Artist Biography
Ava Akatyszewski is a senior at Endicott College studying Interior Architecture. She is a Kappa Pi Honors Society member at the VPAC and has been on the Dean’s List since freshman year. Ava is a part of Alliance and Graphic Design Clubs on campus where she participates in improving her skills and promoting inclusivity. Ava’s thesis has also been nominated for the Thesis Exhibition on May 5th to present her final thesis project, Tea X Three Wellness Cafe. She is excited to graduate and tackle what design challenges come to her in the design field. When Ava is not working on schoolwork, she finds herself exploring the local area with her friends, going to the beach, making art, or reading books.
Thesis Abstract
Can college cafes be reimagined to improve mental health among college students while promoting community & belonging within college campuses in a post-pandemic society?
During the pandemic, the rate of mental health among college students increased with over 62% of students developing a form of anxiety as well as burnout, fatigue, depression, and an increase in cases of suicide within college campuses. However, during the pandemic, cafes thrived in providing a space for their users by making them feel comfortable and offering them a space to work away from home. By reimagining the design of college cafes, college communities can improve the mental well-being of students and reestablish community in the aftermath of the pandemic through the design of focus spaces, healthy food markets, and the inclusion of wellness activities.