In Pursuit

O F M A R Y K AT E L O W E

IN P U R S U I T 째

The education and explorations

IN PURSUIT The education and explorations

O F M A RY K AT E LO W E

Written and designed by: Mary Kate Lowe

Masters of Fine Arts Graphic Design Graduate student of the Academy of Art University 79 New Montgomery Street 5th Floor S a n Fr a n c i s c o, C a l i f o r n i a 94108 USA

F i n d M a r y Ka t e o n t h e w e b a t w w w. m a r y k a t e l o w e.c o m To c o n t a c t , p l e a s e s e n d a n o t e t o : m k l o w e 1 3 @ g m a i l .c o m Copyright Š 2013 by Mary Kate Lowe

I L OV E T H O S E

…w h o c a n s m i l e i n t ro u b l e , w h o c a n g a t h e r

s t re n g t h f ro m d i s t re s s , a n d g ro w b ra v e b y re f l e c t i o n . ‘ Ti s t h e b u s i n e s s o f l i t t l e m i n d s t o s h r i n k , b u t t h e y w h o s e

h e a r t i s f i r m , a n d w h o s e c o n s c i e n c e a p p ro v e s

t h e i r c o n d u c t , w i l l p u rs u e t h e i r p r i n c i p l e s u n t o d e a t h .

—Leonardo Da Vinci

IN PURSUIT Some people are born with an innate sense of purpose. I like to think of those people as the “lucky few”. I come from a family of those people. You know that saying about something “skipping a generation” when a kid isn’t just like the rest of their family?

Yeah, you know where I’m going with that.

The thing is, in a way, I’ve always had a sense of purpose, I just never knew what exactly it was for. I am closing in on my 27th birthday, which, is either really young or kind of old depending on if you’re looking forwards or backwards at that number. And 27 years in, I’m realizing that maybe the pursuit is my purpose.

I believe being in pursuit of something, whether it’s purpose, or belonging, or whatever else, is what drives me.

For the last four years I have been utterly consumed with this new world full of type, image, grid and of course negative space.

And, in that time, I’ve come to realize that I could, and hope, to spend a lifetime in this world learning, growing, and creating. I am in constant pursuit, how or where that guides me I can’t be sure, but I do know it is my pursuit, a pursuit of passion.

CON T E NTS

01 04 07

JOURNALS S e l f D i re c t e d Mixed media Pages 002–015

THE PLACES E x p e r i m e n t a l Ty p e Print: Book Pages 038–051

A NEW WORLD N a t u re o f I d e n t i t y Print: Book Pages 0 8 8 –1 0 5

02 05 08

TRUST ME Visual Communications Lab Print: Book Pages 016–027

SUMMER’S HOURS I n t e g ra t e d C o m m u n i c a t i o n s D i g i t a l , I d e n t i t y, Pa c k a g i n g , P r i n t : B o o k , Po s t e r Pages 052–071

NEWS CORP Packaging Two I d e n t i t y, Pa c k a g i n g Pages 1 0 6 –1 1 5

03 06 09

T H E B L O W E R ’ S DA U G H T E R E x p e r i m e n t a l Ty p e P r i n t : Po s t e r Pages 028–037

W I T H I N T H E S E WA L L S I n t e g ra t e d C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Print: Book Pages 072–087

GROWIN APP M a s t e rs T h e s i s D i g i t a l , I d e n t i t y, P r i n t Pages 1 1 8 –1 3 5

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Journals ° FALL 2009–SPRING 2013

T h e f i rs t s t e p s o f a f i n e a r t i s t i n t o t h e y e t

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u n e x p l o re d a n d s c i n t i l l a t i n g w o r l d o f g ra p h i c d e s i g n .

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Instructors Self Directed Fo r m a t Multi media Copy, Artwork Mary Kate Lowe

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Journals ° FALL 2009–SPRING 2013

A NEW BEGINNING DESIGN BRIEF Over the course of multiple classes throughout my four year journey here, I was asked to keep a journal that would either directly or indirectly relate to a particular project in one of my classes. Whatever goes in those journals, how often they are attended and how much effort put into them is left entirely up to the individual.

