THESIS PROJECT 2020 GREEN LIES
A Website
STUDENT:
VINATI PYDIKONDALA
PROJECT:
Shifting Perspectives: Decolonising Design
SPONSOR:
Self Initiated
PROGRAM:
Undergraduate Professional Programme
AWARD:
Visual Communication and Strategic Branding
GUIDES:
Kumkum Nadig, Niret Alva
Copyrights 2019 - 2020 Student Document Publication (for private circulation only) All Rights Reserved Final Thesis Project (Undergraduate Professional Programme) Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology Bangalore - 560064 Karnataka No part of this document will be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, scanning, photography and video recording without written permission from the publishers namely Vinati Pydikondala and Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. Written, edited and designed by Vinati Pydikondala Printed at PrintXpress, Bangalore
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PLAGIARISM STATEMENT I, VINATI PYDIKONDALA, hereby declare that the content of this student documentation and final design/artwork submission is my own original work and has not been plagiarised in full or part from previously published/designed/manufactured material or does not even contain substantial propositions of content which have been accepted for an award of any other degree or diploma of any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in this thesis project. I also declare that the intellectual content of this Thesis Project is my own original work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style and presentation is acknowledged and that this thesis project (or part of it) will not be submitted as assessed work in any other academic course.
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT I, VINATI PYDIKONDALA, hereby grant Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology the right to archive and to make available my Thesis Project in whole or in part in the institute’s databank and website, and for non-commercial use in all forms of media, now and hereafter known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act.
Name: Vinati Pydikondala Signature: Date: 24 July 2020
THESIS PROJECT 2020
Examiner 1 (name and signature):
GREEN LIES
Examiner 2 (name and signature):
A Website
Examiner 3 (name and signature):
STUDENT: VINATI PYDIKONDALA PROJECT:
Decolonising Design
SPONSOR: Self initiated PROGRAM: Undergraduate Professional Programme AWARD:
Information Arts and Information Design Practice
Final Examination Panel COMMENTS:
Date: Academic Dean:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly I would like to thank my project guides Kumkum Nadig for her guidance and feedback. And Niret Alva, who guided me through the enormous amount of research and his constant words of encouragement. Their efforts in organising our course of study and managing a class of 40 will not be forgotten. I thank my classmates for creating an open, inviting and fun environment for learning. One in which i also found my own space to thrive in. I also extend my gratitude to the folks at Hunargarh who have been so welcoming. Our time with them will be cherished and has changed the way I see my practice. I’m also grateful for Reddit where I conversed with many wonderful people about my topic. The internet is a wonderful thing. Most importantly, during these trying times (ie. the pandemic looming over us all) I would like to thank my parents and sister, for going above and beyond with their patience and support. My friends and classmates - Anoushka for her integral 2 am coffee, Tanisha for her constant companionship, Shivani for her great feedback and greater movie recommendations, Snehal for brightening up my days and Purnima for, well, being her charming self. This has been so much work, yet so much fun. Thank you all.
