by florian.prasse -

Evaluating a Master Thesis: Ender Özerdem

Ender Özerdem’s 2012 master’s thesis, Evaluating the Suitability of Web 2.0 Technologies for Online Atlas Access Interfaces, explores how participatory web features such as recommendations, user comments, and blogs can enhance online atlas usability. Through a prototype simulating an Austrian online atlas and usability testing with 30 participants, the study empirically assesses user reactions to these interactive elements. The results show that Web 2.0 functions can meaningfully improve user engagement and navigation, demonstrating both practical innovation and sound methodological execution.

Overview

Author: Ender Özerdem
Title: Evaluating the Suitability of Web 2.0 Technologies for Online Atlas Access Interfaces
Institution: Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Geoinformation and Cartography
Supervisors: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Georg Gartner; Dipl.-Ing. Felix Ortag
Year: 2012
Length: ~80 pages + appendices
Artifact: an interactive prototype of an online atlas of Austria (implemented as a clickable PDF simulating web interfaces) used for usability testing with 30 participants.

Structure:

  1. Introduction
  2. Basics
  3. Map access methods
  4. Web 2.0
  5. Empirical evaluation
  6. Results
  7. Conclusions

Evaluation

Overall Presentation Quality

The thesis is well-formatted and consistently structured, following scientific conventions. Figures, tables, and lists are clear and properly captioned. The bilingual abstract (English + German) is concise and accurately summarizes the aims, methods, and findings. Minor typographical inconsistencies exist but do not impede comprehension. Overall presentation quality is very good.

Degree of Innovation

The work tackles the novel (for 2012) question of how Web 2.0 interactivity—recommendations, comments, tag clouds, blogs, RSS—might enrich online atlases. This was a forward-looking intersection between cartography and web usability. The idea of combining usability testing with interactive atlas prototypes represents a meaningful contribution, though not groundbreaking at a theoretical level. The innovation lies primarily in applied integration of Web 2.0 principles into geographic interfaces.

Independence

Özerdem designed and executed the empirical evaluation, built the prototype interface, and conducted the usability tests autonomously. The methodological and implementation details indicate independent planning and execution under supervision. The inclusion of custom interface variants and a participant survey supports this.

Organization and Structure

The work is logically organized. Each chapter builds upon the previous: theoretical groundwork → analysis of existing systems → introduction of new technologies → empirical test → interpretation. The flow from problem statement to results is coherent. However, minor redundancies appear in the literature review (e.g., extended quotations from definitions).

Communication

The writing style is formal, clear, and mostly fluent. Definitions and literature are carefully integrated, though sentence structure occasionally reflects non-native phrasing. Visual materials (figures and screenshots) effectively support comprehension. Technical terminology is correctly used throughout.

Scope

The chosen topic, evaluating Web 2.0 features within online atlas interfaces, is handled with appropriate breadth and depth for a master’s level. The work balances theoretical exposition and empirical application effectively. The 70+ page length is proportional to the scope.

Accuracy and Attention to Detail

The text demonstrates careful referencing and accurate terminology in cartography and web technology. Tables and figures are labeled consistently. Only minor formatting inconsistencies (e.g., spacing, capitalization) occur. The methodology is described in enough detail to be replicable.

Literature

The literature review is broad and relevant, covering both classic cartographic sources (Bollmann & Koch; Kraak & Ormeling) and Web 2.0 theory (O’Reilly, 2005; Gartner, 2009). While comprehensive for its time, it lacks more recent (post-2010) empirical studies on user-generated mapping—an understandable limitation given the publication date. Citation style is consistent.

The Prototype

The prototype developed by Ender Özerdem effectively demonstrates the integration of Web 2.0 features, such as recommendations, user comments, and tag clouds, into an online atlas interface. Although implemented as a clickable PDF rather than a live web application, it is clearly structured, visually coherent, and sufficiently interactive for usability testing. The documentation provides detailed explanations of interface variants, user tasks, and testing procedures, ensuring transparency and reproducibility. Overall, the prototype successfully translates the thesis’s theoretical ideas into a practical, testable form and meets the expected standards of a master’s-level artifact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ender Özerdem’s Evaluating the Suitability of Web 2.0 Technologies for Online Atlas Access Interfaces (2012) is a well-structured and methodically robust thesis that effectively combines theoretical research with empirical testing. Despite the prototype’s limited technical scope and a modest sample size, the work shows strong independence, clear documentation, and valuable insights into enhancing online atlas interfaces through participatory web features. Overall, it demonstrates solid academic competence and practical innovation, meriting a ~2, 2+ evaluation.

