In the South African context, political and universal rights of citizens have been expanded since liberation but the basic services and livelihoods have eroded (Miraftab, 2009). Marginalized citizens have created their homes through auto construction, and self-making, in the post-apartheid city (Caldeira, 2017). This is evident in spaces like Philippi, where areas of Neoliberal planning practices remain as exclusionary imaginaries of city and citizenship that promote collective amnesia (Miraftab, 2009). Insurgent planning scholarship calls for collective memory and looks to liberating planning imaginaries and histories of marginalized people as strength in knowledge (Miraftab, 2009). Through ways of being and social spatial production practices, people are infrastructure (Simone, 2004). The social practices and community agencies inform a type of infrastructure. Amin (2014) speaks of the liveliness of infrastructure. The term infrastructure is used loosely. It indicates the bigger infrastructural elements like transport infrastructure, yet to come in Philippi, as well as other more basic infrastructure like water, sanitation, and electricity, which are often void in spaces in Philippi. Amin (2014) highlights the politics of community and institution, and visible and invisible infrastructure (Amin, 2014). Networks of social gathering spaces, such as economic trade and eating areas, and physical space, like places of water collection and sanitation, give a rendering of the urban poor experience. As part of the experience of these infrastructures, the sensory landscape of urban places holds collective memory and social outlook (Amin, 2014). Acknowledging and paying homage to this helps an understanding of the noteworthy social, cultural and spatial rituals of place and self-built placemaking in Philippi. Through investigating planned and self-built places and their everyday practices, this study has attempted to collect spatial practices, to inform a framework that considers this narrative and the interventions it suggests. The collection of information has been used to guide and inform design principles for interventions at various scales. The starting point of the inquiry is the pavement. A universal everyday place that all actors engage with. In Philippi, the pavement and walkways offer many everyday practices. The pavement is the most common public space of movement, social exchange, and public and private interface, and the investigation of the street in Philippi has informed other areas of design intervention.

This dissertation explores the impact of colonial museum-making methods on the communities which they serve and the human body. Based on this research it then proposes alternative approaches to museum-making in a post-colonial context. The inquiry begins with an exploration of the history of museums in within a European, and then a South African context. It then goes on to look at the physical effects museums have on the human body and how people choose to engage as a result. This entry point ends with a summary of what people may need to be physically able to better engage with museums. The dissertation then goes to identify the Company Gardens as a site area and looks to its narrative as a guide to design. Based on this process, emerges an architectural intervention of an indigenous botany library and museum that aims to share the narrative of indigenous plants and Khoisan-based plant knowledge through its design. Initially, this dissertation aimed to find a fixed framework and approach to de-colonial museum design. But through the research process it becomes clear that there is no fixed approach to de- colonial museum design but rather it is a context-based process. This project becomes about reclaiming a previously colonised space and regaining agency of narrative. It attempts to disrupt colonial continuities that are still present in the Company Gardens.

