Phase 1:
Research & Collaboration
Phase 2:
Iterative Design Sprints
Phase 3:
Constructing Our Vision
Phase 4:
Community Painting Event
Phase 1: Research and Collaboration
The design team engaged with various affinity groups across campus, including the Asian American Alliance, Barbershop, Hillel RWU, Hispanic and Latinx Student Association, Multicultural Student Union, Rhythm & Roots, and Women of Color Club. Together, they aimed to create a mural representing collaboration and unity, blending the diverse cultures, thoughts, and opinions of these groups into a cohesive artwork. Representatives from each club served as liaisons between their respective affinity group and the design team, providing input on colors, patterns, symbols, and the concept of unity.
Phase 2: Iterative Design Sprints
Patterns, symbols, and shapes suggested by each affinity group were iteratively combined by the design team. Through ongoing communication and updates with the representatives and affinity groups, the design evolved collaboratively. The final form of the mural emerged as a result of everyone’s contributions, reflecting a unified effort.
Phase 3: Constructing Our Vision
In order to facilitate both the public painting event and the mobility of the mural across campus, the design team and affinity groups joined forces with the Construction Management Club. This collaboration enabled us to construct a flexible structure capable of accommodating these objectives.
Phase 4: Community Painting Event
The mural was designed to be inclusive, welcoming individuals of all artistic backgrounds to participate in its painting process. Painting the mural became a collective endeavor extending beyond the design team, allowing for broader community involvement. Additionally, the design intentionally left space for additional cultures and voices to contribute their perspectives, ensuring ongoing inclusivity and diversity in the artwork.
The Purpose Behind The Project
The design, born from the invaluable input of affinity groups, aims to illustrate how students can use available tools and resources to collaborate, fostering unity amidst instability. Through trial and error, learning, and continual improvement, this project embodies an ongoing journey. It’s not a final solution, but rather a catalyst for further work and inclusion of diverse voices. The design team envisions this mural inspiring future students to collaborate, perpetuating unity across campus.
You’re here for a purpose, and your purpose is here, with us.
Learn more about the affinity groups on campus
Our design team sought input from seven affinity groups across campus, prioritizing the amplification of diverse voices. By collaborating with individuals representing various cultures, ethnicities, and demographics, our aim was to design alongside, not for, these affinity groups. We aspired to capture a multifaceted visualization of unity, shaped by the perspectives of many.
Asian American Alliance
The Asian American Alliance club creates a safe and supportive space for Asian Americans to recognize struggles and experiences as well as promoting cultural awareness throughout campus. We hope to accomplish these things through conversing with each other and bond with one another through a series of culturally enriching activities.
Hispanic and Latinx Student Association
The purpose of this club is to enhance the diversity of this campus and bring cultural knowledge of Latin American countries! All students are welcome to participate in learning more about one another’s cultures in search of understanding, knowledge, and tolerance. By joining HALSA you will be able to participate in celebrations of Hispanic/Latinx holidays and other fun activities to learn about different cultures and traditions. Join us as we embrace the food, music, art, and language of Latin American countries!
We meet Wednesdays at 5:30 in the Intercultural Center!
The Barbershop
The Barbershop is a RWU group founded by the diverse men of the university to promote community engagement and activity amongst the men of color on campus. We intend to promote unity amongst our peers and fellow brothers. Additionally, we promote empowerment within our members and fellow peers.
Rhythm n' Roots
R&R would like to create an environment that encourages a safe space to explore our cultures, heritage, and identities through music and dance, ultimately exploring diversity through the lens of cultures.
Hillel
We are here to celebrate the richness of Judaism as both a religion and a culture here on RWU campus and promote diversity and fun, while providing Jewish students an opportunity to express their religious/ethnic background.
Women of Color Club
This club’s purpose is to address the discomfort in classrooms, residence halls, and even friend groups that women of color experience on this campus. It’s not always easy to find the support you need at a PWI as a person of color, never mind as a woman, and we recognize that.
Multicultural Student Union
The Multicultural Student Union is a progressive group of students who are dedicated to promoting, social justice, equity, and cultural awareness. We do so by engaging in critical dialogues on issues of power, privilege, oppression, and intersectionality, and how they affect the communities and the society that we live in. We seek to offer educational opportunities and foster critical thinking within the Roger Williams University’s sphere of influence. We hope to provide others with this social consciousness to help better navigate the world beyond our university.
Kristen Hearrold
Sherisa Smith
Ally Houle
Ben Mosher
Hannah Caple
Grayson Philbrick
Learn more about the designers on the project
This project owes its success to the dedicated efforts of our design team, who poured their passion into every aspect. Working tirelessly and collaboratively, they upheld ethical standards and strived for effectiveness, fostering unity throughout the design process and in the final outcome. Allow us to introduce ourselves and provide a glimpse into our roles and identities as designers.
Meet the Faculty Advisor
Dr. Denielle Emans is a designer, educator, and author who believes in the transformative power of design to change how people see each other and the world around them. She has been teaching in higher education since 2004, encouraging her students to use their “design powers” toward creative action. As an international educator, she has traveled to more than 40 countries and spent 10 years teaching in the Gulf Arab Region of the Middle East.
Dr. Emans played a pivotal role in the success of this project. Serving as a guiding beacon, she provided invaluable advice and knowledge for the students involved. In challenging moments, her encouragement illuminated the path forward, inspiring the team to persevere and overcome obstacles. In moments of celebration, she rejoiced with us, amplifying the joy of our achievements.
