Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Capstone Project

First Advisor

Dustin Altschul

Second Advisor

Kimberly Buchholz

Abstract

Airports serve as the first and last impression of a city, yet they are often remembered by stress, sensory overload, and a lack of cultural representation. This project explores how storytelling can be intentionally integrated into airport design to improve the overall human experience and create a more meaningful sense of welcome. Through the frameworks of user-centered inquiry, phenomenology, and narrative design, this research examines how materials, spatial sequences, sensory cues, and cultural narratives can influence traveler emotions, cognitive clarity, and feelings of belonging. By understanding how people move through and interpret transitional public spaces, this project proposes design strategies that shift airports from functional transport hubs to immersive, story-rich environments that support comfort, orientation, and emotional well-being.

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