DESIGN SOLUTION Quite often the journal is something most students consider a waste of time, something to keep them from doing what they would rather be working on. To me, they are the dessert at the end of the meal, they are my passion projects keeping me sane to continue pursuing this new world I’ve just begun to explore.

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M A R Y L O W E 째+ M M FFA AP OPRoTrF tOfLoI lO i oI NI NP U PR U SRUS IUTI T

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Journals ° FALL 2009–SPRING 2013

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JJoOuU rR nN a A Ll Ss +° F A L L 2 0 0 9 – S P R I N G 2 0 1 3

P R O J E C T 0 1 00 22 003 3 0 04 40 50 50 60 60 7 0078 00 89 0 9

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Journals ° FALL 2009–SPRING 2013

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Journals ° FALL 2009–SPRING 2013

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TRUST ME ° Visual Communications Lab ° FALL 2010

A n e x p o s é o f Fa s t Fa s h i o n’s d e s t r u c t i v e n a t u re

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a n d a l o o k t o w a rd s S l o w a l t e r n a t i v e s .

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A C LO S E R LO O K DESIGN BRIEF Thought of as a mini-thesis, the entire 15 week semester is dedicated to the pursuit of a single subject and solution. We are asked to define a problem within any area of our liking, and using graphic design, to solve that specific problem. The who, what, how and why are left to us.

DESIGN SOLUTION After looking at a few areas of interest, I settled on the fashion industry. I love me some clothes so why not spend 15 glorious weeks browsing through an industry I have always been drawn to? It didn’t take long, however, looking just a little closer than usual, to find some unfortunate truths that I had been happy to ignore, and wished I still could.

Defining my problem was easier to do than I would have hoped.

Finding the solution, however, was not as obvious. This being my first significant design project it was a bit of a struggle not only in refining my concept, but seeing how I could resolve it as a designer, and expressing the whole picture visually. After a great deal of trial and error, I came to a resolution both in how design could be used to impact real change, and how to express that within my book.

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TRUST ME 째 Visual Communications Lab 째 FALL 2010

Instructors Phil Hamlett, Hunter Wimmer Fo r m a t Print: Book C o p y , Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe Photography Ed w a r d B u r t y n s k y, Vo g u e M a g a z i n e Printing and Binding Mary Kate Lowe

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TRUST ME 째 Visual Communications Lab 째 FALL 2010

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TRUST ME 째 Visual Communications Lab 째 FALL 2010

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TRUST ME 째 Visual Communications Lab 째 FALL 2010

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THE BLOWER’S DAUGHTER ° Experimental Typography ° SPRING 2011

A v i s u a l i n t e r p re t a t i o n o f t h e h a u n t i n g m u s i c

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and lyrics of Damien Rice.

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Instructor Stan Zienka Fo r m a t P r i n t : Po s t e r Copy M a r y K a t e L o w e, M i c k e y S m i t h Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe Photography Mary Kate Lowe s t i l l s t a k e n f r o m “ T h e Da r k S i d e of the Lens” by Mickey Smith

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THE BLOWER’S DAUGHTER ° Experimental Typography ° SPRING 2011

WITH NEW EYES DESIGN BRIEF Create a visual interpretation of a song of our choosing. Use projected type, images, materials and objects as the content for our poster visuals. Arrange the images and a description of the song to create the final poster.

DESIGN SOLUTION This was, and still is, the most unique project I had ever been assigned. I had no idea what experimental type was at the start of that class, and this was such a beautiful example of what it could be. A song poster is nothing new, but to really search to find a way to express not just the lyrics, but the mood and my emotional attachment to that song was such a reward.

