Thesis Final: Advice to the Next Generation

Where to start? — Finding inspiration for your thesis project might actually be the hardest part of the process for some. Speaking with a number of juniors throughout the year, I’ve found that only a handful have even thought about their projects, let alone come up with any concrete ideas. While I do believe the best advice I could give would be to start thinking now, I know that by the time anyone receives this advice, it will probably be the Fall semester. Instead, I think the next best thing would be for me to explain how I came up with my project idea. For those that never had the opportunity to see my project, I created an interactive scavenger hunt/story called “Discover: TCNJ.” The idea behind it was to create a story on TCNJ’s campus that you could experience both physically and virtually. This project was actually born more than two years ago when I first decided to transfer into the IMM program. During an interview, I was asked what I might want to do for a senior project and so began the first version of “Discover: TCNJ.” Initially, it was simply an interactive story, like the Goosebumps books, where you would make decisions during a story that would affect the ending. Over time, and through multiple different classes, different ideas altered what that project would become. It wasn’t until a meeting with Josh Fishburn that I found a program called ARIS and through that, I was able to create a living, breathing story that took place on campus.

So why am I saying all this? For me, the project wasn’t the result of sitting in a room, staring at the wall, and brainstorming. It was the combination of years of tiny inspirations from dozens of professors, classmates, and lessons. I was lucky enough to have the smallest seed of an idea that germinated over the course of my college career at TCNJ, but I understand that not everyone will have that. In the end, it’s about keeping an open mind and finding something you want to do, even if it starts from the smallest idea.

What about criticism? — One of the most useful tools in any creative’s toolbox is criticism. If you aren’t good at accepting both positive and negative feedback, you’re going to struggle to create a worthwhile project. Find people you trust; professors, students, family, colleagues, whoever. Ask them for HONEST opinions and take them to heart because if something doesn’t work, there’s a reason. Figure it out and fix it. On the other hand, if something does work, then you know you’re on the right track. Both types of feedback are incredibly important because you’re not just creating something for yourself, you’re creating something for those around you.

Motivation— One of the biggest struggles for me throughout the year was motivation. Having worked on numerous versions of my project on more than one occasion, having the motivation to continue the work was growing more difficult everyday. Like I mentioned earlier, finding something you want to do is key. If you’re only creating a portfolio piece or working on someone else’s project, it’s going to drag heavily on you. Thesis is about showcasing your talents, yes, but it’s also about showing off your passion. If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, you’re not going to care as much. If you can come up with a project you’re happy to work on and want to see through to the end, it will be that much greater.

Old skills or new ideas? — IMM majors are often the “jack of all trades” knowing a decent amount about a lot of different topics. There’s a reason, of course, but coming up with a project that is both challenging and exciting can be difficult. You want to find that balance between using your existing knowledge and having to learn something new. If you choose a project that is entirely within your wheelhouse, you might lose interest quickly, but if you choose something that is new and exciting, that project becomes something worth pursuing. The beautiful thing about IMM is that there is always another route to take, another path to finding a desired end result. A storyteller could find inspiration in the real world, only to take that reality and digitize it. An animator could find new excitement in 3D printing, allowing their imagination to find life in the physical world. IMM at its core grants endless possibilities, you just have to find the right balance of known and unknown.

Work habits— If there’s one thing I’ve noticed during my few years in the IMM program, it’s that everyone single one of us has a different process. Some people like to plan things out and are incredibly organized, others take it one day at a time, you have to know what’s right for you. I think that by now, as a senior, you should know what works best for you. If you know how you work and that works, stick with it, seriously. BUT, the best possible advice I can give is if you need help, ask for it. IF YOU NEED HELP, ASK FOR IT.

Resources — You will need resources. Whether those resources are people, tech, training, or anything else, you will need something. You might not know what that is and that’s okay. The further along into the project you get, the clearer it will become and that’s why it helps to have an idea as early as possible. Though you may not like it, this is where the research aspect comes in. Researching similar projects or the technology you know you’ll use will help uncover future problems. The more you research, the more you’ll know about what you might need. And don’t forget, if you need help, ask for it.

The future— Here’s where my knowledge and advice really start to diminish. I don’t know what I’m going to do after graduation. I have ideas, I have dreams, but I still don’t know. The only real advice I can give is to be confident in your abilities and just keep swimming.

For those who never got the chance to see my project “Discover: TCNJ” you can find instructions on how to download and play it below. Unfortunately it is iOS only due to application limitations.

How to play:

1. On an iOS device, download the app called “ARIS” from the app store
2. Once downloaded, open the app
3. Tap on the faded QR symbol on your screen (similar to the symbol below)
4. The camera will turn on. Aim it at the QR symbol below this post.
5. The camera will then change. Take a photo of yourself.
6. Tap the “Use Photo” button at the bottom of your screen
7. Type in a name for yourself and hit return/enter, then the save button.
8. The game should load up. If you aren’t already on TCNJ’s campus, use the map to locate the campus. To do this most effectively, zoom out until you see a symbol for “Professor Lowe” and then zoom back in on that symbol.
9. To start the game, tap on the “Professor Lowe” symbol, then the view button. The rest is explained in game.

NOTE: Normally, this game must be played on TCNJ’s campus due to the GPS restrictions, but that functionality has been turned off so that the game can be accessed and played anywhere.