartographic mapping and the dairy industry contain controlled vocabularies, which present opportunity for graphic modeling and explanation through visible phenomena. The Canterbury Plains has a well-established historical and agricultural narrative. However, due to the recent dramatic and substantial transition of the region’s dairy industry between the periods 1995 – 2008, subsequent demand for freshwater now represents the real prospect of uncharted future environmental instability. The development of a visual language system capable of the interpretation and construction of the irrigation scheme’s benefits and potential negative implications, provide this thesis through graphic modeling the possibility to compare the proposed CPW scheme’s issues. While some industry groups consider public participation as arbitrary and unnecessary, recent surveys indicate water quality and fertiliser management as the most significant areas for environmental concern. The debate should not exclude the public, but rather include communication systems capable of reaching all communities.