Designing Distinction: The Search of Identity in American Suburban Landscapes

MS Packaging, Identities and Systems Design, ’25

Three images display a person interacting with an open book. The left image shows a hand holding a page with abstract black patterns, set against a corrugated background. The center image features a person sitting and reading a page titled "SUBURBAN LANDSCAPE IDENTITY," while the right image shows another hand holding a book displaying bold text pages. All images emphasize the design and content of the book.

Course: DES-695 Capstone Project

The legacy of suburbia has evolved. Factors like car dependency and the loss of walkability, the rise of the “1-minute city,” corporate branding over the landscape, the lack of spontaneous personal interaction, and the shift toward a digital world accelerated by the pandemic have transformed suburban areas into isolated, comfortable, yet disconnected bubbles. Therefore, this project delves into the apparent homogeneity of American suburbs with the aim of identifying local distinctiveness to cultivate placemaking.