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by genovefa.zourkou -

Proseminar Task III: Analysing a Master’s Thesis

The thesis that I am analysing is titled “Exploring games to foster empathy” by Alice Blot (2017), which investigates empathy in games and explores how to create a game that fosters empathy.

Production of the Artifact
The thesis presents two interactive artifacts. The first is a mystery-style escape room for two players, where the goal is not to escape but to uncover and understand the personal stories of the characters. The second is a single-player interactive narrative that combines elements of LARP and escape rooms, allowing the player to take on a character role and progress through a story that unfolds both within and beyond the physical space. These artifacts are well documented in a dedicated chapter through written descriptions and photographs that explain the development and playtesting process. Although the prototypes themselves can only be partially accessed in the appendix, the documentation provides enough clarity for readers to grasp the concepts without needing additional context. The theoretical framework is clearly connected to the practical work, showing a consistent progression from concept to implementation. User scenarios and testing outcomes are presented in a direct and understandable way. While the artifacts effectively reflect the thesis’s main goal of exploring empathy through interactive design, the overall theoretical discussion remains somewhat limited. The concept of empathy, being complex and abstract, is not examined in great depth, which slightly weakens the level of academic criticality expected at the master’s level.

Overall Presentation Quality
The thesis is cohesive in structure and includes visuals that support understanding. However, minor inconsistencies, such as the informal tone in certain parts of the practical chapters, slightly reduce the level of professionalism expected at the master’s level.

Degree of Innovation
The topics explored in the thesis have been examined previously, but the combination of LARP elements with an escape room format to investigate empathy is original and engaging.

Independence
The author demonstrates autonomy in the design process. This is particularly evident in the iterative development of the prototypes, where changes were made based on feedback from playtesting participants.

Organization and Structure
The chapters are logically ordered and easy to follow. However, placing the design process and analysis earlier in the thesis might have created a clearer connection between the theoretical foundation and the artifact development.

Communication
The writing is understandable, but some sections would benefit from a more professional tone. Certain parts of the practical documentation contain redundancy or missing punctuation, which affects overall clarity.

Scope
The thesis maintains a balance between theoretical discussion and practical exploration. While the scope of both components is appropriate for a master’s project, certain theoretical sections would benefit from greater analytical depth, especially given the abstract nature of empathy as a research topic.

Accuracy and Attention to Detail
Attention to formal writing conventions, such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting, could be improved. There are sections with redundant phrasing and missing punctuation. These minor inaccuracies do not hinder understanding but affect the academic precision expected in a final thesis document.

Literature
The literature review includes relevant and somewhat recent sources for the time of publication. Although not comprehensive, it provides a useful foundation. The author also introduces her own set of parameters for empathy-driven game design, which shows initiative and original thinking.

Overall Assessment

Strengths

  • Innovative combination of narrative and spatial interaction to foster empathy.
  • Clear documentation of prototypes and design decisions.
  • Strong independence shown in the iterative design process.

Weaknesses

  • The theoretical depth is limited, especially considering the abstract nature of empathy.
  • Some sections lack academic tone and precision.
  • The accessibility of the artifact is partial and relies heavily on interpretation.

Conclusion
Overall, this thesis offers an interesting and original contribution to the intersection of game design and emotional engagement. While it could benefit from deeper theoretical analysis and more critical discussion of empathy as a concept, the work is valuable for its creative approach and its emphasis on player experience as a medium for emotional understanding. It opens up important questions about how intangible concepts like empathy can be embedded into gameplay, not through winning conditions, but through storytelling, embodiment, and reflection.

by felix.prinz -

Proseminar Task: Analysing a Master’s Thesis

Autorin: Armita Arvani

Titel: Gefahrenpotentiale von Ladestationen im Öffentlichen Raum

Erscheinungsjahr: Wien, 11.Sep 2022

Hochschule: FH Technikum Wien

Master: Master of Science in Engineering

Quelle: search.obvsg.at/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=OBV_alma71577075630003331&context=L&vid=OBV&lang=de_DE&search_scope=OBV_HS&adaptor=Local Search Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=hs-tab&query=any,contains,”EV Charging” AND “Design”&offset=0

I chose this master thesis because it helps me understand the problems with public EV charging stations. The work explains what dangers people face, like bad weather or mistakes when charging. It also shows what can happen if the technology is not safe, for example computer attacks. I am interested in how first-time users can learn about safe and easy charging.

