Abstract

Superstitions, often dismissed as irrational in today’s data-driven world, remain deeply rooted in human culture and behavior, offering meaning and a sense of control amid uncertainty. Whisper Wall is an immersive, sound-reactive installation that invites audiences to explore these enduring beliefs through whispered audio narration and symbolic, shadow-inspired visual storytelling. This project re-engages audiences with rich, cross-cultural superstitions, encouraging reflection beyond skepticism to thoughtfully examine their origins and significance. Blending visual communication, motion design, sound, and interaction, Whisper Wall creates a multisensory experience where users activate intimate stories via interactive elements—whisper-like audio delivered through red paper cups coupled with minimalist, evocative posters and animations in negative space. This interface reveals the emotional, cultural, and psychological dimensions of superstitions, highlighting how fear, luck, hope, and control weave through human behavior and tradition. This paper details the conceptualization, design process, and execution of Whisper Wall, demonstrating how storytelling and a carefully crafted visual language can demystify superstitions and foster cultural curiosity. By bridging myth and memory, belief and reflection, the project positions visual communication as a powerful medium to connect the known with the unknown, transforming abstract ideas into tangible, shared human experiences.

Publication Date

12-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Visual Communication Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

School of Design (CAD)

College

College of Art and Design

Advisor

Mike Strobert

Advisor/Committee Member

Daniel DeLuna

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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