Herbert Spencer
MediaFranca
This is my thesis project poster.
Paradoxically, although western societies are moving towards economic prosperity and technological development, social capital is steadily declining. Nowadays young people feel less inclined than their elders to engage as citizens in the rituals of voting and following news about world events and public affairs. As a whole, society appears increasingly nihilistic and depressed, where most indicators of ill-being, such as suicides, psychic disorders, divorce, loneliness and the like, are widespread and increasing.
On the other hand, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been transforming our society into a networked and hyper-connected global community. Nonetheless, we must distinguish between enhanced connectivity and enhanced collectivity. Merely because digital media is making people more connected does not mean it is increasing the degree of our social engagement.
Can Design help reverse these trends? Can Design help transform increased connectivity into increased socialization, civic participation, and a greater sense of individual and collective agency? Can we take advantage of the connective and associative power of communication technologies and inject it into social communities?
MediaFranca is about empowering young adults and teenagers to express their point of view in an egalitarian conversational environment. A key goal is to impress upon teenagers their inherent civic presence as active stakeholders of their communities. MediaFranca is also focused in generating more creative and collaborative enterprises over passive and consumptive ones.
You can read it if you open the biggest size available or you can download the PDF here
I'm thankful to Soldier Ant (cc) for sharing his visual language.
I've always had trouble representing people. Here's my tiny adaptation.
MediaFranca
This is my thesis project poster.
Paradoxically, although western societies are moving towards economic prosperity and technological development, social capital is steadily declining. Nowadays young people feel less inclined than their elders to engage as citizens in the rituals of voting and following news about world events and public affairs. As a whole, society appears increasingly nihilistic and depressed, where most indicators of ill-being, such as suicides, psychic disorders, divorce, loneliness and the like, are widespread and increasing.
On the other hand, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been transforming our society into a networked and hyper-connected global community. Nonetheless, we must distinguish between enhanced connectivity and enhanced collectivity. Merely because digital media is making people more connected does not mean it is increasing the degree of our social engagement.
Can Design help reverse these trends? Can Design help transform increased connectivity into increased socialization, civic participation, and a greater sense of individual and collective agency? Can we take advantage of the connective and associative power of communication technologies and inject it into social communities?
MediaFranca is about empowering young adults and teenagers to express their point of view in an egalitarian conversational environment. A key goal is to impress upon teenagers their inherent civic presence as active stakeholders of their communities. MediaFranca is also focused in generating more creative and collaborative enterprises over passive and consumptive ones.
You can read it if you open the biggest size available or you can download the PDF here
I'm thankful to Soldier Ant (cc) for sharing his visual language.
I've always had trouble representing people. Here's my tiny adaptation.