Moral Disengagement
Inflation is often presented as a straightforward issue, focused primarily on facts and statistics. The purpose of this publication is to dive into the morally compromising actions of young people and how they are being numbed to breaking the law, viewing it as essential to survive. It will also expose the personal emotional stress, preying on people’s empathy to spark change and recognition from those suffering from the economic crisis.
brief
This project aims to design a publication both digital and hard copy, alongside a social media page and small article which highlights the issue of inflation, using personal stories from young people to expose and emphasise the hardships they experience.
explanation
My process began by collecting anonymous anecdotes from those effected. These were analyzed to identify key themes, with one emotion standing out: disconnected. This sense of disconnection, especially from their future and government, emerged as a recurring theme, often cited as a driving force behind their engagement in unlawful activities.
The word disconnected inspired my choice of image manipulation and overall style. I pixelated the photos, symbolizing the blurred line between right and wrong. A white grid pattern is overlaid on the primary images, with certain squares whitened out, reinforcing how actions once considered wrong have begun fading into something necessary or normal.
The chosen layout style uses a complex grid, with multiple paragraph and image sizes, forcing the readers eyes to bounce around the page, reinforcing uncertainty and disconnect.
final explanation
The final product is visually impactful, the fading details in the images symbolize the blurring distinction between right and wrong. The contrasting headline fonts, with their bold and delicate strokes, reflect the fragility of both living conditions and mental health. The red text and illustrations communicate rebellion and illegal activities, while underlining the dangers behind increased binge drink, casual drug usage and stealing.
Social Media
The videos incorporate my illustrations to evoke strong emotions. The grotesque imagery represents the devilish or morally questionable actions that many young people feel pressured to commit.