Ornament and Design

This thesis investigates ornament as a dynamic design element, tracing its evolution from the Latin ornare to its contested status in modern design. Often dismissed as mere decoration, ornament reflects cultural narratives, societal values, and labor dynamics. Using Adolf Loos’ 1908 essay "Ornament and Crime" as a critical starting point, the research unpacks modernist biases and reevaluates ornament's communicative potential across architecture, jewelry, self-adornment, and digital media. Framed through past, present, and future lenses, it challenges utilitarian definitions of function, emphasizing ornament’s aesthetic and rhetorical roles in shaping meaning within both physical and digital design contexts. Following a long tradition of the study of material objects, this thesis celebrates ornament as a dynamic and transformative element in design, bridging historical roots with modern narratives.

The book is a final compilation of 1.5 years of in-depth research and writing, visual research, and my own design work.

Design and layout: Abby Lee
Typefaces: ABC Diatype, Louize, Adobe Caslon Pro (glyphs), Zallman Caps (drop caps)
Paper: Mohawk Superfine Eggshell White, 80lb
Printed at GSB Digital in Long Island City, NY

An overview of the thesis project can be found here, and the full PDF of the book can be viewed here.

Abby is a graphic designer and artist, currently based in New York, with particular interests in branding & identities, web design, editorial, and experiential design.

Pratt Institute Communications Design MFA Thesis Book

Pratt Institute
Communications Design MFA Thesis Book