From the very first time I heard Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter” I was transfixed. It was the first song I thought of for this project, and frankly, the only song I wanted to do. When I was introduced to the short film “The Dark Side of the Lens” by Mickey Smith, I knew exactly how I wanted this poster to look and feel. It wasn’t the most profound project, but at the end of my journey this is still one of my favorites.

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THE BLOWER’S DAUGHTER ° Experimental Typography ° SPRING 2011

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THE BLOWER’S DAUGHTER ° Experimental Typography ° SPRING 2011

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For fires of happiness and waves of gratitude. For everything that brought us to that point on earth at that

ost anyone with dreams. There is more time spent floating in eath headlands, shaping the coast, mind-blowing images of

moment in time, to do something worth remembering with a scar. Echoes of a life lived without regret, a life lived with no mark upon a once-whole being. Now torn and tattered, twisting and writhing in a storm of no foreseeable end. My desperation eyes searching the wicked waves, a sight that once brought such infinite

Solid ocean swells are powering through the deep cold water, heavy waves weighs in wait, coaxed from comfortable routine, ignite the imagination, conveys some of the viny spark, whisper possibilities, conjure the situations I thrive amongst. Cold creeping into your core, driving you mad, day after day, mumbling to yourself while you hold position and wait.

ickey Smith, supplemented by original content. Smith’s own ophy on life, creativity and passion. His achingly alluring and alization of Rice’s lyrics and music.

ort film The Dark Side of The Lens, a personal documentary

n Rice / Album “O” Released 2001

you in my mind. I can’t get you off of my mind. I can’t get you out of my back to you. To a place I can no longer find.

Wind whipping biting sand, rubbing away moments that haunt my drea

Sitting amongst the cold, jagged rocks, the ironic comfort of misery in by seemingly untouchable beauty. The wind blowing the ocean’s salty in bleak melancholy. The madness infuses it’s twisted thoughts and em longer am able to find where I end and it begins. We become one. Ever was, what we once were. Not even my madness can make me whole n

B LOW E R ’ S

DAUGHT

T H E

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pleasure now leaves nothing but oppressed obsession.

THE BLOWER’S DAUGHTER ° Experimental Typography ° SPRING 2011

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THE PLACES 째 Experimental Typography 째 SPRING 2011

T h e m a rk i n g o f a t i m e f u l l o f c u r i o s i t y,

PROJECT 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

j o y, l o v e a n d l o s s ; t h e s p l e n d o r o f o u r y o u t h .

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S AY I N G G O O D B Y E DESIGN BRIEF Design a book about a story of your making using type and original photography. What the story is about, and how you visualize it are entirely up to you.

DESIGN SOLUTION Complete creative freedom is both exhilarating, and absolutely terrifying. Boundaries create a safety net, especially for young designers, and I was scared to remove that net. It’s a good thing then, that storytelling is a passion of mine, because I think the excitement of creating a story helped me overcome any fear I had at the start of this assignment.

At the time this assignment was given I was missing the annual alumni weekend my college hosts. In thinking about what that weekend represents to me now, I realized how finite our youth is and how fleeting it feels the older I get. Using the words of Dr. Seuss and William Wordsworth as inspiration, I decided to create a story of the magic and splendor found only in those precious years of our youth. It was a love letter of sorts to the life I was leaving behind, a time I could never return to, but will always cherish.

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THE PLACES 째 Experimental Typography 째 SPRING 2011

Instructor Stan Zienka Fo r m a t Print: Book C o p y , Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe Photography Mary Kate Lowe Printing and Binding Mary Kate Lowe

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THE PLACES 째 Experimental Typography 째 SPRING 2011

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THE PLACES 째 Experimental Typography 째 SPRING 2011

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SUMMER’S HOURS ° Integrated Communications ° SPRING 2011

A f i l m fe s t i v a l c e l e b ra t i n g t h e w o r k o f w r i t e r,

PROJECT 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

d i re c t o r a n d m u s i c a l m a e s t ro , C a m e ro n C ro w e .

