Martin Flores Thesis Project Explores Liminality Through Immersive Graphic Design Installation

Recent design graduate Martin Flores presented a thesis project that investigates the concept of liminality through graphic design. The work translates this abstract psychological state into a physical experience. Flores created an exhibition where visitors initially encountered informational displays about liminality in a gallery setting. Participants then followed a map to discover a concealed stairwell that had been transformed into an immersive environment. This secondary space featured walls covered with various posters and flyers addressing different facets of transitional experiences, blending humorous and philosophical perspectives. The installation aimed to evoke the disorientation and mixed emotions characteristic of being in an in-between state. By utilizing a hidden location separate from the main gallery, the design intentionally fostered a sense of displacement. The project demonstrates how graphic design can move beyond visual communication to create interactive experiences that engage with complex emotional and psychological themes. It serves as an example of design's capacity to make intangible concepts tangible and to shape human understanding of transitional life phases. The work encourages designers to consider emotional and experiential outcomes alongside aesthetic considerations.