Artist Biography
Mikayla Messier is graduating from Endicott College in Spring 2025 with a B.F.A. in Interior Architecture. During the past four years, she’s earned her spot on the Dean’s list, completed four meaningful internships, experienced a life-changing semester abroad, and has continued to grow in her passion for all things art and design. While studying in Florence, Italy, she gained a newfound interest in gardening and healthy living through a horticulture class that taught the benefits of community gardens, green living, and spending time in nature. This exploration fueled the topic of her thesis on sustainability education and the innate connection humans have with their environment. Her dream is to continue designing and living by the beach and pursue her NCIDQ certification.
Thesis Abstract
One Earth Discovery is an immersive learning experience that is designed to promote sustainability through hands-on learning, introspective exploration, and community engagement. In a time when climate change is on the rise, pollution-related illnesses are prevalent, environmental injustice continues to target marginalized communities, and protective environmental policies are under threat, the need for accessible sustainability education has never been more urgent and relevant. Using design theories such as biophilic design, place attachment, attention restoration theory, and environmental stress theory, One Earth Discovery allows visitors to reconnect with their environment, understand their role in protecting it, and become empowered to support pro-environmental living and policies. Workshops such as Know Your Waste, Climate Change Calculator, and Mind Garden encourage visitors to explore important environmental topics in a personal and engaging way. We only have one Earth, it’s time we act like it.