MFA Thesis: Applied Designer
My thesis explores looking at new career possibilities for early and mid-career graphic designers. I created Applied Designer, part hiring agency, part advocacy platform, to support designers looking to make career changes. As we face economic uncertainty and rapid technological advancements, I believe Applied Designer is an opportunity to build a sustainable community of designers with meaningful creative careers.
Follow along on Instagram @applieddesigner.
The microsite is available at applieddesigner.com
At the heart of my thesis is the Applied Designer identity. The wireframe aesthetic conveys the transparency I aim to bring to the design industry. The wordmark is created from Referential Mono, my first typeface.
As a hiring agency, Applied Designer can meet early and mid-career designers at industry events like the AIGA national conference. This begins with a trade show booth.
Designers approaching the booth can access a number of training materials I created.
The career stages brochure maps out the 5 stages of a designer’s career, and lists other services Applied Designer offers, like personalized coaching.
At networking events, Applied Designers can create name tags based on their relevant career stage.
After engaging with the booth, designers can explore the 12 career archetypes on the microsite. Here, the logo comes to life as a 3 dimensional interface.
Instagram posts became a tool to inform the design community about Applied Designer methodologies and research.
The 12 designer archetypes are documented with case studies and descriptions.
Process Book
Process book covering two semesters of research, process, and design execution. Size: 8x10", page count: 180.
Selected spreads. Page numbers are only on left-hand pages to retain focus on the content.
Process
I believe the design industry has no fixed position, so why should the logo for my thesis be a fixed form? The logo was created with, and came to life from my code written in Processing.
Working on the trade show booth 3D model in Blender.
In November 2024, near the mid-point of my thesis, I gave a talk titled “Deconstructing ‘Best’: Redefining Success for Designers” at Graph*c Content, a conference hosted by AIGA Los Angeles.
119 slides of reflection, gratitude, and inspiration!
Thank you Michael and PB & Magick!
My amazing thesis pod! Led by our advisor, professor Michael Neal. At the halfway point, after our fall semester final presentation.
After our final presentation! Thank you is not enough to Michael and my incredibly supportive peers.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to my thesis advisor Michael Neal, my thesis pod group (Hayley (Haowen) An, Ana Gwyn Wilson, Avantika (Yajing) Wu, Jen (Geyuzhen) Zhu), Sheharazad Fleming, Cheri Gray, Petrula Vrontikis, Martin Grasser, Robbie Nock, Simon Johnston, Paul Mendoza, Rubina Chadha, Dr. Cheryl D. Miller, Greg Lindy, Milka Broukhim, Gloria Kondrup, Jose Caballer, Eilís Russell, Dr. Dori Tunstall, Erika Abrams, Ali Torbati, Ivan J. Cruz, Amanda Mei, Reuben Merringer, Carolina Uscategui, Vy Huynh, the ArtCenter Gx Grind Club, and staff members of AIGA Los Angeles who supported the 2024 Graph*c Content design conference.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Shakeel Mohamed all rights reserved. No part of this thesis project may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any electronic or mechanical means, which may include photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.