For my own research, I want to know how user experience can make charging simple and comfortable. This thesis gives me ideas about what people need to feel safe and what city planners should think about when designing stations.

Gestaltungshöhe

The has a clear and logical structure. The first part gives a good overview of the topic and explains the background with careful research and useful literature. After that, the thesis moves on to interviews and qualitative research, which makes the work practical and realistic. I noticed several writing mistakes and incomplete sentences, for example on page 46 where a sentence about expert interviews is not finished. Still, the author connects the theory with practice in a good way and always explains the reasons for each research step. Even though there are some language problems, the thesis is strong in showing new ideas and gives good insight on how EV charging stations can get better for everyone in the future.

Innovationsgrad

The thesis brings several new ideas to the field of public EV charging stations. It focuses on the risks and dangers of charging stations in cities—this is a topic that is not often covered in other research, as most studies look more at technical charging details or grid integration. By analyzing not only technical risks but also including cyber attacks, vandalism, and user safety, the thesis gives a full and modern view on current and future problems.

The thesiss is valuable for the field because it asks important questions about safety and public acceptance and helps others understand what needs to be improved for EV charging in cities.

Selbstständigkeit

The thesis shows clear signs of independent work by the author. The approach is original because the author combines existing research with own interviews and qualitative analysis, giving a fresh view on the topic. The thinking is logical and focused, with the author consistently explaining why each part is important for understanding the risks of public EV charging stations. Even though some language mistakes appear, the work reflects the author’s own understanding and perspective rather than just repeating others. Overall, the thesis demonstrates good self-reliance and a clear, structured way of thinking.

Gliederung und Struktur

The structure of the thesis generally follows a logical order, which fits the topic and research questions well. It starts with a literature review and background information, which sets the stage for the later parts. Then it moves to interviews and qualitative research to collect original data. However some transitions between chapters could be smoother and a clearer summary at the end of each section would improve readability and help the reader connect the parts better. Also, occasional language mistakes and unfinished sentences disrupt the flow and make some sections harder to follow. Overall, the structure suits the research but could benefit from better coherence and polishing for full clarity.

Kommunikationsgrad

The Author communicates the topic most clearly, but there are some small problems with expression and flow that affect overall understanding. The language is generally precise and uses appropriate technical terms and also some informationsgraphics but occasional grammatical errors and unfinished sentences reduce the reading flow.

Umfang der Arbeit

The length of the thesis is mostly appropriate for the topic and provides a balanced view of different aspects. However, it could focus more specifically on answering the research question in detail, as some points are only listed without full exploration or conclusion. Overall, it fits well but would benefit from deeper analysis on key questions

Orthographie, Sorgfalt und Genauigkeit

The thesis contains some spelling and grammatical errors, which show that the language was not always carefully checked. The writing is not always precise or formal enough for a scientific work, and this reduces the overall professionalism and accuracy. However, these mistakes do not completely block understanding.

Literatur

The thesis uses a good mix of sources, including relevant books, scientific articles, and industry reports, not only internet websites. The literature is mostly current and covers important topics to support the research. However, some newer publications could be added to strengthen the up-to-date nature of the work. Overall, the sources seem sufficient and well chosen for the research focus, showing a solid and comprehensive bibliographic foundation.

Final thoughts

It provides important insights into the risks and safety challenges of public EV charging stations which is very usful for my own research on user experience and onboarding. The combination of theoretical background and practical interviews creates a solid basis, even though the work could be improved in language and deeper focus on the research question. From this thesis I take the understanding that safety and clear communication are the key to designing better charging station that are easy and safe.

Personal Rating

Armita Arvani did a good amount of work for the thesis but worked a bit superficially. I really liked her choice of experts for the interviews and she made an effort to find people very relevant to the field. She connected theory well with empirical research to find solutions, but I think the answers to the research questions could have been deeper. Also, the thesis lacked pictures/illustrations/graphics that could help understand the topics and the answer to the forschungsfrage better. I would have liked to see some data or numbers, so a bit of quantitative approach would have been good too. The language could be better. Overall, I would rate this work as a minus 2.

by valerie.schwarz -

Proseminar Task: Analysing a Master’s Thesis

The master’s thesis with the title “Overtourism destination: Finding the positive message in overtourism DMOs social media” (Limbu, 2022), which was published in 2022 by Dil Kumar Limbu at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies at the University of Eastern Finland, analyses how destination marketing organisations (DMOs) deal with the issue of overtourism in their social media marketing, especially on Facebook. 
The thesis makes a qualitative analysis of two different DMO Facebook accounts; Visit Reykjavik and I Amsterdam, over the course of a year.

