MFA Thesis by Dassie Jin

This thesis introduces a series of wearable designs that support individuals managing anxiety and body-focused repetitive behaviors. It explores the intersection of psychology, design, and jewelry to create tools for emotional regulation. Grounded in psychological research and guided by Don Norman’s emotional design theory, the collection incorporates multisensory engagement—including texture, sound, scent, and visual elements. These features operate across three emotional levels: visceral, behavioral, and reflective. Drawing from therapeutic techniques such as habit reversal training, decoupling, and sensory grounding techniques, the designs aim to translate therapeutic strategies into wearable, accessible forms. The final collection consists of four handcrafted pieces: a necklace that engages scent and tactile interaction; a cuff that produces calming sounds through movement; a bracelet with a double-sided pendant for scent and fidgeting; and a ring with interchangeable trinkets for tactile engagement. Through iterative prototyping, material experimentation, and user feedback, the Sensory Jewelry Collection demonstrates how jewelry can function as both expressive adornment and a discrete emotion regulation tool. By offering playful, calming sensory experiences, the collection provides an approachable and aesthetically integrated method for managing anxiety and body-focused repetitive behaviors in everyday life.