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CONTENTS PROJECT ABSTRACT
PROJECT PROPOSAL
60
User Journey
63
Logo Explorations
32
Research Insights
Competition Analysis
Social Media Strategy
Area of Inquiry
Personal Statement
Logo
Flow Of Website
24
The Problem
FINAL OUTPUT DEVELOPMENT
User Journey Mapping
Research Phase 1 Research Phase 2
FINAL OUTPUT
Target Audience
BACKGROUND RESEARCH
IDEATION
28 38 44 45
Moodboarding Colour Palette Fonts
Imagery
Writing Content
Information Flow Iterations
Deliverables
88
Website
90
Social Media
89 100
62 64 65 66 69 72
REFLECTIVE STATEMENT BIBLIOGRAPHY
75 77 78 79 82 85
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"I think the notion of dreaming in a time where we are told that it is foolish, futile or not useful is one of the most revolutionary things we can do. To have our lives determined by our dreams of a free world--instead of reactions to a stateimposed reality--is one of the most powerful tools of decolonization." — Harsha Walia (Undoing Border Imperialism)
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PROJECT ABSTRACT Decolonising Design There’s another sort of colonization at work today which is not advanced with the gun and the bayonet as it was in the middle ages, when colonial powers carved up the world between them to exploit, control and pretty much ‘devour’. We are talking about colonization of the mind, of ideas, of art and definitions. The extent to which colonial thinking is embedded in our world is so deep that all of us accept it as the norm. This project, aims to explore, address, critique and respond to the ideas and practices that surround us that stimulate
and sustain the modern/ colonial world economy. And to understand how the western world continues to influence our endeavours as we examine the complexities, varieties and contradictions of the White Gaze. Scope Decolonisation is an ongoing issue and concern, and, the topic is so vast that it merits a PhD level inquiry. The Project, aims to explore, address, critique and respond to the ideas and practices that surround us through the work of creative professionals that stimulate and sustain the modern/colonial
world economy as well as those that stand up against it. The students will engage to understand how the western world continues to influence our creative endeavours as they examine the complexities, varieties and contradictions of the White Gaze. Through this project we encourage students to See it, Hear it, Feel it and React to it. The scope of this vast and complex topic will be limited to examining influences of the Colonisation on any one aspect and then responding to it either to counter it / contradict it / intersect it or uphold it.
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PROJECT PROPOSAL I. ABSTRACT Colonialism never ended, it just evolved. While the tool of empire building was once a sword or gun, today its far more likely to be culture, consumer products, and media production. However, colonialism in this age isn’t as visible as it used to be, more surprisingly we find ourselves unaware of its existence in the first place! Being able to locate ourselves in relation to these ‘truths’ is perhaps the most important step in being able to navigate the process of becoming critically aware and subsequently decolonize our minds1. II. BACKGROUND Colonialism and Neocolonialism From the 1870s to 1900s, many parts of the world were subjected to colonialism. Traditionally, it takes the form of European aggression, diplomatic pressures, forceful invasion, and eventually 12
colonization of the weaker. This system of colonization had crumbled in the middle of the twentieth century. However, that is not to say that colonialism has totally passed away. It continues disguised as neocolonialism that inherits the historical legacy of colonialism and presents itself in various subtle forms. The term neocolonialism was coined to refer to an indirect form of control that meant newly independent countries were not actually masters of their own destiny. It was popularized by Kwame Nkrumah the first postindependence president of independent Ghana2: ‘Neocolonialism is … the worst form of imperialism. For those who practice it, it means power without responsibility, and for those who suffer from it, it means exploitation without redress. In the days of oldfashioned colonialism, the imperial power had at least to explain and justify at home the actions it was
taking abroad. In the colony those who served the ruling imperial power could at least look into its protection against any violent move by their opponent. With neocolonialism, neither is the case.’ But how does a powerful country indirectly control decision-making and policy in another country? Through capitalism, globalization and cultural forces. Economically – The IMF and World Bank were set up to provide aid to developing countries in the form of ‘structural adjustment programmers’ to ensure that governments reformed their countries into pro- Western democracies. Other forms of aid were often given with ‘strings attached’ forcing recipients to spend money in the ways donor organizations want them to3. In particular areas of culture, ideology and education neocolonialism also finds expression in its propaganda of
the so-called cultural adaptation to the neocolonialists and demands the neocolonized to accept the neocolonialists' value system including social norms, moral rules, ideological, critical discourses, mindset and mannerism. This cultural adaption by nature is to bring into and maximize the effect of the neocolonized people's cultural submission and therefore, to make the neocolonized people become controlled subjects and to be willingly and sometimes actively selfcolonized. In conclusion, systems of colonization work like this 1. Reduce local self-organization structures. 2. Subsequently create the need for a dependency on the colonizers. Once this is achieved, it binds the colonized to the colonizer, and makes colonial control easier. Neocolonialism comes dressed in the name of ‘development’, ‘growth’ and ‘modernity’. With
neocolonialism came globalization, and subsequently came a highly consumerist society – championing a culture centred around the west. This is not to say that globalization is bad, but rather to question the terms and conditions it comes attached with. We have now reached a point where the magic of growth is losing more and more of its power. Today we see new colonial masters. Masters in the form of big corporations, in control of the way we think, live and act. Decolonization Decolonization is not an extreme undoing of historic colonization. It is not going back to a boring Vedic past. But is rather, dismantling the very systems that colonize us. The Swadeshi Movement in India is a great example of decolonization. In India, we had a flourishing industry of a fine cloth known as muslin which was being exported to several countries. However, in the early 19th century, the colonial administration cut the thumbs of hundreds of weavers and liquidated this industry4. Thereafter, India from an exporter turned into a major importer of cloth from the mills of England. As resistance to this, during the nationalist movement,
Khadi clothes that were made in India were promoted. Breaking this system of dependency that the British had forced upon us was an act of decolonization.
