Procreate Illustration & Exhibition Installation | 2025 USFCA Senior Design Thesis — Case Study
Is nostalgia something that only holds us back, or can it also push us forward to become the best versions of ourselves?
This was the main question I aimed to answer in my 2025 Senior Design Thesis at the University of San Francisco. From January to May 2025, I spent one semester conceptualizing and creating a exhibit that would invite audiences to ponder this question.
Ideation:
I had always wanted to do a stand-alone illustration project in my college career, and since most of my inspiration comes from children's illustration, I wanted to focus on childhood and nostalgia.
A few points I listed at the beginning of the semester included:
- to explore the stigma about “childish” things
- why is there a rush to grow up so fast?
- to convey a positive message about nostalgia as an encouragement factor in our lives
- why is there a rush to grow up so fast?
- to convey a positive message about nostalgia as an encouragement factor in our lives
Rather than having the final book displayed on a simple podium, I wanted something more immersive, resulting in these initial sketches:
The Book:
In the meantime, I put the physical exhibition on the side to focus on the book. I storyboarded a plot about a college student who jumps through time, finds out what it means to be "a child at heart," and discovers the paradoxes of nostalgia. Nostalgia isn't always a good or bad thing — it can vary. But what if nostalgia could be a superpower?
While developing the storyboards, I also made an effort to interview a few individuals to get a better sense of what the plot would be. In total, I interviewed two sociology professors on campus (Prof. Alexandria Vasquez & Prof. Joshua Gamson), my Comics professor Jenifer K. Wofford, and Tori Grant (an animator & educator).
After interviews and solidifying the plot, I wrote the script/text that would narrate the book. As a parody of children's books, I made it rhyme.
Then, I jumped straight into fully rendering the pages. In total, I wound up with over 40 fully illustrated pages. Lulu, a book printing service I used to bring my book to life, provided an InDesign template to follow for formatting.
After illustrating, I could turn my attention to the physical exhibition. I wanted to recreate my childhood bedroom to an extent, and planned to bring some stuff from my home into a little "tent." I bought PVC pipes to assemble the frame, and draped the frame with old curtains.
Final Exhibition:
I proudly displayed my work at the 2025 Senior Design Thesis Exhibition at San Francisco's SOMArts Gallery in May 2025! You can read the book through this shared Google Drive link
