Abstract:
The world of design has evolved, along with technology, from the days of print
advertising to the digital world of websites and mobile apps. The Internet has created a
greenfield environment with new design disciplines and new channels to collaborate and
interact with other designers. However, the availability of information and design
communities have failed to evolve to fit the needs of designers. In an effort to create a
community of designers, for designers, this thesis takes a research approach to
understanding the needs of designers in order to build a community for that promotes
creative growth through education, face-to-face interactions, a positive environment, and
a trusted space where designers can come together to share knowledge and experience
and help one another. This community is called Pica.