Beyond having an impression on identity, architecture and buildings share a symbiotic relationship in form of providing shelter to the human body. This thesis explores enhancing social fabric through the exploration of the interwoven symbiotic tectonics of the community's culture, their identity and architecture; guided by the understanding of emplaced embodied care. The thesis is formulated as architectural investigations dedicated to exploring roles of architecture in nurturing, sheltering, and reflecting the identity of the communities. Thus, the approach is to challenge how buildings combine the community's customs, traditions and needs with architectural work; leading to the argument that, such initiatives have the common purpose of encouraging the community to have an impact on their built environment and the society and ultimately enhancing social fabric. Even though a synthesis of theory, context, brief and technology this dissertation will expand on the field of architecture through critical reinterpretation of the community's culture and rituals to reimagine an appropriate platform that exhibit the concepts of constructed imagery, personal environment, and social communication in the form of a Iziko Community Life Centre dedicated for Abstract “We are our choices.” This interpretation of the famous saying by the 20th-century existentialist and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre when he claimed that “existence precedes essence” (Sartre, 38) is one of the often discussed positions towards definition of being. This leads to an understanding that the impression of who we are is defined by the choices that we make daily; these conscious and subconscious choices have an impression on our personality, perceptions, lifestyle, and feelings, conceiving what we can transcend. Mostly our identity is perceived through how we look like and where we come from, commonly through the way we look and live. Sustainable Building Technologies in disaster relief and emergency response in the disaster prone informal community of Imizamo Yethu, Cape Town I am passionate about people, especially those in communities. I believe there is a need to attend to strong social needs with very practical and noncomplex architectural solutions. This thesis presents a platform where I will able to build on my interest in the continued debate on how to make urban environments more equitable and inclusive through the adaptation and reimagination of both public and private spaces. This also aligns with my further personal focus which involves exploring strategies to implementing realistic and progressive solutions to the challenges of environmental and social sustainability and building technologies. I feel the need to practice in authentic, inclusive architecture to assist to upgrade and integrate existing communities while protecting and preserving their identities and culture. My focus is to navigate the complex structures set up in these communities with ultimately focusing in community architecture and the impact it has on the daily living of the general population of South Africa.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OFMolly Heal, for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre, presented on April 4, 2023, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: ROMEO AND JULIET: THE SUMMER OF TRAGEDY MAJOR PROFESSOR: Wendi Zea I held the role of lighting designer for Southern Illinois University’s Fall 2022 production of Romeo and Juliet. This document details the design process beginning March 2022 through opening October 13th 2022. The first chapter dives into my research, inspiration and artistic plan for the production, as well as my personal goals. The second chapter details the design process as my process interacted with the rest of the design team. The third chapter shows the process of the implementation stage of the design process. The fourth and final chapter is an evaluation of my process and how the goals laid out in the first chapter were reflected throughout. The appendices hold all of the related imagery and paperwork to the design and production process. This includes inspiration and research imagery, schedules, renderings, lighting plots and paperwork, as well as final production shots.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OFDanielle Silfies, for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater, presented on April 7, 2023, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: LITTLE WOMEN…HAVE BIG FEELINGS A COSTUME DESIGN THESIS ON LITTLE WOMEN: THE BROADWAY MUSICALMAJOR PROFESSOR: Wendi Zea This thesis is a gathering of research, analysis, design, and production work done for the costumes for the production of Little Women. The musical production took place in the McCloud Theater at Southern Illinois University from December 8th- December 11th, 2023. This musical is based on the famous book, Little Women, written by, Louisa Mae Alcott. The story explores the life and trials of the March family. The musical focuses primarily on the journey of Jo March and her struggles, and eventual success. The story investigates what it means to be family and emphasizes the bonds shared between the sisters. Chapter 1 focuses on the initial foundational information that will support the costume design. This includes, a selection of research looking into Louisa Mae Alcott and family, the Civil War, and the effect the war had on the families left at home. A section on character analysis that investigates the characters backgrounds, motivations, and relationships. It also includes my own personal goals for the production. Chapter 2 focuses on the design process. It dives into the collaboration with the other creators and shows the process behind the final designs. Chapter 3 explores the production process. It tells about the actual building, alteration, and realization of the garments. Chapter 4 will be a reflection from the feedback that was given by peers and professors. Lastly, the appendices will show all the relevant research, rendering, paperwork, and show photos (provided by John Lambert).

The protection and preservation of biodiversity, a term that encompasses all living organisms on Earth, is becoming an exceedingly important topic as we are losing species at an alarming speed. Inspired by the UN conference, COP15, on biodiversity, this project seeks to engage and educate audiences about the importance of biodiversity conservation in the context of gardening, in close cooperation with two local gardening-related organisations based in Norrköping, Sweden.  The design project utilises motion graphics as a medium to depict the interconnections between biodiversity and gardening practices visually. By combining animation, visual effects, and audio elements, the motion graphics attempt to communicate the significance of preserving biodiversity and sustaining healthy garden environments. This thesis essay explores the research question using a Research Through Design (RtD) approach. The project was conducted through research, concept- and prototype development, finalising in an evaluation and validation phase.  The conclusion of this thesis suggests that motion graphics allow for a visual representation of complex environmental concepts, making them further accessible to a wide audience. By bridging the gap between scientific information and public understanding, motion graphics can empower individuals to adopt sustainable gardening practices and contribute to the preservation and protection of biodiversity.

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