Goals, Achievements, and Results
The project yielded a multifaceted outcome, including a permanent yet movable mural, an informative website elaborating on project objectives, and an engaging interactive event inviting the campus community to visualize unity. However, the most remarkable accomplishment lies in the process itself. The design team prioritized the process as a means of embodying unity. By nurturing a collaborative environment between designers and affinity groups, we cultivated a space inherently conducive to unity.
Phase 1:
Research & Collaboration
Phase 2:
Iterative Design Sprints
Phase 3:
Constructing Our Vision
Phase 4:
Community Painting Event
Phase 1: Research and Collaboration
The design team engaged with various affinity groups across campus, including the Asian American Alliance, Barbershop, Hillel RWU, Hispanic and Latinx Student Association, Multicultural Student Union, Rhythm & Roots, and Women of Color Club. Together, they aimed to create a mural representing collaboration and unity, blending the diverse cultures, thoughts, and opinions of these groups into a cohesive artwork. Representatives from each club served as liaisons between their respective affinity group and the design team, providing input on colors, patterns, symbols, and the concept of unity.
Phase 2: Iterative Design Sprints
Patterns, symbols, and shapes suggested by each affinity group were iteratively combined by the design team. Through ongoing communication and updates with the representatives and affinity groups, the design evolved collaboratively. The final form of the mural emerged as a result of everyone’s contributions, reflecting a unified effort.
Phase 3: Constructing Our Vision
In order to facilitate both the public painting event and the mobility of the mural across campus, the design team and affinity groups joined forces with the Construction Management Club. This collaboration enabled us to construct a flexible structure capable of accommodating these objectives.
Phase 4: Community Painting Event
The mural was designed to be inclusive, welcoming individuals of all artistic backgrounds to participate in its painting process. Painting the mural became a collective endeavor extending beyond the design team, allowing for broader community involvement. Additionally, the design intentionally left space for additional cultures and voices to contribute their perspectives, ensuring ongoing inclusivity and diversity in the artwork.
The Purpose
The design, born from the invaluable input of affinity groups, aims to illustrate how students can use available tools and resources to collaborate, fostering unity amidst instability. Through trial and error, learning, and continual improvement, this project embodies an ongoing journey. It’s not a final solution, but rather a catalyst for further work and inclusion of diverse voices. The design team envisions this mural inspiring future students to collaborate, perpetuating unity across campus.
You’re here for a purpose, and your purpose is here, with us.
Learn more about the affinity groups
Our design team sought input from seven affinity groups across campus, prioritizing the amplification of diverse voices. By collaborating with individuals representing various cultures, ethnicities, and demographics, our aim was to design alongside, not for, these affinity groups. We aspired to capture a multifaceted visualization of unity, shaped by the perspectives of many.
Asian American Alliance
The Asian American Alliance club creates a safe and supportive space for Asian Americans to recognize struggles and experiences as well as promoting cultural awareness throughout campus. We hope to accomplish these things through conversing with each other and bond with one another through a series of culturally enriching activities.
Hispanic and Latinx Student Association
The purpose of this club is to enhance the diversity of this campus and bring cultural knowledge of Latin American countries! All students are welcome to participate in learning more about one another’s cultures in search of understanding, knowledge, and tolerance. By joining HALSA you will be able to participate in celebrations of Hispanic/Latinx holidays and other fun activities to learn about different cultures and traditions. Join us as we embrace the food, music, art, and language of Latin American countries!
We meet Wednesdays at 5:30 in the Intercultural Center!
The Barbershop
The Barbershop is a RWU group founded by the diverse men of the university to promote community engagement and activity amongst the men of color on campus. We intend to promote unity amongst our peers and fellow brothers. Additionally, we promote empowerment within our members and fellow peers.
Rhythm n' Roots
R&R would like to create an environment that encourages a safe space to explore our cultures, heritage, and identities through music and dance, ultimately exploring diversity through the lens of cultures.
Hillel
We are here to celebrate the richness of Judaism as both a religion and a culture here on RWU campus and promote diversity and fun, while providing Jewish students an opportunity to express their religious/ethnic background.
Women of Color Club
This club’s purpose is to address the discomfort in classrooms, residence halls, and even friend groups that women of color experience on this campus. It’s not always easy to find the support you need at a PWI as a person of color, never mind as a woman, and we recognize that.
Multicultural Student Union
The Multicultural Student Union is a progressive group of students who are dedicated to promoting, social justice, equity, and cultural awareness. We do so by engaging in critical dialogues on issues of power, privilege, oppression, and intersectionality, and how they affect the communities and the society that we live in. We seek to offer educational opportunities and foster critical thinking within the Roger Williams University’s sphere of influence. We hope to provide others with this social consciousness to help better navigate the world beyond our university.
Kristen Hearrold
Sherisa Smith
Ally Houle
Ben Mosher
Hannah Caple
Grayson Philbrick
Learn more about the designers
This project owes its success to the dedicated efforts of our design team, who poured their passion into every aspect. Working tirelessly and collaboratively, they upheld ethical standards and strived for effectiveness, fostering unity throughout the design process and in the final outcome. Allow us to introduce ourselves and provide a glimpse into our roles and identities as designers.
Goals and Results
The project yielded a multifaceted outcome, including a permanent yet movable mural, an informative website elaborating on project objectives, and an engaging interactive event inviting the campus community to visualize unity. However, the most remarkable accomplishment lies in the process itself. The design team prioritized the process as a means of embodying unity. By nurturing a collaborative environment between designers and affinity groups, we cultivated a space inherently conducive to unity.