Aoife Murphy
Train of Thought is an app and campaign promoting the value of playful creative thinking, aimed primarily at commuters. The app uses short daily prompts, derived from design thinking frameworks, to encourage making creativity a part of your routine. This project is in partnership with Irish Transport and offers discounts on public transport for engagement with the platform.
Train of Thought challenges the idea that creativity is about having artistic skills. It reframes creativity as a skill that can be learned through curiosity and practice. By replacing scrolling on commutes with low-pressure creative exercises, Train of Thought aims to build creative confidence and make creativity feel more accessible and enjoyable in everyday life.
This thesis examines how the renowned music streaming service, Spotify, influences music taste, disciplines performative behaviour and turns the practice of listening into a visual and social spectacle. This argument utilises Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of taste, habitus, and cultural capital; Marshall McLuhan’s insights into media; Erving Goffman’s theory of performance; Michel Foucault’s work on surveillance and discipline; Guy Debord’s theories on spectacle; and Jean Baudrillard’s work on simulation and hyperreality. Parallels are drawn between these ideas and Spotify’s algorithms, interface and campaigns, with a particular focus on Spotify Wrapped, to explain how listening to music has transformed from a private act of enjoyment to a visual, public-facing performance.
Hello! My name is Aoife, and I’m a designer originally from Wexford. I am particularly interested in editorial design, branding and web design, but I’m always up for trying something new. I love a challenge, and creative problem-solving is where I thrive. During my time at IADT, I had the opportunity to study abroad on Erasmus in Mainz, Germany, where I broadened my design education and connected with designers from all around the world. My work was also selected as the brand identity for RIAM’s double-bill opera, El Gato con Botas & L’Enfant et les Sortilèges. Seeing my designs come to life was an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m excited for more opportunities like this in the future.
