Gratitude Magma
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Gratitude Magma — Yellowstone is a visual research and design project that investigates how intangible emotional states can be translated into formal visual language. By studying hydrothermal systems and calderas, I developed a metaphorical framework that connects natural transformation with human gratitude. The project resulted in a system of abstract, gradient-based compositions that communicate depth, accumulation, and emotional warmth through color, texture, and movement.
Recognized by the United States International Poster Biennial (USIPB) among 11,845 submissions from 93 countries, my work was selected as one of only three award-winning posters representing the United States.
Role: Lead Designer
Technique: Digital/Print
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Design Challenge: How might we visually represent gratitude (a slow, layered, and often invisible emotion) in a way that feels powerful rather than sentimental?
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Scientific research on volcanic calderas revealed a parallel between geological accumulation and emotional experience: both are gradual, powerful, and often hidden beneath the surface.
1. Scientific Research
Yellowstone’s magma chambers (granitic vs. basaltic magma)
Chemical reactions responsible for caldera color variation
Slow pressure buildup versus catastrophic eruption narratives
2. Visual & Emotional Moodboarding
Organic color gradients inspired by geothermal pools
Soft diffusion and glow to suggest warmth and emotional release
The moodboard allowed me to translate science into emotional language: How does magma feel, not just how does it look?
3. Conceptual Metaphor Development
I developed the narrative of gratitude as magma:
Built slowly
Invisible at first
Powerful but not destructive
Transformational when released
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I led the project toward abstraction to ensure the work communicated emotion. Through iterative experimentation with color, texture, and gradients, I developed a visual system that mirrors the movement of magma: slow, radiant, and transformative.
Design System
Typographic Concept
Gradient Color System
Production Testing
RESULT:
From 11,845 submissions across 93 countries, my poster was selected as one of only three award-winning works representing the United States at the United States International Poster Biennial (USIPB).
This project reinforced my belief that analogies and abstract visual systems can powerfully communicate emotional experiences. Technically, it also pushed me into new territory: this was my first time working extensively with large-scale gradients. I tested color transitions on an Epson printer to ensure smooth blending, vibrancy, and print fidelity.
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I see this project as the start of a series. I would love to expand this project to other national parks, using each landscape’s natural systems as emotional metaphors for different inner states. I am also interested in exploring motion or video as a way to visualize how gratitude slowly builds and then radiates outward over time.
Exhibition
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Missouri State University
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@isucollegeofdesign - Ames, Iowa, USA
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@isucollegeofdesign - Ames, Iowa, USA
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@isucollegeofdesign - Ames, Iowa, USA
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@isucollegeofdesign - Ames, Iowa
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Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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University of Arkansas - School of Art
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University of Arkansas - School of Art
