Explore unique degree project ideas and thoughtful advice from previous students
A Degree Project can sound stressful, but this is a really exciting time! You have worked so hard in the Communication Design Department, and this will be your final culminating project before graduation.
In the Degree Project class, you will learn how to research, document your process, and choose a subject you are passionate about for your final project. Here is some excellent advice from different students who completed their degree projects remotely in 2021 in the Communication Design department at MassArt to help prepare you and know what to expect (watch the panel discussion here).
Andrew Ryder
My advice would be not to worry about how your whole project would look at the very beginning of the semester because it’s probably going to change and/or develop over the course of the semester. Always ask for feedback from your fellow classmates and your professor. You can always surprise yourself with what you can do and the potential of your unique idea the more that you ask for help and the more time you put into it.
Shea Galluzzi
Make sure that whatever you are doing, you really like it, or at least you like talking about it because it makes presenting that much easier because it just comes more naturally to you. I think that is so important because you will also be talking about it in your future job interviews because it is the longest project you have, so make sure that it is something that you are passionate about. Also, keep everything you do; the process is arguably more important than the finished piece. In my experience, employers like to see the process more than the final so put your process on your website too! Because they love to see it!
Emily St Laurent
Talk to as many people as you can! Even if they are not formal interviews, it could be just casually talking to people, peers, family, or friends about your project and getting their thoughts. I found that I learned a lot from people. Everyone I talk to both in the interview phase and people that I just spoke to briefly. I joined a lot of groups on various social media channels and reached out to people online too.
Aidan Wright
If you are struggling with something or if you come upon a problem, literally write down whatever you remember, what’s happening, what the problem is, and then later reflect on how you were able to solve it. I am sure you will do that in your final presentation. This project is such a good example to use, like how to overcome challenges in design and how you are able to kind of pivot when you need to. Also, make it really fun where you can break the rules a little bit. Go with your guts and have fun!
Yi Li
Don’t be afraid to take risks! I would never think that my degree project would be something about candles, but I did it! And I really liked the experience. If you have an idea, just go for it, have fun, and don’t be afraid too much.
Runming Dai
Always understand your time and your availability. You can produce your MVP (Minimum viable product) project instead of the ideal project because, at the beginning of my degree project, I wanted to do a whole set of software plus a design jacket, but it was too big. We don’t have enough time for it. Instead, I just produced a whole set of iconographies; It is still good and enough. Always take care of yourself and your mental health!
- See more in the Degree Projects Archive from the CD class of 2021