becoming critically aware and subsequently start to decolonize our minds.4
III. POSITIONALITY
1. How does neocolonialism manifest itself in India? 2. Does neocolonialism take the form of globalization? 3. How would resistance to neocolonialism/globalization play out? 4. If neocolonialism is the bigger picture, why is it important to be aware of it?
My idea of decolonization at the very beginning of the project was quite superficial, I thought of it as an attempt to revive lost things of the past. However, through masterclasses, class debates and field visits I understood that we were still colonized, in so many ways. The idea of neocolonialism was quite surprising to me, and what was even more surprising was the subtle ways in which it is taken over our lives. However, it was within these moments that I was acutely aware that if colonialism wasn’t as sneaky as it is, I would have been learning about it explicitly in my studies and not searching for answers through hours of blearily –eyed internet searching late into the night or the endless scouring of books that were referred to me by people interested in the same. Being able to locate ourselves in relation to these ‘truths’ is perhaps the most important step in being able to navigate the process of
IV. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
V. RESEARCH Class Discussions We attempted to deconstruct what decolonization really means and the form it takes through debates, field visits and master-classes. Our understanding of colonization started first as traditional British conquests and expanded into more abstract terms. We understood how colonization is an act, and that anybody could be a colonizer. Take for example, the nationalist movement, where everything was designed to decolonize. In this attempt to return to a more glorified Indian past, we unknowingly
colonized ourselves by upholding and sustaining systems that colonize us – like the caste system or the patriarchy. Anybody could be a colonizer. In our attempts to speak for the marginalized, we colonise. In our attempts to sustain systems of oppression, we colonise. In our attempts to fit a global world, we are colonized. In the case of neocolonialism, we see that globalization and consumerism have become agents of colonization. We now have corporations bigger than governments, shadowing governments. And most surprisingly, as people we are unaware of their colonial gaze. Other Designer’s Works 1. Neocolonialism, Subaltern Games This game introduces its user to the idea of neocolonialism in its most basic form – the use of money to extend control. Many strategy games have feature traditional colonialism and warfare but few have explored the brutal reality of greed and indirect political control in the 21st century. It shows its users the working of neocolonialism and draws the bigger picture that were often unaware of.
