Lucas
Lucas does not like to do work in his room, describing his dorm as his “home base” to recharge and “regulate during stress.” His view of the dorm as a “home base” for recharging underscores the importance of the dorm as a retreat from the demands of campus life. Furthermore, the decor reflects practical considerations; cleaning supplies, books, and clothes are functional, serving as essential components of his daily life (fig. 2 and 4).
Lucas endeavored to create a “visually pleasing” and relaxing space, using Pinterest as inspiration for collage-style wall-decor. Given that he was in a triple occupancy dorm freshman year, he wanted his single dorm to reflect his interests and be aesthetically pleasing to him. “I chose images that I would find grounding,” he says. “A lot of my posters, especially the one above my desk, are the color green. This dark shade of green, it’s very placid. It reminds me of the dark green trees back home in Virginia. It’s calming.” (fig. 1). He also has his Wesleyan pennant hung on this wall, reflecting his identity as a student, as well as a poster with myths about the police given to him by a friend (fig. 1). He finds this poster important, reflecting his commitment to social justice, as well as sentimental, given that it was a gift.
Lucas wanted to create a collage of things that remind him of home above his bed. He included pictures with his family and art from the Museum of Modern Art gifted to him by his sister. Other items hanging above his bed include a collage made by a friend, postcards, his writing tutor tag from high school, and a poster for a production of “Spring Awakening” that he worked on. These items are arranged in a “collage-style” that is popular on “aesthetic” sites like Tumblr and Pinterest. The practice of arranging items in this way reflects a broader trend in youth styling practices in which “careful clutter” is an aesthetic in of itself. The choices in items make the “aesthetic” elements deeply personal. By surrounding himself with reminders of home, family, and personal experiences, Lucas imbues the dorm with a sense of warmth and familiarity, transforming it into a personalized sanctuary that reflects his unique identity and values.
His fridge is similarly decorated with items that remind him of friends and family (fig. 3). The fridge has a picture of the members of Notably Sharp, his acapella group. Additionally, the fridge is littered with Shakespearean magnets that can be arranged into poems or stories. The magnets, given to him by a friend, are a fun interactive activity for those who visit the dorm. Lucas' design choices are not just personal to him, but meant to engage visitors.
