August 2019

There were 2 posts published in August 2019 (this is page 1 of 1).

Visual Communication II Dialogue in the Dark Visit

Reflection

 

Briefly share your experiences going through Dialogue in the Dark. What were some of the feelings, thoughts, challenges and insights gained while role-playing a blind person?

 

The Dialogue in the Dark experience was a really “eye-opening” and captivating experience for me.

It was my first time at Dialogue in the Dark and to be completely honest I did not quite believe that it could emulate a true experience of being blind. However, I am glad I was proven to be completely wrong. As I entered the room, the darkness overwhelmed and at that moment I honestly felt “blind”. I could not even see my hands in front of me. Initially, I was pretty afraid of getting lost in the dark, but as the visually-impaired guide led us along the trail, I realised how my other sense quickly kicked in, such as hearing and touch, helping me to feel more comfortable in the dark environment. This made me appreciate my other senses more. For example, without my sense of sight, it made listen deeper to uncover the source of the sounds I heard, such as the tapping of wood or the sound of moving across gravel.

Role-playing as a blind person allowed be to understand and experience things from a first-person perspective. Applying this as a designer, putting yourself in per se your target audience’s shoes, allows you to better understand the needs and issues of your intended audience. For example, experiencing being blind could help a designer solve real issues or difficulties that the blind face. The designs created will also be tailored to the limitations of the blind rather than what we simply think is a limiting factor. Through this experience, I could see the importance and effectiveness of role-playing for design.

 

 

Drawing on your experience, can you think and list some of the benefits inherent in the design technique of role-playing?

 

From my experience, role-playing allows a designer to create more effective and purposeful designs.

Previously, before designing, when I researched about an issue I was interested in solving, I only looked online and trusted in articles on google to give me the interpretation of such issues. I simply relied on the word of mouth of strangers online rather than trying to experience the issues first-hand. Although it is impossible to role-play certain issues, we as designers should try our best for the ones that can be. I believe role-playing gives a designer more insight and truth when creating a design that will help others and make a change.

 

 

Can you think of some contexts where role-playing can be useful to help discover and definition of design challenges or contribute to the development of design solutions?

 

Some context where role-playing can be useful is to role-play as the target audience of the design project. It allows the designer to truly look at the challenges and solution from the receiving end rather than just the creating end. 

Sometimes as a designer, I feel that it is easy to get caught up in the aesthetic value of design rather than the purpose of design. I often find myself neglecting the functionality of our design. Role-playing allows us to evaluate the purpose and usefulness of our design to the intended audience. This will, in turn, help us to create meaningful designs with a cause that actually works rather than simply look great.

 

Visual Communication II Task 1A

Exploratory Research

 

Exploring the What, Why, Who, and How.

 

What are some of the current issues confronting our world today? Amongst them, what is of interest and a cause of concern to you?

 

Outrage of Modesty

The term “Outrage of modesty” is a formal term used to describe the act of molestation. Such acts can happen anywhere, at any time and to anyone.

Unfortunately, such acts have been on the rise in Singapore, most notably on our public transport system, and in nightlife hotspots. According to the Mid-Year Crime Statistics for January to June 2018 by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), there is a 37% increase in the number of outrage of modesty cases at public entertainment nightspots, whilst cases occurring on public transport went up by 43.8%.

Although it is not their fault, victims are often afraid to report such cases, thus allowing the preparator to continue their actions and affecting others.

 

Links

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/overall-crime-down-but-reports-of-molest-on-public-transport-up-60-per-cent

https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/outrage-of-modestyinsulting-modesty?page=1

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/molestation-and-scam-incidents-on-the-rise

https://www.police.gov.sg/~/media/20180823_stats_mid_year_2018_crime_statistics_stats.pdf

 

 

Creating Public Spaces

Public spaces are crucial to cities, they provide an opportunity for people to come together. Successful public spaces are inclusive of the diverse groups of people and create a social space that everyone can participate in. However, cities often neglect public spaces. 

Singapore has been constantly making efforts to create such spaces, such as neighbourhood playgrounds for the young and community centres that cater heavily to the elderly. However, there aren’t many of these spaces created for youths and young adults. This has often resulted in them spending at overly prices cafes for a space to chill and socialise. 

 

Links

https://www.ricemedia.co/current-affairs-features-public-spaces-singapore/

https://www.clc.gov.sg/docs/default-source/urban-solutions/urban-solutions-11-full.pdf

https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Get-Involved/Enliven-Public-Spaces

 

 

Phones at the Table

We are all slaves to our mobile devices. They have become an integral part of our lives whether we like it or not. You probably already know this, but using your mobile devices at the table during mealtime is not a good idea. Not only does it make the others at the table unhappy and rather annoyed, research has shown that it could also negatively affect your enjoyment. 