Unfortunately, the thesis was not created alongside a workpiece, which could have been used to dive deeper into the topic. Generally, I would have hoped to find a more design-heavy thesis on the topic, but did not succeed unfortunately, which is why this analysis focuses more on how the scientific background and analysis of media content could look.

Overall presentation quality

Scientifically, the thesis fulfils a fairly high standard with a well-reasoned methodology and a thorough overview of the most important scientific backgrounds as well as a comprehensive presentation of the current knowledge pool. All this information is presented in a well-structured manner that is easy to follow. 

Degree of innovation

While part of the thesis was used to sum up and explain existing ideas and terms in marketing and tourism, the main core of Limbu’s work could be considered innovative, for connecting the topics social media marketing and overtourism as well as for deducting an independent in-depth analysis of Facebook posts. 

Independence

This also speaks for the student’s independence, seeing as the research conducted has not been done in this way before, meaning a completely new and independent analysis structure had to be developed. 

Organization and structure

The thesis is structured into an introduction, explaining the background, objective and approach of the study, a main part where different terms and ideas around marketing, social media in tourism and over-tourism are explained, then a methodology part talking more about the conducted analysis and an in-depth discussion of the results as well as a conclusion, summarising the whole thesis and taking a look into the future. 

Communication

Overall, the thesis is well structured, however, concerning the quality of the written text I found the language to be a bit lacking at times, with some sentences being either grammatically wrong or too vague to properly grasp the conveyed idea. This sometimes made it difficult to follow the point made and was generally detrimental to the effectiveness of the communication. 

Scope

For each of the chapters, an appropriate and balanced number of pages was allocated, leading to the feeling that the thesis had an appropriate length and scope for the treated topic. With a page number of around 50, the scope also seems appropriate for a master’s thesis. 

Accuracy and attention to detail

As I have mentioned before, the attention to detail was focused more on the scientific work and the discussed results, and less so on the linguistic finetuning of the text. While the scientific content is arguably very important, it is unfortunate when the style of the written text distracts from the actual content instead of properly supporting the scientific results. 

Literature

The thesis includes an 8 page long, comprehensive literature list, which to the best of my knowledge includes a well-balanced mixture of articles, books and various webpages. While I have not checked each and every one of these sources, the ones I looked up all seemed to be of appropriate quality and credibility for usage in a master’s thesis. 

Conclusion

The thesis I chose to evaluate was unfortunately not written in the field of media, which is why there was no workpiece to analyse and the overall style and focus of the work might not have been what will be expected from our theses. Nonetheless, I found it interesting to see how another student from another field has approached and analysed the topic of media and overtourism, or at least part of it. The scientific work in the thesis seems to be sound and very thoroughly conducted, leading to newly synthesised information. However, one of the weak points of the thesis for me was the linguistic style and some of the errors made, which impeded the reading flow whilst analysing the thesis. Nonetheless, the thesis certainly fulfils a high scientific standard and provides valuable information on the topic. 

Literature

Limbu, D. K. (2022). Overtourism destination: Finding the positive message in overtourism DMOs social media.

by desiree.steigerwald -

Evaluation Academic theses

Autor: Marius Lessiak 
Titel: Interaktionsdesign in Webapplikationen 
Jahr: 2007 
Institution: Technische Universität Wien, Fakultät für Informatik 
Betreuung: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerald Steinhardt, Univ.-Ass. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Hilda Tellioglu 
Typ: Diplomarbeit 

Zugänglichkeit: Original in der Hauptbibliothek der TU Wien 

Oder 

https://repositum.tuwien.at/bitstream/20.500.12708/14588/2/Lessiak%20Marius%20-%202007%20-%20Interaktionsdesign%20in%20Webapplikationen.pdf

Struktur: 

  1. Einleitung 
  1. Usability 
  1. Interface & Interaktion 
  1. Entwicklung des Interaktionsmodells 
  1. Implementierung 
  1. Evaluierung 
  1. Zusammenfassung & Ausblick 

Artefakt: 

Die Arbeit enthält ein eigenständig entwickeltes Interaktionsmodell für Webapplikationen, das mithilfe aktueller Webtechnologien (AJAX, DOM, JavaScript) in einer funktionierenden Anwendung („Zeitspur“) umgesetzt und technisch evaluiert wurde. 

1. Overall Presentation Quality 

Die Arbeit ist klar gegliedert, sauber formatiert und sprachlich konsistent. Tabellen, Abbildungen sowie Diagramme werden sorgfältig eingesetzt und mit Quellen belegt. Grundsätzlich eine gute wissenschaftliche Aufbereitung, wenn auch mit älterem Layout-Standard. 

