Students
Students come to the Parsons MS SDM program from all over the world. Their experience combines studios, seminars, networking, events, symposia, and more. This page will inform you about student projects like First Year Studio and Second Year Studio, student resources, and other opportunities.
Unity-Next 2024
While embracing the hybrid-work model, employees are experiencing disorientation and disconnection, and companies consequently face challenges in sustaining organizational culture, driving huge costs in talent management. Our product, Unity-Next, is a B2B SaaS(plug-in) application that aims to enhance distributed team collaboration and build a stronger team culture in a hybrid work context. It offers a virtual gamified scenario and incentive system for distributed teams to have continuous interaction with their colleagues, as they grow themselves, contribute, and harvest in their flourishing company garden. Our product has been through four rounds of iteration, and finally achieved over 65% satisfaction rate in…
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FloodBits 2024
Addressing the urgent challenge of inland flooding in NYC, FloodBits offers digital toolkits for residents and businesses in low-lying areas. By streamlining access to city services and fostering community intelligence, FloodBits empowers individuals and their communities to mitigate flood impacts effectively. Through user-friendly iOS Shortcuts, the toolkits provide one-tap resources, making them actionable and reducing technological barriers in urgent situations. FloodBits aims to cultivate proactive preparedness and community collaboration, fortifying resilience against climate-related challenges. Studio Instructors Cindy Hsiao Designers Wasim Abbas, Dinky Asrani
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Made to Fade 2024
Product packaging serves as a means to an end, rather than the intended product itself. However, in 2018, containers and packaging accounted for a staggering 28.1 percent of municipal solid waste in the United States, according to the EPA. Bio-based materials have offered hope in reducing reliance on traditional plastics and lessening packaging-related environmental impact. However, many of the compostable plastics available in the market today behave similarly to conventional plastics in uncontrolled environments and require handling in industrial composting sites for proper treatment. Otherwise, their purpose is defeated. The harsh reality is that there is currently insufficient infrastructure to…
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Hear Me Out 2024
Everybody feels alone sometimes, but they do not know that others feel too. The epidemic of loneliness and isolation presents a profound public health crisis, often overlooked yet with far-reaching consequences for individual and societal well-being. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy emphasizes the vital role of relationships in fostering healing and overall health, noting their significance in promoting healthier, more fulfilled lives. Hear Me Out is an innovative app designed to address the pervasive issue of social isolation and promote mental well-being through the transformative power of music and shared emotions. At its core, Hear Me Out aims to…
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Breaking Echoes 2024
The unchecked prevalence of bias in rhetoric has led to the rise of polarization, demagoguery and the consequent violation of human rights. An unbiased state cannot be created. However, the second best strategy for maintaining empathy, is to be aware of as many biases as possible without getting so overwhelmed that you lose interest in learning. Abridge is a cutting edge news platform that is designed to break through the noise around yperp-ersonalized echo chambers online, and give you an insight into your biases. Studio Instructors Cindy Hsiao Designers Rishi Shankar, Shefali Dhar
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Wishful thrift: making circular fashion easy 2024
Wishful Thrift is a hyper-local Peer-2-Peer fashion re-selling platform designed to revolutionize second-hand shopping and promote sustainability in the fashion industry. Our research uncovered a significant intention-action gap among consumers regarding sustainable fashion, with convenience emerging as a primary barrier to thrifting adoption. To address these challenges, we developed an innovative approach that makes thrifting as easy as buying new garments. Through our app, users can post images of specific items they’re seeking, transforming the search process into a curated experience. By leveraging advanced algorithms, we match seekers with sellers offering their ideal finds, reducing the barriers of time constraints…
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BloomCommons: Expanding Access to Housing for NYC’s Most At Risk Residents 2024
Every night in NYC, there are 127,000 homeless individuals– 24,000 of which are single adults in shelter, and 4,000 more individuals are unsheltered. In an environment where migration has reached record highs, housing supply has reached record lows, and the Supreme Court is hearing a case that could criminalize unsheltered homelessness, the need for innovative housing solutions has never been more urgent. In addition, NYC doesn’t have enough resources to meet the demand. BloomCommons is a rapidly deployable, temporary, and circular housing model that helps people who are experiencing homelessness find supportive housing by eliminating communal living and qualification requirements,…
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Gemma: Empowering young women through financial wellness 2024
Our project, Gemma, represents a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the critical need for financial wellness among Gen Z and Millennial women. As the first of its kind, Gemma stands out in the market by offering a holistic approach to financial literacy that goes beyond traditional concepts and numbers. Our research has highlighted the multifaceted nature of financial literacy, revealing that it requires more than just understanding financial concepts—it demands a comprehensive understanding of users’ needs and challenges. We recognize that financial literacy is intertwined with broader issues such as mental health and societal norms, necessitating a holistic approach that…
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CO:Design & Strategy 2024
Problems: In Japan, severe problems including a declining population, aging society, strict social norms/groupthink and a language barrier impact small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) negatively through revenue decrease, talent and workforce decrease, lack of diverse perspectives and global market information barriers. These problems make it difficult for Japanese SMEs to expand their businesses abroad to increase their revenue while preserving their cultures and technologies. Through our research, we found that tailored and accessible support for SMEs is overlooked and underserved. Solution: CO:Design & Strategy aims to solve these issues by partnering with international SMEs to expose their products to…
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IZZI- Your airport commute assistant 2024
Izzi: Empowering Occasional Travelers in Airports Research and Strategy: The research identified the anxiety occasional travelers experience navigating unfamiliar airports during their commute and trips. Existing apps focus on information overload, not user empathy. Innovation/Opportunity: Izzi bridges the gap by providing contextual information, actionable insights, and a user-friendly experience. It makes travelers feel informed and confident Project Purpose and Solution: Your commute assistant ensures a smooth journey to the airport by managing luggage, tracking documents & trips, & offering airport insights for stress-free travel. It keeps you informed about “that” next step of your journey, ensuring your comfort throughout the…
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