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2. How To Write About Africa, Article by Binyavanga Wainaina How To Write About Africa is a scathing satirical piece, that is a mock-tip sheet for Western Journalists writing about the African continent. In this piece, the author addresses how the west often illustrate themselves as the saviour of a poor, poor country and challenges this dominant narrative. In this way, he uses satire to shine light on the deep-rooted colonialism that exists, and directly addresses the west in doing so. 3. The Degrowth Movement This movement emerged as a resistance movement against globalization and the consumer culture it propagates. It promotes an active downscaling of the economy a pathway to environmental sustainability and a more fulfilling lifestyle. VI. INTENT Like the Swadeshi movement, what we’re lacking right now is a political backlash to the insidious presence of neocolonialism in our societies. Perhaps, it’s the fact that most of us are unaware of its existence in the first place. Perhaps it’s because it’s hard to visualize the bigger picture, 14
especially when it manifests itself in unseen ways. There are attempts to reimagine new economies (Like the Degrowth Movement) one in which profits and ‘development’ aren’t driving factors. But for us to even reimagine our present situation, we need to be aware of the colonial gaze. Through this project, I aim to create a narrative that simplifies the concept of neocolonialism for the average person, and shows the viewer the bigger system they’re a part of. VII. CONCEPT Through this project I attempt to weave a story of this unseen neocolonialism that exists in our society. To then possibly visualize how resistance to it would play out in the form of a narrative. The challenge in this project is going beyond facts and numbers and simplify what neocolonialism brings us, as an economy. Often, globalization is portrayed and widely hailed as what brought us modernity and freedom, but on closer inspection, did it really?
all the aspects of creative thinking. Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver. Discover • Individual acts of resistance • The ‘bigger’ picture • A possible narrative • Metaphors and symbols for neocolonial influences • Possible outcomes • Neocolonialisms relationship with globalisation Define • Neocolonialism in India • Ideation • Stories of resistance Develop • Content • Narratives • Connections • Ways of approaching this project Deliver • Evaluating • Corrections • Execution • Testing • Feedback
VIII. APPROACH AND METHOD
VIII. CITED SOURCES
The method of 4Ds that covers up
1 Daniel A Henhawk, “My Critical
Awakening: A Process of Struggles and Decolonizing Hope,” International Review of Qualitative Research 6, no. 4 (2013), https://www.jstororgstable/10.1525/ qr.2013.6.4.510?seq=1#metadata_ info_tab_contents. 2 “Lesson 3: Post Colonial Indirect Control,” Beechen Cliff Humanities Faculty, accessed February 15,2020, http://beechencliffhumanities. weebly.comuploads/1/5/2/3/ 15231336/lesson_3._post_ colonial_indirect_control.pdf. 3 Jonathan Glennie, “When Aid Comes with Strings Attached, Development Unravels,” The Guardian, February 24, 2011, https://www.theguardian.com/ global-development/povertymatters/2011/feb/24/mali-aidcotton-privatisation. 4 Eduardo Faleiro, “Goa’s Progress Since Liberation,” Navhindtimes, December 19, 2018, http://www.navhindtimes.in/goasprogress-since-liberation/. IX. REFERENCES Sartre, Jean-Paul. Colonialism and Neocolonialism. Routledge, 2001.
French, Patrick. India: A Portrait. Penguin, 2012 Roy, Nupur. "GLOBALIZING INDIA AND CONSUMERISM IN A NEW WORLD ORDER (1991-2016)." Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 77 (2016): 987-93. Accessed February 15, 2020. doi:10.2307/26552733. Patnaik, Prabhat. "Capitalism and India's Democratic Revolution." Social Scientist 44, no. 1/2 (2016): 3-15. Accessed February 15, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/24890229. Wainaina, Binyavanga. “How to Write About Africa.” Granta 92. May 2, 2019. https://granta.com/how-towrite-about-africa/. Olivier, Bert. “Decolonisation, Identity, Neo-Colonialism and Power.” Decolonisation, Identity, NeoColonialism and Power (2019).
Neocolonialism.” Accessed February 14, 2020. https:// rajivmalhotra.com/library/articles/ axis-neocolonialism/. AROKIASAMY, P.MICHAEL, and DR. M. MARY JAYANTHI. NeoColonialism in India as Represented in Aravind Adiga’s The Last Man in Tower (2019). Dinesh. “Top 6 Reasons of Emergence of Neo-colonialism.” Accessed February 14, 2020. http://www.yourarticlelibrary. com/international-politics/top-6reasons-of-emergence-of-neocolonialism/48500. Galloway, Michelle. “Peeling Away at the Layers of Colonisation – Public Lecture by Sylvia Tamale.” Accessed 20 October 2019. https:// stias.ac.za/2019/10/peeling-awayat-the-layers-of-colonisationpublic-lecture-by-sylvia-tamale/.
Deschner, Claire, and Elliot Hurst. “Decolonisation and Degrowth.” Degrowth. February 1, 2018. https:// www.degrowth.info/en/2018/02/ decolonisation-and-degrowth/. Malhotra, Rajiv. “The Axis of
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BACKGROUND/ THE START
‐
Colonialism
‐
Neocolonialism
‐
My Understanding of Colonisation
‐
And What is Decolonisation?
‐
Questions To Start With
17
Colonialism
From the 1870s to 1900s, many parts of the world were subjected to colonialism. Traditionally, it takes the form of European aggression, diplomatic pressures, forceful invasion, and eventually colonization of the weaker. This system of colonization had crumbled in the middle of the twentieth century. However, that is not to say that colonialism has totally passed away. It continues disguised as neocolonialism that inherits the historical legacy of colonialism and presents itself in various subtle forms.
Neocolonialism
The term neocolonialism was coined to refer to an indirect form of control that meant newly independent countries were not actually masters of their own destiny. But how does a powerful country indirectly control decision-making and policy in another country? Through capitalism, globalization and cultural forces. 18
My Understanding of Colonisation " Colonisation never ended, it just evolved "
THE PAST : In India, we had a flourishing industry of a fine cloth known as muslin which was being exported to several countries. However, in the early 19th century, the colonial administration cut the thumbs of hundreds of weavers and liquidated this industry. Thereafter, India from an exporter turned into a major importer of cloth from the mills of England. THE PRESENT : The global order we are integrated into has created winners-developed countries, big industry and the rich who live off of the exploitation of –the working class and the environment. Furthermore, we seem to be unaware of this monopoly they have, and often buy into the narrative of “development” they promote.
THE START : As more lands began to be discovered, Europeans decided that rather than just trading with the indigenous peoples, to instead exert political control over the lands, to better exploit these newly found lands. And it wasn’t just about exploiting the natural resources, but also about controlling trade that goes in and out of these place. In this way, European nation took economic and political control over these areas, and thus colonized. Thus we need to remember that “Colonialism” is different that just one nation going over to another to rule the entire country, it arrives with ulterior motives.
Reduces local selforganization structures.
+ Create a need for dependancy on colonisers 19
Swadeshi Movement, an Act of Decolonisation
king Brea s of m syste ency nd depe
And What is Decolonisation?
But in 1857, there was a significant uprising against British rule triggered by the collective grievances that had built up over a century. To break this system of dependency, during the nationalist movement, Indians all over following Gandhi’s footsteps, set out to weave their own clothes. Defying this system of dependence was an act of decolonization. THE PRESENT: As people in power continue to exploit the resources of the earth, of the third world to protect their own interests, what were lacking is a global backlash to this fanatic obsession with a market led economy, that would be an act of decolonization.
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QUESTIONS TO START WITH
1.
What does it mean to be a coloniser in today’s world?
2.
Since neocolonialism is rooted in ideas of exploitation of labour, natural resources and land for profits, how has it shaped the fight against climate crisis?
3.
How would resistance to neocolonialism play out ?
Worst Day Ever: Conquistador in need of encouragement, attempts to help himself, By Esteban del Valle
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RESEARCH PHASE 1
exploring colonisation and decolonisation further
RESEARCH PHASE 2
through the lens of sustainability & the environment
AREA OF INQUIRY
how colonialism shaped the sustainability debate
THE PROBLEM
environmental colonialism through deception
RESEARCH RESEARCH PHASE 1
RESEARCH PHASE 2
AREA OF INQUIRY
THE PROBLEM
‐ Lectures and Masterclasses
‐ The New World Disorder, Shashi Tharoor and Samir Saran
‐ What is Sustainability?