2. Degree of Innovation 

Wenn meine Recherche richtig ist, war zum Zeitpunkt der Verfassung (2007) AJAX ein relativ neues Paradigma. Die Verbindung von Interaction Design Principles mit der technischen Realisierung einer Webapplikation ist innovativ und interdisziplinär gedacht. Eine Arbeit die einen hohen Innovationsgrad durch theoretisch fundierte Modellbildung und experimentelle Umsetzung aufweist.  

3. Independence 

Marius Lessiak zeigt deutlich Eigenständigkeit in der Entwicklung des Interaktionsmodells und seiner technischen Umsetzung. Die Arbeit geht über eine reine Literaturstudie hinaus und verbindet Theorie mit einem realen Prototyp. 

4. Organization and Structure 

Die Arbeit folgt einer klaren, nachvollziehbaren Logik: Von den theoretischen Grundlagen über Usability und HCI bis zur Entwicklung und Evaluation. Querverbindungen zwischen Theorie und Praxis sind deutlich erkennbar, wenn auch stellenweise etwas textlastig. 

5. Communication 

Sprache und Stil sind präzise und sachlich, mit hohem wissenschaftlichem Anspruch. Englischsprachige Fachliteratur wird korrekt eingebunden. Die Formulierungen sind klar, teilweise etwas technisch-nüchtern. 

6. Scope 

Die Arbeit bewegt sich in einem angemessenen Umfang (~65 Seiten Text + Visualisierungen). Sie deckt sowohl theoretische Tiefe (HCI, Design Patterns) als auch praktische Breite (AJAX, DOM) ab. 

7. Accuracy and Attention to Detail 

Quellen sind sorgfältig zitiert, Fachbegriffe korrekt verwendet, Diagramme (UML, Hypertext-Strukturmodelle etc.) präzise ausgeführt. 

8. Literature 

Die Literaturbasis umfasst zentrale Arbeiten aus der HCI-Forschung (Cooper, Shneiderman, Beaudouin-Lafon) und relevante technische Quellen (AJAX, DOM, W3C). Für 2007 ist der Stand aktuell und wissenschaftlich solide. 

Beurteilung des Artefakts 

Dokumentation: 

Das Artefakt („Zeitspur“) ist detailliert beschrieben, mit Diagrammen. Die Dokumentation erlaubt ein gutes Verständnis der Funktionsweise. 

Zugänglichkeit: 

Das System war als funktionsfähige Webapplikation umgesetzt, die Interaktionsprinzipien konkret veranschaulicht. Zugang erfolgt theoretisch über TU Wien-Bibliothek (kein Link zu Live-System). 

Theorie–Praxis-Verknüpfung: 

Sehr stark. Das entwickelte Modell wird nicht nur theoretisch erläutert, sondern praktisch umgesetzt und technisch evaluiert. 

Qualität des Artefakts: 

Für mich wirkt es sehr anspruchvoll, sowohl technisch als auch gestalterisch niveauvoll für den damaligen Stand. 

Gesamturteil 

Stärken: 

  • Exzellente theoretische Fundierung (Verbindung HCI ↔ Webtechnologie) 
  • Eigenständiges Interaktionsmodell 
  • Klare, logische Struktur 
  • Fundierte Evaluation 
  • Solide wissenschaftliche Sprache 

Schwächen: 

  • Begrenzte empirische Evaluation (Fokus auf technische, nicht auf Nutzerstudien) 
  • Text teilweise zu detailverliebt in technische Aspekte 
  • Gestaltung/Visualität des Artefakts könnte stärker diskutiert werden 

Marius Lessiak liefert eine inhaltlich und methodisch überzeugende Diplomarbeit, die den Stand der Webentwicklung Anfang der 2000er-Jahre reflektiert und ihn mit HCI-Theorien verbindet. Das Werk zeigt, wie Interaktionsdesign strategisch und technisch zusammengedacht werden kann. Ein Beitrag, aus dem man heute noch methodisch relevantes Wissen beziehen kann. 

by jakob.schnurrer -

Evaluation of a Master’s thesis

Autor: Matthias Müller, BSc
Titel: Applying Service Design on Free Open Source Software (FOSS)
Erscheinungsjahr: 2017
Hochschule: Graz University of Technology
Master: Software Development and Business Management
Quelle: https://repository.tugraz.at/publications/yq1qq-qwe76

This master’s thesis takes a closer look at how open-source software projects actually work. While open-source tools are built “by users, for users” and have changed the tech world in many ways, their success often depends on more than good code. The author uses service design methods to explore the Austrian open source project “Catrobat”, mapping everyone involved, their roles, and how they work together. The goal is to find out what helps or holds back open-source projects and how better collaboration and understanding can lead to more innovation long-term success.

