Abstract

Motivational posters are widely used in educational environments to encourage perseverance, build confidence, and promote positive thinking. However, many of these visuals rely on cliché imagery, generic language, and overly decorative styles, making them feel inauthentic and easy to ignore. In visually saturated campus environments, they often fade into the background, acting as noise rather than as meaningful communication. How can motivation be communicated in a more engaging, intentional, and relevant way for college students? This thesis introduces Phrases, a visual communication system that reimagines motivational design through abstraction, clarity, and restraint. Rooted in Swiss design principles and Gestalt theory, the project shifts away from literal representation and instead uses structure, hierarchy, rhythm, and spatial relationships to convey meaning. Through a series of four posters, motivation is framed as an experience, inviting viewers to interpret them. It demonstrates how a reduced approach to design can cut through visual clutter and offer a more thoughtful, engaging alternative to conventional motivational graphics.

Publication Date

4-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Visual Communication Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

Visual Communications Studies

College

College of Art and Design

Advisor

Mike Strobert

Advisor/Committee Member

Adam Smith

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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