This semester-long project focused on building a connection with an older adult through weekly conversations and translating their life experiences into a series of design pieces. I was paired with Timothy “TC” Hicks, and through our weekly calls and interviews, I learned about his childhood, personal hardships, career, relationships, and interests. His stories became the foundation for three smaller design assignments and a final interactive piece for a museum-style exhibition.
For the first project, I designed a quote poster centered around TC’s career in professional wrestling and his stage persona, Pappy O’Malley, an Irish villain known for bending the rules. I used his saying, “It’s not cheating, it’s winning,” as the focal point of the poster to reflect his character and personality. I also created a short zine about his time as a K9 officer, highlighting another important part of his life, and designed a set of tattoo-inspired icons representing his love of motorcycles and rock and roll.
For the final exhibition piece, I transformed a rotary telephone into an interactive listening experience where visitors could pick up the receiver and hear recordings inspired by TC’s life. The audio moved chronologically from his childhood through later stages of his life, incorporating personal stories, sounds, and memories connected to experiences such as playing baseball, watching his favorite movies, going on cruises, visiting casinos, and wrestling. To accompany the telephone, I designed a custom phone book that used timestamps disguised as fictional phone numbers. Visitors could use these numbers to identify different points in TC’s life and navigate the recordings.
Throughout the project, I focused on finding ways to translate TC’s personality and memories into visual and interactive forms without losing the personal details that made his story unique. The experience challenged me to think beyond traditional graphic design and consider how design can encourage people to slow down, listen, and connect with someone else’s experiences. It also showed me the impact design can have in preserving personal histories and creating meaningful connections between people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.