Designing the Visual Environment

As part of my Master’s program in Design and Innovation at the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU, I completed a course titled Designing for the Visual Environment (focused on 2D design principles). This course emphasized visual storytelling, composition, and technical proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

The course began with a dérive — a psychogeographic exercise where we were asked to wander through an unfamiliar area, allowing the environment itself to guide our path without a predetermined destination. For my dérive, I explored the Peak’s Suburban Addition Historic District in Old East Dallas. During my walk, I observed firsthand the signs of ongoing gentrification, including shifts in architecture, cultural displacement, and urban renewal efforts. This experience became the thematic foundation for my design work throughout the semester.

Drawing inspiration from my dérive, I created a series of visual compositions that reflected the social and emotional narratives tied to the changing landscape of the neighborhood. Each design aimed to capture the tension between historic preservation and modern development, using color, typography, and imagery to evoke a sense of place and memory.

In addition to the dérive-inspired projects, I collaborated with Deep Vellum Publishing to design two book cover concepts for The Hackenfeller’s Ape by Brigid Brophy. This project required interpreting complex literary themes into compelling visual designs, balancing creativity with professional publishing standards.

Through this course, I strengthened my skills in graphic design software, conceptual storytelling, and visual communication. It also deepened my appreciation for how environment and culture can be translated into powerful, narrative-driven visual experiences.