Sophia Tekeste
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Design
I’m a design student with a focus on UXUI and an artist with a passion for interactive media, social critique, and storytelling through physical and digital design. Over the years, I have cultivated a deep passion for the aesthetic and functional aspects of space, which has driven my interest in interior design from a young age. My academic journey has recently steered me towards web design, a field I have grown particularly fond of over the past year as well. This newfound interest complements my long-standing love for creating warm, inviting spaces, both physical and digital. Outside the classroom, I enjoy exploring the world through the lens of my camera, creating unique photographic collages, and unwinding with knitting. My hobbies not only provide a creative outlet but also enhance my design skills, influencing my work in web and interior design. As I continue to explore and expand my abilities, I am excited about the opportunities to blend functionality with aesthetics through user interface and experience design, crafting environments and digital spaces that welcome everyone.
The Economic Ladder
“The Economic Ladder” is an interactive installation that uses a modified children’s ATM machine to simulate the illusion of wealth mobility. At first glance, it invites playful engagement: users insert bank cards, select customized characters, and interact with a digital game. But beneath this surface is a commentary on the deeply biased nature of financial systems. The outcome of each game is not based on user skill or strategy, but on the arbitrary value of the character selected—emphasizing how predetermined and rigged real-world financial opportunities can be. Through this system, the installation critiques how everyday consumers are lured into participation with the false hope of return, while structural advantages remain reserved for the ultra-wealthy and well connected.
The project combines game design, physical computing, and fashion to critique consumer culture and capitalist logic. Drawing on research into banking history, credit systems, and the psychology of rigged games, the ATM becomes a metaphor for socioeconomic traps. In this piece, interactivity becomes the mechanism for critique, inviting viewers to reflect, and question
WET PAINT
USFCA Design & Fine Arts
Class of 2025
Senior Projects