For my thesis research I investigated place identity in design, the visual representation of a geographic location and its people through visual and written language. While many form the basis for tourism advertisements, the primary audience of a place identity should always be the people it represents. If an identity is designed well enough to best represent the shared identity within a given place, it will subsequently attract others to that place.

This work is my visual exploration and research in the topic. My first project was a zine investigating the different place identities of each state within the US. I was interested in how each state chose to not only represent itself, but differentiate from all the other states. The Unique States of America is an expressive form of my questioning and curiosity.

My second project was a hypothetical exhibition and lecture series on the topic of place identity. With this project I was concerned with more contemporary, yet prominent works of place identity. Mapping Design highlights the different forms place identity manifests and their role in design scholarship.