Presentation quality 

Overall, the master’s is well made, the layout is simple yet fitting, since the layout itself probably wasn’t part of the scope. Simple paragraphs, some graphics and pictures, highlighted quotes, nothing special, although you could find some gaps in the text due to the full justification. Long, bloated sentences and swollen language make the text difficult to read. But the arguments made follow a logically form, from explaining the open-source context to applying service design tools.

Degree of innovation & independence

What stood out to me is how service design is connected to the world of open-source software, since any design practices are usually hard to be implemented into open source projects. The work shows a high level of independence, especially in how the author adapts existing design tools to fit the unique dynamics of Catrobat. Although making assumptions for the whole world of open source might be a bit farfetched, since open source projects can be very different, not only in size but number of users, supporters or funders, distribution channels and much more. Meaning this is a great case study but doesn’t really contribute to making the open source more design friendly.

Organization and structure 

The thesis is well structures, although sometimes hard to understand. The author is very thorough, service design & Catrobat are both very well defined and explained. Before using a service design tool, the author explains the reason for using it first, explains the process, shows the results and their conclusion in the end. The flow of the work seems natural, and additionally the usage of graphics and pictures, as well as bullet points really help to clarify.

Communication 

Like I have said before, the language is hard to understand, or in other words very academic. However, this might just be due to my background being in design and not more science driven studies, like computer science or information technology. In the eyes of a student of the technical university of Graz, the tone might be common.

Scope 

The topic is handled with an appropriate level of detail overall, although personally I would have pot emphasis on different topics, as the author did. Catrobat is explained in a lot of detail, while user research or testing of proposed improvements fell short, although those are key elements of servicer design.

Accuracy and attention to detail 

Citations are well made, if they are taken word by word, they are visually different from the rest of the text. Footnotes as well as inline citations are flawless and all figures are accurately described. I also couldn’t find any grammar or spelling mistakes, luckily writing software like microsoft word gets better at catching those mistakes.

Literature 

The literature review is solid, with relevant sources from design, service research, and technology studies. It combines classic design theory with more recent publications about open collaboration. The references are well integrated and show that the author understands the academic conversation around the topic

My personal reason to pick out a master’s thesis like this one was to get a better grasp on open source in general, since I want to write my thesis about the same topic, although with a different scope. I used this exercise to get more insight into the opinions of non designers working on open source software. But as I pointed out, grasping the topic and the conclusion was hard, due to me not being able to understand and comprehend the way sentences were written.

Disclaimer:
This blog post was supported by AI (ChatGPT) to help with structuring and phrasing.

by desiree.steigerwald -

Impulse #2: Inclusive Design 

At the World Usability Congress, I attended the talk “When Responsibility Meets Reality: Strategies for Making Inclusive Design Happen” by Nina Hundhausen. The talk explored an issue that feels very relevant. It’s not only a think in designing products but also in how we design experiences, visuals, and even conversations around complex social topics. 

Hundhausen spoke about the gap between responsibility and reality. In theory, we all want to create inclusive, responsible, and sustainable solutions , the thing all call “Design for All.” But in practice, daily pressures, business KPIs, and limited resources often win. What struck me most was how she framed inclusion not only as an ethical demand but also as a strategic one: inclusion is not just “the right thing to do,” it’s also a smart investment in the long term. 

Listening to this, I started thinking about what “inclusive design” could mean within the context of religion, specifically, in relation to my master’s thesis. Religion is often about belonging, but it can also be deeply exclusionary. Visual and spatial expressions of faith (like churches, rituals, or symbols) are powerful, but they can also send subtle messages about who is welcome, and who is not. 

Therefore I asked myself what an inclusive design approach to religion would look like?Maybe it’s about creating spaces — physical or digital — where belief and doubt can coexist. Maybe it’s about representing religious symbols in ways that invite dialogue rather than define boundaries. And maybe it’s about acknowledging the non-believers, those who still seek meaning and connection outside traditional institutions. 

Inclusive design asks us to look closely at who we design for — and who we might be leaving out. Applying that to my work means asking: who am I designing for? What do I want to achieve? How can I use projection and light to open up conversation, not close it down? 

