My MFA thesis explores how to create a greater sense of connection over consumerism in how adults (especially non-parents) gift to kids.

What are the hopes and goals embedded in adult-child gifting dyads, and how might we better achieve them?

About Me

Tao Tao Holmes is a design strategist, writer, and artist. She is the co-founder and head of strategy at Lunch Special, a creative studio specializing in brand identity and content design for start-ups, non-profits, and small businesses.

She also serves as a senior copywriter and creative strategist for Atlas Obscura, where she formerly held the position of Director of Trip Design and Operations. She loves writing, illustrating, and designing for kids—when she’s not hiking, hockey skating, or making elaborate birthday gifts.

**Resume | Website | LinkedIn**

Thesis Advisor: Pierre Alexandre de Looz

Key Term Glossary

• My thesis lexicon

Thesis Blog

• View topics

Acknowledgements

• It takes a village—this was mine.

Final Presentation

Coming up: May 7th at SVA Theater!

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“We don’t have an understanding for a lot of these things, the things you’re interested in.”

— Michelle Weinberger, PhD Associate Professor, Consumer Insight The Medill School at Northwestern

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Early Provotype

Bunky: Exploring attention as a gift

At the outset of our thesis journeys, we were invited to explore a question through the creation of a provotype.

I pondered the question: How might we give the gift of attention?

Service Design: Pencil Pals

In progress

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“Gifting has largely been my relationship with my nieces and nephews.

I’m quite desperate to let them know I care about them and still be somewhat relevant in their lives.”

– Chay Costello Mother, Sister, Aunt | Associate Director of Merchandising, MoMA

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Experience Design: Pencil Pals Drawing Pop-Up

In progress