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Rhythmic Patterns thesis book
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Graduates
Anaya Are
MFA in Graphic Design - 2 Yr Path — Graduate Graphic DesignCourse:
Graduate Thesis Project
Faculty:
Brad Bartlett
Term:
2026 Spring
Rhythmic Patterns
Rhythmic Patterns is a graphic design thesis that argues rhythm functions as a practical working method for designers navigating time-based and interactive digital practice. The project spans two interactive installations — Antinode, a sound-reactive cube, and Resonance, a fabric cylinder — alongside research into synesthesia, architectural acoustics, percussion history, and music visualization. The work draws on sources ranging from Scriabin's color-key associations to cymatics to cross-cultural drumming traditions, proposing rhythm not as metaphor but as a structuring logic for contemporary design.
Process:
The thesis developed through parallel tracks of research and making — building interactive installations while excavating historical and theoretical frameworks across synesthesia, architectural acoustics, and percussion. Installations were prototyped using Ableton, TouchDesigner, and MediaPipe, with each technical decision informed by the research. Writing and visual production ran concurrently: chapters were drafted alongside infographics, diagrams, and a custom p5.js typographic poster generator built specifically for the book. The design system remained consistent throughout — anchoring the visual language as the content evolved across five chapters.
Learning Outcomes:
Working across research, writing, installation, and print production simultaneously sharpened the ability to hold a complex argument across multiple output forms. Building the interactive systems deepened technical fluency in creative coding and real-time media tools, while the book production process — from bibliography to custom tooling — demanded precision at every scale. The thesis clarified how rigorous conceptual framing and hands-on making can function as a single integrated practice rather than separate phases.
Project Website: