Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts is excited to announce the finalists who will represent the college in this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.
Jaden O’Berry is a third-year M.F.A. candidate in lighting design, graduating in May. Their work explores the intersection of light, space, and storytelling, with a particular focus on how lighting shapes audience perception and theatrical meaning. Passionate about both theory and craft, O’Berry’s research engages with historical and technological influences on lighting design, while their designs bring dynamic, emotionally resonant environments to the stage.
“Designing Identity: Merging Broadway Glamour and LGBTQIA+ Identity Through Lighting Design” explores how lighting serves as a storytelling tool in The Prom, a musical written by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin. By contrasting the glitzy spectacle of Broadway with the restrained realism of small-town Indiana, the design highlights themes of queer visibility, self-expression, and transformation. Through color, texture, and movement, the lighting visually reinforces the characters’ journeys, culminating in a vibrant celebration of queer identity and authenticity.
Emmanuella Adaugo Oku is a final-year graduate student, set to earn a Master of Science in Creative Technologies in May. Her work bridges theory, design, and the practical applications of computer technology to address user experience challenges with a particular focus on the neurodivergent community.
“The Role of Soft Technology and Artifacts in Enhancing Focus and Calmness in Adults with Mild ADHD and Social Anxiety: A User-Centered Design Approach” explores how active attention objects embedded with technologies like LEDs can enhance focus and promote calmness for individuals with inattentive ADHD, particularly in classroom settings.
As she prepares to graduate, Oku is dedicated to further developing technologies that support individuals with inattentive ADHD through user experience research and digital media applications.
O’Berry and Oku’s research will be presented during the 3MT competition on Thursday, February 27, at 6 p.m., at the Normal Theater in Uptown Normal.
The Three Minute Thesis Competition is a competition that challenges master’s and Ph.D. students to describe their research topic and its significance in under three minutes to a general audience. Students are evaluated on their presentations by judges who decide on a first and second prize, but also by audience members who vote for a people’s choice award.
