Open Up
About Death

Project Goal:

For my senior capstone project, I aimed to start an open conversation about death among college students. Growing up with a mortician as a father, death was a regular topic in my household, but I realized that most people shy away from discussing it. The goal was to normalize these difficult conversations, making it easier to address decisions about death before they become inevitable, and to encourage students to reflect on their own comfort with the subject.

Outcome:

The project successfully sparked conversation and self-reflection around death. Through illustrated greeting cards and an interactive art exhibit featuring a cemetery gate, I encouraged viewers to engage with the question, “Why do or don’t you feel comfortable talking about death?” Writing their responses on the window allowed for personal reflection and created a space for others to join the discussion. The exhibit prompted many to confront their discomfort with the topic and, ultimately, started an important dialogue that made the subject of death less intimidating and more open for discussion.

Deliverables: