Undergraduate Research
Amanda Edwards
Silhouette of a Digital Archivist
Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems are an administrative software tool, predominately used by established enterprises and knowledge institutions to organize, manage and provide meaning to their digital content. Key features of this software include streamlined hierarchy structures, customizable metadata lists, and machine-generated insights, offering its corporate users an unparalleled overview of their visual operations and distinctive habits. The incisive benefits derived from these customizable systems extend far beyond their current user base, which is largely dependent on stature and financial ability. Furthermore, no such service is accessible on-demand, nor for individual use on a non-commercial level. Geared towards public interests are a number of user-directed visual discovery platforms – intended for curating and organizing inspiration through image-based research (Pinterest, Are.na, Sublime, Silk) – however, the inherent emphasis towards envisioning one’s aspirations instead of actualizations, may elicit varying degrees of cognitive dissonance in users. These factors, coupled with the digitally-induced phenomenon of content fatigue and subsequent desire for more meaningful, human-centred spaces online, led to the following research inquiry: how can the fundamental structure of a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system be adapted for contemporary use as a visual tool for habitual self-reflection? Through the interpretive analysis of data collected from self-ascribed digital archivists, in addition to the comparative assessment of select consumer-level platforms, these elements form the conceptual foundation for a DAM-inspired multimedia platform that hosts and sub-contextual user-produced content.
Sierra Seton
Implementing Digital Product Passports: A Shift Towards a Circular Economy in the Textile Industry
In the era of increased visibility into unsustainable product life cycles, demands for transparency and more sustainable practices have grown across various industries. The textile industry is an example of an industry significantly impacted by increased visibility and demand for change, as it contributes substantially to landfill waste, water consumption, and energy consumption. This paper examines the European Union’s Digital Product Passport requirement as part of its new "Circular Economy Action Plan” to increase sustainability through transparency in the product supply chain, and how this is a crucial step in the push to a circular economy, especially when it comes to textiles. This legislation increases transparency by requiring companies producing goods within the EU to have Digital Product Passports attached physically to their products as of 2027. These passports will be accessible to consumers, companies, and governments throughout the supply chain via data carriers such as QR codes that will be on each product and will contain information on the materials used, as well as best practices to prolong the life of each product and how to recycle or properly dispose of it. This transparency enables more informed decision-making by consumers when it comes to purchasing, using, and disposing of products and supports the transition to a circular economy. However, a major challenge in implementing this tool is the need for systems to collect and store the data, which can then be presented to consumers, companies in the supply chain, and governmental bodies. Digital Asset Management systems are an example of a tool that can be used to manage this data. This paper examines Frontier, a specialized Digital Asset Management (DAM) Software used in the textile industry, as a case study to show how DAM can be utilized to manage the data required to create a digital product passport.
Tess Alfonso
Evaluating the Quality of Colour Description in Alt Text for Assistive Technology Users in DAM Workflows
Alt text is essential for digital accessibility, yet variations in the quality of colour descriptions within DAM-managed environments may influence how assistive technologies convey visual information. While accessibility standards require the inclusion of alt text to describe visual content, the presence of a structured metadata field does not ensure clarity or effective communication. In many digital platforms, including e-commerce, branding, and digital publishing, colour conveys important visual information. However, colour terminology is often subjective and inconsistently applied, which may affect how screen reader users interpret images.
Using a qualitative approach, this study examines peer-reviewed literature related to alt text accessibility, colour terminology, assistive technology use, and metadata practices within DAM systems. It also includes an analysis of selected alt text examples from publicly accessible digital platforms to identify patterns in how colour is described.
By examining how colour is described in alt text within DAM metadata fields, this research aims to better understand how variations in colour language may influence accessibility outcomes and contribute to more inclusive communication in DAM-managed digital environments.