Task 1A: Exploratory Research Part 2 (Visuals)

YASSSS THE FAVOURITE PART, VISUAL RESEARCH. Just to follow up to part one – link here I have chosen to research and discuss the topic of Birth Control, with a focus on accessibility, side effects, and women’s health (not limited to sex health).
Link to the work: https://www.fastcodesign.com/3067438/pentagram-visualizes-planned-parenthoods-100-year-fight-for-reproductive-rights
Analysis:


Link to the work: http://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/pill-talk-%E2%80%93-creative-campaign-working-transform-way-we-perceive-birth-control
Analysis:


Link to the work: https://www.behance.net/gallery/18742241/The-Downside-of-the-Birth-Control-Pill
Analysis:

Other notable video approaches towards my research topic:

https://nyti.ms/2FjrjPE

 

Task 1A: Exploratory Research Part 1 (Content)

What are some of the current issues confronting our world today? Amongst them what is of interest and cause a concern to you?
I have short-listed these four issues:
1. Access to birth control pills (CHOSEN)
As we enter into the new era of sex positivity, I’ve always been allured by the use of birth control but conflicted due to the air of myths about its side effects and accessibility. There’s an intentional focus on this issue as I felt the lack of readily available information we can get about pharmaceutical birth control methods. Getting birth control in Singapore is also not commonly shared or discussed amongst girls and social groups.
Some literary links and articles around this issue:
https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/birth-control/facts-birth-control-coverage
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/birth-control-methods-that-work


2. Fast Fashion
We are definitely benefiting from the supply chain of fast fashion as a fellow developed country, but at what cost? I’ve seen couple of facebook videos surfacing about how factory workers sew secret notes into the collars of shirts to help flag unfair work conditions in sweat shops. Fast fashion also entails improper disposal of inks / chemicals etc to colour.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/07/26/fast-fashion-is-a-disaster-for-women-and-the-environment/#7ff2bd591fa4
https://econsultancy.com/blog/69216-four-factors-fuelling-the-growth-of-fast-fashion-retailers


3. Food Sources and Sustainability
This idea was very much inspired by watching Okja and this idea of not knowing what’s in your food or where your food comes from anymore. This video of plastics found in oysters really made me rethink about how ecosystem and how small little things we do will eventually impact you back. I want to possibly educate this vicious cycle and impose stricter rules and regulations to these issues.

http://collider.com/bong-joon-ho-okja-interview-netflix/#brad-pitt-plan-b


4. Zero Waste Nation (Possible focus on Packaging in eCommerce)
I’m personally an avid online shopper, retail is basically dead to me unless when I’m out and having pockets of free time to kill in a shopping mall. I can’t help but be conflicted by the amount of packaging needed to pack a seemingly fragile $1.70 pen I bought from Taobao.
Some literary links and articles around this issue:
https://www.mewr.gov.sg/about-us/our-organisation/committee-of-supply/becoming-a-zero-waste-nation
https://thezerowastegirl.com/


Why is the issue important? Who does it affect and how?
Out of all the issues, I picked the first one as it has the most localized approach (I always felt you should impact your shores first and benefit your people before anything else). It’s good to be a global citizen, but I want to start small, but hopefully impactful.

Additional research:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/news/a17772/obama-birth-control-mandate-blocked/
http://www.aware.org.sg/information/contraception-sti-testing/
http://www.youngparents.com.sg/pregnancy-baby/birth-control-methods-which-is-best/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/well/live/birth-control-pills-protect-against-cancer-too.html

Significance / Limitations of this issues:
– Social stigma preventing proper education and healthy discussions
– Accessibility via Pharmacies / Polyclinic
– Clinical information, side effects, and fine print need more awareness
– Proper usage and dosage of these pills (consistency of usage)


Who do you need to communicate to, and why?
I would need to communicate to women aged 16 – 35, regardless of race, in my project focus, the audience would be mainly Singapore as it talks about the accessibility of birth control within our island. However, information about each side effects of birth control could target a worldwide audience. Additional expansion of this project would be women’s sex health (Kegal exercises, Menstrual Cup use, HPV/Cervical Cancer Vaccines)
The IMPACT / CALL TO ACTION I WOULD NEED FROM MY AUDIENCE:
1. Know immediately, where to get birth control
2. What are some of the side effects
3. Proper dosage/usage of birth control apart from preventing pregnancy (depression/acne/medication etc)

How has visual communication contributed to addressing the cause?

OWN PERSONAL IDEAS:
– 80s revival (satire approach of irony, using outdated anti-aesthetic graphics to reflect on how rural our current access to knowledge of this issue).
– THE PROJECT WILL USE ABBA’s Gimme Gimme Gimme track as the main theme, because of the vibe and lyrics! HAHAHAHAHA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEjLoHdbVeE
– My design ethos, very often, believes that design doesn’t exist in just print alone.
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