https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/132613 2026-07-20T23:42:41Z 2026-07-20T23:42:41Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148118 2026-07-20T07:06:36Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Greenwashing : awareness and perception of responsibility among graphic designers Abstract: This thesis explores the awareness and sense of responsibility of creative communication agency leaders regarding greenwashing. Greenwashing is a misleading communication practice that abuses consumers’ growing concern for sustainability, leading to growing mistrust of consumers around truly sustainable products and slowing down the sustainability movement. While the legal responsibility lies with the client commissioning the misleading visuals, graphic designers and other creatives function as the mediator between the client and the consumer, thereby carrying out the practical work. This thesis uses a qualitative approach to explore the awareness of four Maltese creative communication agencies’ leaders around greenwashing and to explore their potential responsibility as communicators. The study draws its importance from the 2024 introduced ‘Green Transition Directive’ (EU 2024/825) that turns a moral consideration for graphic designers into a legal wrong. Firstly, the interviews revealed that “greenwashing” can easily be mixed up with other issues within the wider domain of sustainability in designers’ minds. Another finding is that a potential lack of sense of responsibility among creatives may be explained by the belief that individual action does not have a sufficient impact to tackle those problems. Since lawmakers and companies are perceived as more powerful, some interviewees attribute the main responsibility for introducing positive environmental change to these parties. All agencies interviewed have principles for the selection of their clients and declined clients for ethical reasons. Being able to be selective and act ethically also depends on the establishment of an agency. At the beginning of one’s career, however, there can be the temptation to overlook design ethics in an effort to establish professional acumen and market exposure. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147395 2026-06-15T08:43:48Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Communication through a combination of art and poetry Abstract: This project dissertation investigates how the combination of visual art and poetry can enhance communication and emotional expression. Motivated by my personal passion for both painting and writing, the research aims to demonstrate that pairing these two artistic forms creates a powerful and clear communicative experience. The study begins with a literature review that examines the dynamic relationship between poetry and visual art, including the psychological and cognitive effects of imagery, colour, and nonverbal cues. It explores the concept of ekphrastic poetry – where poets respond to visual art – and the narrative power of illustration, drawing on works by key scholars and examples from notable artists and poets. The practical component consists of a creative project: a book pairing original paintings with thematically linked poems, reflecting personal experiences and emotions. This is supplemented by interviews with local artists working at the intersection of art and poetry, whose insights enrich the understanding of the creative process. A reflective journal documents the evolution of the project, detailing inspirations, techniques, and challenges encountered. Findings from the research and inferences of the project suggest that the interplay between visual and verbal media deepens audience engagement, clarifies meaning, and evokes stronger emotional responses. The dissertation concludes that integrating art and poetry not only enhances the communicative power of each medium but also fosters richer, more immersive experiences for both creator and viewer. This project-led inquiry highlights the value of interdisciplinary approaches in contemporary artistic expression. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147394 2026-06-15T08:41:27Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Framing FoMO : exploring FoMO amongst generation Z through portraiture Abstract: This dissertation explores the impact of the Fear of Missing Out [FoMO] on Generation Z’s mental health, social connections, self-perception, self-esteem, and overall well-being. This study looks at how portraiture photography can be used to convey such FoMO phenomenon, highlighting the importance of photography as a powerful visual medium. By combining survey research with photography, this study reveals common FoMO triggers and experiences of Generation Z, as well as how this is sometimes linked to social media. The findings suggest that FoMO significantly affects the mental well-being of this generation and influences their social interactions and self-image. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147393 2026-06-15T08:36:54Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring racial bias through the goblin race in Baldur’s Gate 3 Abstract: The idea of homogenous races that incorporate traits from real groups of people and portrays them negatively to audiences is one that has occurred in several media before this such as The Hobbit or Harry Potter. However, in the video game Baldur’s Gate 3, there is conflicting messaging when the game makes attempts to acknowledge racial issues and yet still chooses to have goblins be a unified race with the same negative beliefs and attitudes. A semiotic and textual analysis was held to analyse the goblin race, using the relevant literature related to race and the fantasy genre as a basis. This was done to form a connection between the handling of the race and the wider racial issues that have become standard within the fantasy genre. In doing so, it became evident that the perceptions held about goblins are ones that reflect western colonialist perspectives held about minority racial groups, considered to be a racial “Other”. There is a level of importance to bringing about discussions and criticism to these issues. Despite goblins being a fantasy race, the messages passed through them can still influence players. Calling attention to this allows for more mindful approaches to the subject of race and prevents further spreading of harmful racial ideologies that can then harm real people. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z