parsons students present Design innovations on
2015 thesis and capstone website

Select Work Focuses on a Range of Pressing Issues, From Sustainability to Social Justice

"Jhoule,” by BFA Product Design student Yogita Agrawal is a motion-powered device that provides a self-reliant source of energy and light for off-grid communities in Chhattisgarh, India.

NEW YORK, NY (September 2, 2015) — Parsons School of Design at The New School presents its 2015 Thesis and Capstone Website, featuring select projects by graduating students at the country’s best art and design school.

Representing the breadth of Parsons design fields, the website features images, video, and written essays illuminating projects by students across all design disciplines, including fashion design, architecture, design and technology, photography, product design and interior design.

Parsons students use design to address a range of social issues, including gender identity and equality, sustainability, food insecurity, homelessness, mental health, access to quality illumination, and social, racial and economic justice.

“These projects represent the culmination of the hard work of our students, who embody Parsons’ commitment to making the world a better, more sustainable, and more beautiful place,” said Joel Towers, executive dean of Parsons.

• “Seated Design: Advantage Block,” Lucy Jones/Fashion Design BFA – A method of encouraging implementation of functional, attractive and more comfortable design solutions for seated individuals. Jones was named the Womenswear Designer of the Year at the 2015 Parsons Benefit.

• “Jhoule,” Yogita Agrawal/Product Design BFA – A locally manufacturable, motion-powered device that provides a self-reliant source of energy and light for off-grid communities in Chhattisgarh, India.

• “Keeping Touch,” José Virgilio Bermúdez/Photography BFA –A series of photographs that illustrate the artist’s self-exploration as a transgender femme through photographing both queer and non-queer individuals in an intimate way.

• “Prodega,” Chisun Rees/Transdisciplinary Design MFA – A service for bodega owners in Central Harlem and The Bronx that seeks to incentivize the sale and consumption of healthy foods in those neighborhoods.

• “Relevance Of Craft In Postindustrial And Digital Design Practices,” Komal Sharma/Design Studies MA – An investigation of the renewed relevance of craft—as a way of knowing and making—to the postindustrial state of design.

To view work from this program and more, please visit http://www.newschool.edu/parsons/thesis.aspx?YearFilter=2015

Founded in 1919, The New School was born out of principles of academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. Committed to social engagement, The New School today remains in the vanguard of innovation in higher education, with more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students challenging the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The New School welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and calendar of lectures, screenings, readings, and concerts. Through its online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence. Learn more at www.newschool.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Scott Gargan,
The New School
212-229-5667 x 3794
[email protected]