Hundhausen’s talk reminded me that inclusion doesn’t happen automatically. And that maybe, the most responsible form of design is one that leaves room for everyone — even those who don’t fit neatly within the frame. 

Dissclaimer: AI was used here for a better wording 

by aylin.aktas -

Kritische Bewertung einer Masterarbeit – WOOOOOOORRRRRMMMMMHHOOOLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS

Autorin: Kimberly Duck
Titel: WOOOOORRMMHOOOLLEESS
Erscheinungsjahr: 2025
Hochschule: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Master: Master of Fine Arts (MFA) – Graphic Design
Quelle: https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1430

Die Masterarbeit WOOOOORRMMHOOOLLEESS von Kimberly Duck beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, wie digitale und physische Realitäten zunehmend ineinander übergehen und wie diese Übergänge: die „Wormholes“ als gestalterische und konzeptionelle Methode verstanden werden können. Die Autorin nutzt dabei den Begriff „Wormhole“ sowohl als Metapher als auch als Methodologie, um das Erleben von Zwischenräumen, Übergängen und Irritationen in digitalen Räumen zu erforschen. Das Werkstück ist die Arbeit selbst: eine experimentell gestaltete, visuell überladene, fast performative Publikation.

Gestaltungshöhe
Gestalterisch ist die Arbeit auf hohem Niveau. Sie ist mutig, auffällig und konsequent umgesetzt. Allerdings wirkt sie stellenweise überladen, vielleicht bewusst „freaky“, aber dadurch etwas unruhig. Trotzdem passt dieser Stil gut zur Idee der Arbeit und spiegelt das Konzept des „Wurmlochs“ formal wider.

Innovationsgrad
Das Thema ist originell und aktuell. „Wormholes“ als gestalterisches Prinzip zu sehen, ist ein spannender Ansatz, der das Denken über digitale Räume erweitert. Besonders interessant finde ich, dass sie Theorie, Popkultur und Design sehr frei miteinander verknüpft, aber dennoch einem roten Faden folgt.

Selbstständigkeit
Die Arbeit wirkt sehr eigenständig. Man merkt, dass sie nicht versucht, Erwartungen zu erfüllen, sondern ihren eigenen Zugang wählt. Der Ton, die Gestaltung und das Denken sind ganz klar ihre Handschrift.

Gliederung und Struktur
Die Struktur ist eher offen, weniger wie eine klassische wissenschaftliche Arbeit, mehr wie ein Essay oder ein künstlerisches Manifest. Das passt zum Thema, macht es aber manchmal schwer, einer klaren Argumentation zu folgen. Beim Lesen habe ich mir oftmals die Frage gestellt, ob diese Arbeit in einem österreichischen Kontext schon als zu experimentell angesehen werden würde, aber für eine Designhochschule wie RISD scheint es zu funktionieren. 

Kommunikationsgrad
Sprachlich ist die Arbeit sehr zugänglich und unterhaltsam. Sie schreibt fast erzählerisch, was die Aufmerksamkeit hält. Ich finde das angenehm zu lesen, auch wenn es wissenschaftlich vielleicht etwas zu locker ist. Trotzdem zeigt sie damit, dass man Theorie auch auf kreative Weise vermitteln kann.

Orthographie, Sorgfalt und Genauigkeit
Der Umfang wirkt passend, die Arbeit ist sorgfältig gestaltet. Sprachlich ist alles korrekt, aber sie legt mehr Wert auf Ausdruck und Rhythmus als auf formale Strenge, was in diesem Kontext in Ordnung ist.

Literatur
Die verwendeten Quellen sind vielfältig und passend zum Thema. Sie zitiert sowohl theoretische Texte als auch visuelle Referenzen, wodurch die Arbeit lebendig und gut verankert wirkt.

Abschließende Einschätzung
WOOOOORRMMHOOOLLEESS ist mutig, verspielt und sehr eigen. Manche gestalterischen Entscheidungen wirken etwas übertrieben, trotzdem bleibt die Arbeit sehr spannend. Für meine eigene Thesis nehme ich mit, dass es okay ist, eine persönliche Stimme zu haben und Gestaltung auch als Denkform einzusetzen, solange die Idee klar bleibt.

