MARIA PAPADONIKOLAKIS
THESIS PROJECT Over a period of time, I had to research on an issue and find ways how to solve this problem graphically. When I designed this book on internet censorship, I questioned myself: what is censorship and how can I display it graphically? How can I use materials that are transparant to illustrate the irony of censorship? Are there reasons why the internet is being censored in certain countries? I thought up of many solutions. Some include covering things up, white-on-white, and information graphics to display the statistics of a variety of issues that are causing the internet to be censored.
Left: Cover of my thesis book, which I treated by using a few layers of acetate, each with parts of the logo on it. The intention of the cover is to give it a “white-on-white� treatment. Right: As you turn away, pixels disappear. The layers of acetate are rested on a white background.
This next spread contains a foldout of a piee of 1-part paper. This part of the book talks about the history of the internet and the history of internet censorship. The only thing is that both types of information on this spread is censored. The black key next to it helps decypher the message within the many rows of jumbled up text so you can read the information that has been censored in this book.
Top: This spread explains how there are many U.S. articles talking about France and Germany being banned from viewing Nazi and White Supremacy sites, but they won’t give us any names. The right page explains which websites, after further research on these sites, can the U.S. access, which ones they can’t, and which sites changed their content. Bottom: This spread talks about bloggers that were sent to prison in 2008 . Comparing to the statistics on the number of prisoners in each country are also statistics of these countries’ population and number of internet users.
Top: This book then gets into media websites that have been banned from different countries. I used color code for each site that I used as examples and flag symbols from the countires affected by it. The right page has a key of these symbols with the countries’ names on it for people to know which country is which. Bottom: Left page gets more in depth why these sites were banned in these countries, while still using the color code and key system I’ve given them. The right page has a pull-out made with vellum. Once pulled away, the message that you give them on media bans have been cyphered.
Left page: The two spreads talk about the stickers. First spread explains what got me to this solution, while the second spread displays sticking the stickers on top of any URL I found out in the public. Right: These two spreads talk about the t-shirts. The first spread talks about the white-on-white censorship method, the ranks of the thirteen internet enemies, and how my t-shirt designs derived from these two elements. The second spread displays the t-shirts. I designed it in a webpage-style way as if it was an actual clothing site. A few were photographed, which was made into an internet banner advertisement, while the rest were illustrations displayed as if they were options for real shirts to buy.
SUPPORTING MATERIALS After exploring the world of internet censorship and the many solutions to solving the problems of illustrating the topic graphically, I designed various materials to back up my thesis, from informative posters to products and packaging. Each material would keep people aware about internet censorship.
THIRTEEN INTERNET ENEMIES T-SHIRTS
These t-shirts illustrate white-on-white censorship, which is used by placing white text on a white background. The information I’m providing, yet hiding, are the thirteen internet enemies, which are countries under strict censorship of the internet.
CENSORSHIP STICKERS STICKERS AND PACKAGING
When something is censored, you’re covering it up. My idea with designing a sticker would be a strong way to illustrate covering things up. Stickers also stick onto the surface you’re covering up, making it stay for at least a long time. A strong symbol that can be used when blocking something is a bold X.
MEDIA BANS TAPE TAPE AND PACKAGING
Coming from my media bans foldout spread in my thesis book, it has been transformed to a roll of translucent tape. Like the sticker, the tape also covers up information once stuck.
NAZI AND WHITE SUPREMACY WEBSITES POSTERS After learning that Nazi and white supremacy websites are banned in France and Germany, I tried finding them. All I get is a 404 error in most of them. Being that the US has access to almost every site, why can’t we see any of these sites?
DOES
INTERNET CENSORSHIP
LITERACY RATES POSTER One question I had in mind was if there were any good reasons why internet in certain countries are being censored? One thing I studied was literacy rates and compared it to their levels of censorship.
AFFECT LITERACY?
MEDIA BANS POSTERS With popular sites like Youtube and MySpace, not all countries are in favor. These two posters illustrate which countries ban what site and state the reasons.
(PULLOUT OF SECOND POSTER INSERTED HERE)
chocolate
PRODUCT DESIGN The products I designed here were designed with the intention of creating an interesting visual. These products were designed with a realistic yet fun and an extraordinary approach. To me, designing products is an opportunity to create something that will catch the viewer’s eye instead of it being passed by, which can cause it being unnoticed and unbuyable.
CAMELLIA HERBAL TEA TEA PACKAGING
When I designed this packaging, I wanted it to be fun and not so “traditional”. I gave the packages fun colors, cylender shape, and scratch ‘n’ sniff covers. This would be targeted for a younger audience because of its fun appeal.
CHAIRMAN MAO BEER PACKAGING
This isn’t just an ordinary case of beer. What makes this packaging so “revolutionary” is the fact that it’s an 8-pack and the cans are big. Targeted for men who want to be big and powerful like Chairman Mao. The lining of the faces represent a strong Chairman Mao army, as well as the idea of Communism.
chocolate
JOY CHOCOLATES
CHOCOLATE PACKAGING
Chocolate is well known to put a smile on someone’s face. With a fun package, maybe it’ll give people even more joy. Targeted to all chocolate lovers.
LOVE IS IN THE AIR USB CASETTE
Back in the old days, people would make mixed tapes to give to their loved ones. Being that today’s world is digital, I decided to go back to the retro days and design a USB cassette with MP3s of love songs in them, making it a handy Valentine’s Day present for your loved one.
MUHAMMAD ALI FIRST AID KIT FIRST AID SUPPLIES AND PACKAGING
Muhammad Ali is known as “invincible”, but in reality, he endorses first aid supplies to keep his “invincibility” image. I thought putting his face on first aid supplies not only guve that message, but it’s also for someone kids can look up to when they’re injured and using these products.
CONTACT INFORMATION PHONE: (646) 662-7187
E-MAIL: mariap1985@hotmail.com
ADDRESS: 1221 McDonald Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11230
SELF-PROMO PENCILS PENCIL AND CASE
Instead of using an ordinary business card, a pencil with my information is not only different, but you are giving someone a functional present. The pencil case was designed in a way to hold the pencils together by having them stand up. The case itself can also be used as a pencil holder.