Compassion By Design
Supporting the Journey
of Grief
Compassion by Design: Supporting the Journey of Grief is my senior thesis project, an exploration of how creativity can support people through grief. My research question asks: How might we help first-time mourners process their emotions of grief in ways that feel meaningful? This project is about giving people space, tools, and gentle encouragement to process whatever they feel, and to remind them that they’re not alone.
Through conversations with people who have experienced loss and those who support them, I began to see how design can create understanding around something often left unspoken. I drew inspiration from Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor’s research on how grieving changes the brain shows that healing takes time and looks different for everyone.
I wanted to explore how visual storytelling can create small moments of connection and comfort for those moving through loss.
The project currently includes creative pieces that come together to tell a shared story:
Video interviews that share personal stories of loss and connection.
A workbook that encourages reflection through writing, drawing, and remembering.
Each piece connects through QR codes, linking private reflection with shared storytelling.
Grief can feel isolating, especially the first time you experience it. Through this work, I hope to create space for people to slow down, express what they feel, and know that their experiences matter. Grief doesn’t have a timeline or a single shape; it’s personal and deeply human. Compassion by Design is about building community around loss and finding small moments of light, connection, and even joy in the process of healing.
You can view the video interviews below.
Workbook coming soon.
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Premiere Pro
Indesign
Illustrator