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Instructor Christopher Morlan Fo r m a t D i g i t a l , I d e n t i t y, Pa c k a g i n g , P r i n t : B o o k , Po s t e r C o p y , Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe Photography Mary Kate Lowe Printing and Binding Mary Kate Lowe

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SUMMER’S HOURS ° Integrated Communications ° SPRING 2011

AN EPIC JOURNEY DESIGN BRIEF Choose an established director to create a mock film festival celebrating their canon of work. Develop a thread, the binding element between all of the films being featured at the festival, and develop an integrated design system to be executed across a number of platforms.

DESIGN SOLUTION Given a list of names and a week to watch as many movies as possible, we were to come up with three names of which we would be happy to use. As a long-time fan of Cameron Crowe, it wasn’t difficult to settle on him as the inspiration and star of my project. Deciding which of his movies to use, and what the hell the thread was, however, was not such a cool breeze.

After about 9,000 attempts at the thread, I finally nailed it, and then it became a journey of truly epic proportions to develop and refine the design system that would be executed across the fourteen pieces we would need to create. Once I discovered the system though, it was just a matter of figuring out how to mold it to each unique platform. This was one of the first projects in which I felt like I was making a mark as a designer, that I was beginning to see who I am, and what my voice was becoming.

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SUMMER’S HOURS ° Integrated Communications ° SPRING 2011

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SUMMER’S HOURS ° Integrated Communications ° SPRING 2011

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THE ETERNAL PURSUIT FOR LOVE AND BELONGING IN THE FILMS OF CAMERON CROWE

THE PLACE TIDELANDS PARK CORONADO, CALIFORNIA

THE FILMS SAY ANYTHING… JERRY MAGUIRE ALMOST FAMOUS ELIZABETHTOWN

THE DATES AUGUST 12–14

THE DIRECTOR CAMERON CROWE

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WITHIN THESE WALLS ° Integrated Communications ° FALL 2011

A n a r t i s t ’s i n t e r p re t a t i o n o f t h e b e a u t i f u l ,

PROJECT 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

t i m e l e s s w o r k o f f i l m m a k e r B e r n a rd o B e r t o l u c c i .

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UNLEASHED RESTRAINT DESIGN BRIEF Create a visual interpretation of the work of a filmmaker of your choosing. Find what the essence of their work is and how to create an original design aesthetic based off of your interpretation of that theme.

DESIGN SOLUTION I was not particularly familiar with Bernardo Bertolucci before this assignment, nor had I seen any of his films. I am so happy that I did, however. His films, in my opinion, are the epitome of visual splendor. It was a beautiful dream to explore his worlds, and to create one of my own from that journey.

In my research I found a reoccurring theme of restraint, or the lack thereof within the confines of a particular boundary the characters inhabited. In order to express that tension, I looked at Brutalist architecture, the harsh and uncomfortable shapes they create, and sought to create luscious, saturated and erotic imagery that would be contained within those shapes.

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WITHIN THESE WALLS 째 Integrated Communications 째 FALL 2011

Instructors H u n t e r W i m m e r, C h r i s t o p h e r M o r l a n Fo r m a t Print: Book C o p y , Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe Photography Mary Kate Lowe Printing and Binding Mary Kate Lowe

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WITHIN THESE WALLS 째 Integrated Communications 째 FALL 2011

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WITHIN THESE WALLS 째 Integrated Communications 째 FALL 2011

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A NEW WORLD 째 Nature of Identity 째 SPRING 2012

A t a l e o f t h e a n n i h i l a t i o n o f o n e w o r l d a n d t h e re b u i l d i n g

PROJECT 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

o f a n o t h e r; t h e re s u r re c t i o n o f N e w s C o r p

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Instructor Hunter Wimmer Fo r m a t Print: Book C o p y , Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe Printing and Binding Mary Kate Lowe

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A NEW WORLD ° Nature of Identity ° SPRING 2012

L I B E R AT I O N F R O M FREEDOM DESIGN BRIEF Rebrand a dead, dying or defunct brand with not only a new identity, but a thoughtful re-imagining of it’s brand position and extensions.