Diesen Satz fand ich besonders schön: „Our current reality is ruled by multitudes with varying frameworks, and the internet intensifies this exponentially. In the age of blurred lines, where the physical and the digital merge and exist in unison, I choose to be optimistically critical.“ Gerade diese Themen und Schnittpunkte finde ich selbst spannend, aber auch herausfordernd für meine eigene Themenwahl. Die Autorin hat es geschafft, ein sehr abstraktes und freies Thema präzise und greifbar zu formulieren. Auch wenn man sicher manches kritisch sehen kann, hat mir ihre Arbeit eine neue Perspektive eröffnet und gezeigt, wie vielfältig die Möglichkeiten in diesem Bereich eigentlich sind.

by Gregor Schmitz -

Beurteilung der Masterarbeit von Stefanie Nina Steinbichl

Die Klanglichkeit des Sterbens – Untersuchung zur Anwendung und Wahrnehmung klanglicher Todessymbolik und –stereotypen im Sound Design am Beispiel ausgewählter Filmszenen

Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart – Studiengang Elektronische Medien
Erstprüfer: Prof. Oliver Curdt
Zweitprüfer: Prof. Thomas Görne
28. Februar 2011


Die forliegende Masterarbeit von Stefanie Nina Steinbichl beschäftigt sich mit der klanglichen Dimension des Todes im Medium Film und untersucht, wie sich Todessymbole und -stereotype im Sound Design manifestieren und auf die Wahrnehmung des Publikums auswirken. Aufbauend auf theoretischen Grundlagen aus Film-, Medien- und Musikforschung entwickelt die Stefanie Steinbichl eine eigenständige Analyse klanglicher Ausdrucksformen und verknüpft diese mit einem Hörversuch, der die emotionale Wirkung spezifischer Klänge überprüft.

Die Gestaltungshöhe dieser Arbeit ist auf einem hohen ästhetischen Niveau. Die Autorin analysiert zahlreiche filmische und klangliche Gestaltungselemente mit großer Sorgfalt und zeigt ein gutes Verständnis für die komplexe Wechselwirkung zwischen Ton, Emotion und Narration. Die Darstellung der Beispiele und die Einbindung des empirischen Materials sind formal wie inhaltlich gut gelungen. Hervorzuheben ist auch die Gestaltung des eingereichten Textes. Das Format ist ungewöhnlich, überzeugt aber durch ein ansprechende und gut lesbare Erscheinung.

Die Beschäftigung mit Todessymbolik ist an sich soweit ich das beurteilen kann bereits unzählige Male erfolgt. Der Innovationsgrad der Arbeit liegt hier eher in der Verknüpfung verschiedenster Blickwinkel. Die Untersuchung verbindet unter anderem Ansätze aus der filmwissenschaftliche Theorie, Sound Studies und Wahrnehmungspsychologie. Der empirische Hörversuch stellt eine wertvolle Erweiterung des theoretischen Ansatzes dar.

Hinsichtlich der Selbstständigkeit zeigt die Arbeit ein hohes Maß an Eigeninitiative und Reflexionsvermögen. Konzept, Methodik und empirische Umsetzung sind klar eigenständig entwickelt, und die Quellenarbeit ist sorgfältig dokumentiert. Besonders positiv fällt auf, dass im Anschluss auch eine Reflexion der eigenen Forschungsmethodik efolgt.

Die Gliederung und Struktur der Arbeit sind logisch aufgebaut. Der Übergang von der theoretischen Fundierung über die analytische Untersuchung bis hin zum empirischen Teil ist nachvollziehbar und gut balanciert. Die Kapitel bauen sinnvoll aufeinander auf und führen die Leser*innen Stück für Stück zu den Ergebnissen.

Auch der Kommunikationsgrad der Arbeit ist hoch. Trotz der vielen Ansätze gelingt es der Autorin, ihre Argumentation klar verständlich zu formulieren. Wissenschaftliche Terminologie wird häufig eingesetzt, ohne aber dabei die Lesbarkeit einzuschränken.

Der Umfang der Arbeit ist sehr groß. Der Text enthält eine detaillierte Analyse, umfangreiche empirische Auswertungen sowie ergänzende Materialien in Form von Diagrammen, Fotografien und einer beigelegten DVD (die mir leider nicht vorlegt).

Bezüglich Orthografie, Sorgfalt und Genauigkeit zeigt die Arbeit eine hohe sprachliche und formale Qualität. Zitierweise, Layout und Quellenangaben sind korrekt umgesetzt und die Darstellung der Forschungsergebnisse ist präzise. Der Zitierstil ist jedoch ein anderer als der an unserem Institut präferierte.

Das Literaturverzeichnis bzw. Filmverzeichnis könnte evtl. ein klein wenig umfangreicher sein aber ist insgesamt sauber aufgebaut und spiegelt eine sorgfältige, interdisziplinäre Recherche wider.