Using our phones at the table reduces the interactions with our loved ones. Although you may be engaging face-to-face at the table, using the phones make one more distracted. Distraction among phone users also meant higher levels of boredom and a worse overall mood, according to the study.

 

Links

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/americas/dont-use-your-phones-during-mealtimes-or-risk-your-own-enjoyment-says-new-study

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/fastfood-chain-asks-diners-to-put-away-phones-during-meals-echoing-past-efforts-elsewhere

https://time.com/5178352/phone-ruining-dinner/

https://gen.medium.com/please-god-no-phones-at-the-table-282f7b9ba360

 

 

Current Affairs

More than 70% of teenagers in Singapore hardly or never read, watch or listen to the news. One in three of them are not even interested or curious about the current affairs going about in the world. Furthermore, teens who do involve themselves with the news often get their information and facts from social media. A recent survey has shown that those who get the news from social media platforms are less informed of current affairs as compared to traditional news outlets.

As future leaders of Singapore, it is important that they keep themselves updated to news and regional developments. 

 

Links

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/youths-who-prefer-social-media-for-news-less-informed-of-current-affairs

https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/gen-y-speaks-talk-about-current-affairs

https://repository.ntu.edu.sg/handle/10356/66925

 

 

 

Why is the issue important? Who does it affect and how?

Out of the topics that I have mentioned above, the one that speaks to me most is the alarming rate of outrage of modesty taking place in our country. Every day as I take the train to school, I notice many adverts in the train station about molestation cases. However, despite the increased warnings, it still happens. This issue can affect anyone at literally anywhere, men or women, young or old. Everyone has the right to feel safe in common public areas.

Singapore is supposedly a safe country with one of the lowest crime rates country. However, as the rate of outrage of modesty cases rises, even places like public transportations or even the void decks of our own homes can start turning into threatening places.

 

 

Who do you need to communicate to and why?

This issue has to be communicated to the victims as well as potential victims, for them to not only know how to deal with such situations but also the importance of stepping forward and making the preparator pay for their actions.

Although cases of outrage of modesty can happen to anyone, a highly targeted group would have to be young women ageing from 20 to 40.

Victims need to feel confident and know their rights to stand up for themselves and others.

 

Links

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/molest-victims-arent-just-speaking-up-they-are-fighting-back

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/more-molestation-victims-speaking-up

 

 

How was visual communication contributed to address the cause?

 

1.   National Crime Prevention Council Campaign

This was a campaign initiated by the National Crime Prevention Council with support of the Singapore Police forces. The campaign aimed to create a sense of awarness amongst public transport users on the cases of molestation. TVCs that featured women getting molested on the public transport showed how one should react in such a scenario. Similarly the print advertising plastered on various train stations and bus stops aimed to educate readers on how molestation is a serious crime and how one should react when faced with such a scenario.

 

https://www.ncpc.org.sg/campaigns.html#molest

 

 

2.   Smart Clubbing Campaign

Smart Clubbing Campaign

Be smart when you club. Learn the following tips to be a smart clubber to avoid being a victim of crime. #beasmartclubber #smartclubbingiscool #nationalcrimepreventioncouncil

Posted by National Crime Prevention Council Singapore on Thursday, 6 September 2018

The “Smart Clubbing” campaign is another initiative by the National Crime Prevention Council that feature mediacorp artist Irene Ang in a her comedic Singaporean slang as she gives out tips on clubbing smartly in Singapore. The campaign uses an informative video to raise awarness about the rise in outrage of modesty cases in nightclubs and how one can avoid, prevent and get help when faced with such cases.

 

https://www.ncpc.org.sg/events_20180905_smart_clubbing_campaign.html

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/police-launches-smart-clubbing-campaign-to-fight-common-crimes-at-night-spots

 

 

3.   #MeToo Movement

The #MeToo Movement is a movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault. The #MeToo hashtag is a global movement where victims of sexual assult share their stories for others to learn from and gain awareness. 

The #MeToo movement has a website was created for two purposes. One as a safe space for healing and another to advocate the cause. The website has a comprehensive database consisting of local and national organizations dedicated to providing services and safe spaces for survivors of sexual violence, healing stories, as well as articles and a glossary of terms to help give voice to victim’s experiences. The website aims to empower victims by letting them know that they are not alone. 

 

https://metoomvmt.org

https://www.nytimes.com/series/metoo-moment

https://www.theguardian.com/world/metoo-movement