Special Interest
On September 12, Nicole Li and I visited Highbanks Metro Park in Lewis Center, Ohio. Trash and Litter The trails were remarkably trash/litter-free. We noticed 18 pieces of trash on the trail we went on, excluding the parking lot areas. Most of the trash was recyclable, and found just
Special Interest
After pilot testing a co-design brainstorming activity, I decided to use the activity on myself to generate ideas that address or encapsulate high-impact recreation at state parks. Some of the ideas I generated in this activity were useful or inspirational to me when creating more developed conjectures. Clothing/gear cleaning
Special Interest
On September 11, 2025 I went with my group on a Naturalist-guided night-time hike on an Alum Creek State Park trail. We were provided with UV flashlights to look for fluorescent wildlife and fungi. On the hike, we were all surprised at how much trash we found. We saw some
Special Interest
Introduction As a test of a co-design research activity, I gave a set of instructions and topics (with supporting information) to my sister, a Design Foundations student at The Ohio State University. The plan was to have her pilot test it, and move on to other participants. However, I realized
Special Interest
After learning about the damage that off-trail hiking and biking can cause, I wanted to know which methods were most effective in preventing off-trail hiking. The following research from Park et al. (2008) tests several methods on visitors to a specific state park. Excerpts from Park et al. (2008) How
Special Interest
Considering the effectiveness of signage to encourage low-impact behavior and preventing impactful behavior in state parks, I looked for research on the practice of visual communications in the context of outdoor recreation. Rice et al. (2023) published an article on the topic, titled The Impact of Graphic Design on Attention
Special Interest
Given the goal to minimize the impact of recreational activity on state parks, I went looking for best practices for park visitors. I found an enlightening digital booklet on the subject from the York County Conservation District. Excerpts from York County Conservation District's (2021) guide to low-impact recreation:
Special Interest
During our project kickoff at ODNR, we learned that an important factor in the development of park trails is the whether visitors feel welcome when they arrive at a state park. The following excerpts are from an article by Powers et al. (2024) that examines whether the access to state
Special Interest
As seen from my findings on traditional meditation techniques such as sand mandalas, art can have a soothing and grounding effect that could facilitate a more calm car ride. However, how do we introduce art in a familiar yet challenging way? Without familiarity, some risk-adverse children may not interact with
Special Interest
Wildlife are a big part of state parks: Not only are the parks their homes, but many people go to parks to see them (birdwatchers, for example). And, impact on wildlife is one of the things that should be reduced to have a more sustainable park. The following excerpts are
Special Interest
The Etch-a-Sketch, one of the most iconic toys in history, turned 65 years old this year. Its harnessing of new at the time technology such as plastic molding could serve as inspiration for modern toy innovation. The Etch A Sketch helped kick-start a “golden age of toy creativity,” says Edwin
Special Interest
When you think of art museums the image of a blank white hallway with elaborate oil paintings and marble sculptures may come to mind. However, these works are not the bulk of art created each day. The Children's Museum of the Arts showcases the works of artists with