The Global Act of Social Separation
A Speculative Design Project
Scope:
Speculative Design
Editorial Design
Web Design
Outcomes:
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Legal Documents - The Global Act of Social Separation
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Newspaper Article Mock - "Man Amputates Arm to Touch His Girlfriend"
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Website Mock - Anti-Touch Technology
(Disclaimer: this project was created roughly 4 months before the COVID Global Pandemic of 2020.)
After learning about the art of speculative design, I based this particular project around the theme of connectivity, specifically the physical connectivity between all human beings. In western cultures, handshakes, hugs and kisses are all too common to establish friendships, and strengthen relationships, and partnerships. Yet in the east, not so much. What if the entire globe was forced to separate from each other, lest face the consequences? How would it look? Who would suffer the most? Who would benefit?
The documents designed here took direct inspiration from the official H.I.T Force (Human Interference Task Force) documents of 1984, so that the documents look as official and believable as possible.
The H.I.T Force documents are also an attempt to keep humans safe from possible contact-based dangers in the future - another direct inspiration for this project.
This newspaper article is written 4 years after the laws written in the document were established, and from a story-building aspect introduces radical views from protesters who see the laws as preposterous and morally unacceptable, and have started taking drastic action in protest. In the bottom left is an article about group protests occurring worldwide, a site that has become increasingly more common in the present day. (The Apple advert at the bottom is a mockery of how simple and minimalist the Apple aesthetic products become as the years go by!)
Companies will always find ways to capitalise on a dire situation for society. As such, Anti-Touch Technology is a company that has created an alarm system that can be incorporated and sold with designer clothes, so that people that are within touching distance can be notified that they are dangerously close to breaking the law. I utilised proper UX/UI design mockup aesthetics for the Anti-Touch website to keep a more modernistic feel.
After-thoughts
In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is interesting to see the comparisons that can be made with the speculations made in this project and events that actually occurred. Mass protests were rarely common in regards to the laws and measures that were implemented, regarding issues such as social-distancing, face-masks and issues with payments and work.
As well as this, some companies thrived and capitalised on the masses being kept at home and having to be safe outside, most notably toilet paper brands, designer face-masks (after face-masks were made mandatory), and food-delivery companies.