DESIGN SOLUTION At the time I took this class, News Corp was all over the world news with it’s infamous phone hacking scandal and the “evil mastermind” behind it all. Technically, this brand is far from dead or dying, but to say it’s name had forever been scarred by scandal would not be an exaggeration.

I knew right away this project was an incredible opportunity for me to do something totally different than anything I had done before, and I immediately decided to spin our assignment on it’s head. Rather than reviving a brand, my plan was to take an outrageously powerful company already doing “bad” things, and to push that as far as I was allowed. A bit of 1984 mixed in with the Hunger Games, my rebranding of News Corp was the story of the complete destruction of the world we know, and the rebuilding of another. Our only savior, News Corp, freed us from ourselves. Liberation from Freedom.

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A NEW WORLD 째 Nature of Identity 째 SPRING 2012

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N E W S CO R P R I OT S U R V I VA L K I T 째 P a c k a g i n g Tw o 째 FA L L 2 0 1 2

A N e w s C o r p M i n i s t r y o f D e fe n s e r i o t s u r v i v a l k i t

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t o c o m b a t a g a i n s t t h e v i o l a t o rs o f t h e N e w O rd e r

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DEFENDING LIBERTY DESIGN BRIEF Create a first aid or survival kit for an existing or fictional brand of our choosing. The kit must include at least fourteen unique pieces.

DESIGN SOLUTION As soon as I found out our assignment was to create some sort of first aid kit I immediately thought of the project I had just done for my Nature of Identity class. One of the “branches” of the new News Corp government was The Ministry of Defense which was New Corp lingo for the military. Packaging projects, especially in school, provide a great opportunity to use creative storytelling and this was a unique chance to take a seemingly straightforward assignment and make it feel really special.

Instructor Christine George

I decided to gear this towards a riot survival kit as that would

Fo r m a t I d e n t i t y, Pa c k a g i n g

satisfy the first aid requirement while still allowing for more fantastical pieces (like a gas mask for instance). It didn’t hurt that it went with the story I had so painstakingly (and lovingly) weaved throughout my Nature of Identity book.

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C o p y , Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe P rinting, Comping Mary Kate Lowe

N E W S CO R P R I OT S U R V I VA L K I T 째 P a c k a g i n g Tw o 째 FA L L 2 0 1 2

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N E W S CO R P R I OT S U R V I VA L K I T 째 P a c k a g i n g Tw o 째 FA L L 2 0 1 2

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N E W S CO R P R I OT S U R V I VA L K I T 째 P a c k a g i n g Tw o 째 FA L L 2 0 1 2

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N E W S CO R P R I OT S U R V I VA L K I T 째 P a c k a g i n g Tw o 째 FA L L 2 0 1 2

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M FA T H E S I S

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GROWIN APP ° Masters Thesis ° SPRING 2012–SPRING 2013

G u i d i n g t w e n t y s o m e t h i n gs i n t o a d u l t h o o d ,

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in their own way and in their own time.

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MARY LOWE 째 MFA Portfolio IN PURSUIT

Advisers M i c h e l e R o n s e n , C a r o l i n a d e B a r t o l o, B o b S l o t e , G a s t o n Ya g m o u r i a n Fo r m a t D i g i t a l , I d e n t i t y, P r i n t C o p y , Ty p e D e s i g n , A r t w o r k Mary Kate Lowe Photography Mary Kate Lowe Printing Giant Horse Binding T h e Ke y P r i n t i n g a n d B i n d i n g

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GROWIN APP ° Masters Thesis ° SPRING 2012–SPRING 2013

GROWIN APP DESIGN BRIEF Define an area to pursue, and perform extensive research on a particular problem and possible solutions. Define an audience, objective, goals, and record your process. Look for opportunity gaps where you can create visual solutions to solve and support your main objective.

