Systems Design Integration: Blurring Boundaries

Written by: Emma Prushan, VCD, ’25

“The food scene in Philadelphia goes well beyond the cheesesteak and soft pretzel…Philadelphia has long been a melting pot of vibrant cultures and flavors. Today, the ever-changing population and cosmopolitan diners all but guarantee the success of mom-and-pop eateries celebrating every part of the globe. Neighborhoods from South Philly, including the easily-accessible South 9th Street Italian Market, West Philadelphia’s Baltimore Avenue, Center City’s Chinatown and Northeast Philadelphia offer Indonesian, Vietnamese, Mexican, Ethiopian, Indian, Korean, Senegalese, Szechuan, Afghan and Malaysian cuisine.”

In our senior-level course, System Design Integration, students work on two large- scale projects. For their second project, VCD students were paired with Interior Design students in order to research, conceptualize, and design a comprehensive and cohesive design system for an assigned restaurant that represents a unique cuisine. Their design system aimed to harmoniously communicate the essence of the assigned cuisine, immersing customers in an authentic and memorable dining experience through both graphic and interior touchpoints.

Emma Maddaluna ‘24 – Suya Suya

For this project Emma Maddaluna (Visual Communication Design ‘24)  chose West Africa, which was then narrowed down to focus on Nigeria. The restaurant Suya Suya, named after traditional street food, is an experience for the customer as they are able to connect with aspects of Nigeria and experience their traditional food.

Nicole Mambuscay ‘24 and Erika Sheehan ‘24 – Parada Maimon

Nicole Mambuscay (Visual Communication Design ‘24) and Erika Sheehan (Visual Communication Design ‘24) aimed to transform Parada Maimon, an established Dominican restaurant, by seamlessly integrating graphic design and interior design with their group. They were faced with the challenge of redesigning this space while capturing the rich essence of Dominican culture. Nicole and Erika’s solution involves a harmonious collaboration with interior designers based on the theme of dance and movement. Through strategic visual elements they sought to blur conventional boundaries, creating an immersive dining experience that is lively and pays homage to its heritage. This approach blends the traditional with contemporary, immersing the customers in the essence of Dominican culture. The project provides Parada Maimon with a distinctive identity that resonates with the vibrance of the culture and the importance of dance and celebration in the Dominican Republic.