Website Prototype

Nature’s Thread

Kara Rondinelli

Glastonbury, CT

Advisor: Christine Vasington

Artist Bio

Kara Rondinelli is a senior at the University of Connecticut pursuing a BFA in Digital Media and Design, with a concentration in Web and Interactive Media Design. As a UI/UX designer, she aims to use design thinking to create beautifully designed user interfaces that are centered around users, accessible to all, and backed up with sufficient user research. Along with her academics, she is actively engaged in the professional sphere as a Digital Design Intern at WORX, a branding, digital, and marketing agency in Prospect, Connecticut, as well as a Graphics and Multimedia Specialist Intern at the UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills for the 2024-25 academic year. Further, she has previously worked as a UI/UX Designer for the UConn Digital Experience Group, designing and building websites for the UConn Provost’s Office and the UConn research community. In her free time, Kara loves to rock climb.

Artist Statement

Fashion has always been an integral part of my identity and a primary medium for self-expression. When I started my personal style journey, I went to the local Goodwill with my friends, searching through racks of second-hand clothing for hidden gems. I loved the thrill of the thrift hunt, but I also admired the cyclical nature of fashion—the way clothes from someone’s past could find new life in another’s wardrobe. With Nature’s Thread, I’m bringing together three things close to my heart: fashion, sustainability, and design. My love for thrifting and conscious consumption inspired me to explore this topic, while my passion for UX design helped me craft a solution to the widespread lack of awareness around sustainable fashion, brand transparency, and eco-conscious shopping. The rapid churn of fast fashion, influencer-driven trends, and an ever-expanding list of aesthetics pressure consumers to buy more—only to discard items just as quickly when the next trend takes over. Nature’s Thread is designed to cut through this noise, equipping users with the knowledge and tools to make informed choices. By offering practical, realistic alternatives, I want to empower users to embrace sustainability in a way that feels authentic and achievable, not overwhelming.