My research investigates how data-driven design, interactive lighting, and community-centered visual communication can meaningfully shape public space. My work focuses on how people respond to dynamic environments and how spatial storytelling can foster social connection, safety, and belonging. These interests converge in Pearl of the Wabash, my large-scale interactive lighting installation developed in collaboration with the City of West Lafayette. Through behavioral observation, spatial analytics, and community interviews, I examines how evolving light-based interactions influence public engagement and collective use of space. Findings from this project are featured in my forthcoming article accepted for publication in Public Art Dialogue (2026). My broader research continues to explore how technology, craft, and human behavior can inform participatory public art and inclusive placemaking.