DESIGN SOLUTION Thesis, the Big Kahuna. This isn’t meant to be an easy journey, and it sure wasn’t. I spent a great deal of time trying to find an area that I would not only enjoy spending 18+ months working on, but something that I would feel represented who I am, and what I want to do as a designer.

After exploring a few areas to no avail, I realized that my thesis subject was staring straight at me. It was my life, my friend’s lives and pretty much everyone else's in my generation. Things are a-changin’, and the growing up process has become a very real and difficult issue. Whether it was the young adults, their parents, or the 1,000,000 other variables to blame, I didn’t care, nor was I trying to find the “right” way to do it.

After extensive research involving lots o’ books, web surfing, and interviews I found that the best way to encourage change in people’s behavior and actions (or at least a good way) is to incentivize the change. There bloomed my idea for an interactive tool in which I could address the main areas of a twenty something's life and provide the tools, advice and connections that would help my audience build the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to define their path to adulthood, and to hopefully get moving towards their end goal.

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MARY LOWE ° MFA Portfolio IN PURSUIT

T H A N K YO U !

T O M Y F A M I LY

TO M Y I N S T R U C TO R S

I can’t believe it. You can’t believe it, but I finally made it! I am

You literally taught me everything I know, and thankfully I now

finally here, writing down (well, typing, but you know what I

know Microsoft Word is not a design tool and DPI is important.

mean) the last few lines for my very last project in school. I, of

And okay yeah, I admit there were times when you weren’t my

course, would not be writing these lines, attending this school,

favorite, and I have NO doubt you felt the same. However, you

living in this city or basically doing much of anything with my

all shaped me into a designer, into an adult, and into the woman

life without your endless love, support and guidance. Momma,

I am today.

you are my rock, my guiding star, and my true home. Dad, you get me, you have always been the one who knew what to say and I am so thankful I get to call you dad. We’ve been through some tough shit together, but it has only made us stronger.

Matt and Patty Horn, you are my favorite, and I love you.

TO M Y F R I E N D S

Mary Scott, Phil Hamlett, and of course, Hunter Wimmer, you have changed my life forever. You have imparted on me some of your great skill and wisdom, and I hope to make you proud as I go out into the world as a representation of you. It will be odd not to see you in the hallways of New Montgomery, and I can honestly say I will miss you.

My home away from home, my surrogate family, my true loves.

Hunter, considering you teach about 75,000 classes it’s surely

If my parents built the foundation that got me here, my friends

no surprise that you had a great impact on my life. I wasn’t so

were the guard rails that kept me from falling. I honestly will

sure about you at the start, but I have come to my final decision

never be able to express how much you all mean to me, and how

and it is that you are just the best. And I thank you.

profound your role was in my life over the last four years.

A special and sincere thanks to Katie Rumford, Emily Brock, Laura Donaldson, Ashley Greenwood, Mike and Marli Jones.

You are all the most amazing, unreal and wonderful friends a girl could ask for. A quick shout out to Morgan Sterns, Ana Marcela Corea, Whitney Clark, Holly Leach, Dara Weinberg, Emily Shields, Joel Hawkins, Alaine Anhalt and yes, even you Ashley Gustafson.

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Also, a special thanks to Michele Ronsen, Carolina de Bartolo, Bob Slote, Gaston Yagmourian and Christopher Morlan.

Thank you all, I’ll never forget it.

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IN PURSUIT The education and explorations

Academy of Art University 79 New Montgomery Street 5th Floor S a n Fr a n c i s c o, C a l i f o r n i a 94108 USA

Department Chair Mary Scott D e p a r t m e n t D i re c t o r Phil Hamlett A s s o c i a t e D e p a r t m e n t D i re c t o r Hunter Wimmer Photography Mary Kate Lowe Paper F i n c h F i n e 1 D 1 0 0 # Te x t Ty p e fa c e s S e n t i n e l , Ve r l a g Printing Giant Horse Printing Binding T h e Ke y P r i n t i n g a n d B i n d i n g

O F M A RY K AT E LO W E