Toxicity of Social Media
Volume 1

2018

Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign

“Toxicity of Social Media” is a two-volume graphic and typographic narrative that emulates the dark side of the digital realm, with a focus on a malicious environment characterized by information overload and an invasion of privacy. As a result, both of the booklets were designed to be highly chaotic, confusing, and difficult for the viewer to navigate through.

The entirety of both booklets were created to instill the viewer with a feeling of uncomfortability. The eye fatigue produced by the bright glaring digital screens was also recreated through the use of a high gloss paper.

As a result, the viewer would have a difficult time trying to enjoy the overwhelming compositions within the two booklets for an extended period of time. In essence, the entire booklet is the whole experience itself, rather than solely the compositions themselves.

Toxicity of Social Media
Volume 2

2019

Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign

Projection
Photography

Although the typographic narrative may appear similar to the graphic narrative in terms of chaoticness, the typographic narrative instills a sense of emptiness and loneliness within the viewer despite the overwhelming visual compositions. This signifies that despite the information overload, all the mindless internet surfing is not adding much substance to their daily lives.

Coded Adaptation of
“Toxicity of Social Media”

2021

Processing

WARNING: This video contains flashing images which may not be suitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

This is a screen recording of what would happen if the user interacts with the sketch on Processing.

The coded adaptation of “Toxicity of Social Media” allows the users to become part of the project, rather than merely viewing already-made overwhelming static compositions within the two booklets. The coded sketch would become increasingly chaotic as the user interacts with it more through the movement of the mouse, mouse clicks, and/or the pressing of the keyboard keys. This new level of interaction brings an entirely new experience for the user, because the user inputs would immediately affect the outputs that appear within the sketch.

However, this coded adaptation is not a replacement of the original two-volume graphic and typographic booklets. Instead, the two-volume static booklets and the dynamic coded adaptation effectively work together to evoke a strong emotional impact within the viewer and/or user.