‐ The Problem
‐ Visit To Jatan Sansthan, Udaipur ‐ Class Debates and Discussions ‐ Swadeshi Day
‐ Colonialism and Neocolonialism, By Jean Paul Sartre
‐ Broken WebSeries
‐ Century Of The Self
‐ Neocolonialism in India
‐ What is Climate Action? ‐ Survey To Understand Sentiments About Sustainability ‐ Reddit Discussions
‐ The Narrative of Environmental Degradation as Our Collective Failure
‐ Sustainability Brought To You by Multinational. Inc ‐ Greenwashing & The Conscious Consumer ‐ Personal Statement ‐ Research Insights
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RESEARCH PHASE 1
Decolonisation - Neocolonialism - Economy - Inequalities - Power
LECTURES AND MASTER CLASSES
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Outsourcing Culture: Cultural Orphans, Mechthild
"Decolonising" Cultural Practices, Abhishek Hazra
In conversation with Mechthild, we unravelled the deep-rooted impacts of globalization and the crossover culture it has given rise to. It made me think of how the idea of what’s ‘modern’ or modern design has taken on similar forms. In the age of globalization, how do we not freeze culture in time, but use it as a reference point? We also saw an interesting video of a blonde haired, white skinned Barbie dancing to Indian music, which lead to discussions of what it communicates and what classifies as cultural appropriation. We ended the talk with a conversation about ethics in visual design and the need to use media not to dull the senses but awaken them.
We discussed and unpacked apparently progressive assumptions. Decolonisation is not going back to some boring vedic past its about challenging internalisation of colonisation. We were also introduced to the Rhodes Must Fall Movement, an act of decolonisation that looks at the future. INSIGHT - There are different modernities, experienced differently. - Decolonisation is not just a celebration of nationalism.
Forgetting Memories, Remembering Amnesia, Mamta Sagar In this master-class, we explored who a coloniser really is, and how we sustain systems of colonisation by internalising it. Often we view decolonization as this reclaiming of our past, and as very closely intertwined with the nationalist movement but in this process we have unknowingly colonized ourselves. The process of colonization does not just refer to the British as our colonisers, but also ideas of caste system that can be looked at as colonization since it works in the same way. #Rhodes Must Fall, An act of Decolonisation
In this masterclass we dug a little deeper into what constitutes decolonization, the deep rooted psychological impacts of colonization on the colonized and how the after-effects of it have still not faded. It is seen in the way we consume our own bodies; the way we look at each other. It seems as if the colonial gaze has now been ingrained in our very society, the very society that was decolonised. We also talked about how speaking for a community and how that idea itself comes from a colonisers point of view. I mean, who are we to speak for them? Didn’t the British think the same of us when they decided to bring us “civilization”? Then how do we as designers design for a community that isn’t our own? Mamta Sagar took us through ethical ways for us to intervene as designers – Learn from the community, stand with them and then design for them. Site-specificity becomes very important - the sociocultural significance of that space at that time. In the end, your design must be sensitive of what you want to signify.
Dialogue between an academic and subaltern, Mamta Sagar's Class
INSIGHT - Anybody could be a coloniser - This is how we are colonised. We sustain the patriarchy. We sustain the caste system. Unseen colonization.
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VISIT TO JATAN SANSTHAN, UDAIPUR
Jatan Sansthan is a grassroots Indian NGO based in Rajasthan, formed to provide needed services to young people in rural areas. The scope of Jatan's work includes community issues such as health, education, employment and participation in democratic and development processes. During this visit we stayed at Hunargarh an in-house residency for women, young girls in skill building programmes In or time with Jatan, we understood the processes of designing effectively for someone that isn’t you. We visited nearby villages and interacted with the locals. We 26
mapped out various ways of looking at the village, geographically, culturally, economically, through flora and fauna to better understand patterns. We interacted with some of Jatan's educational material which includes folktales, radio messages, songs and interactive tools. Our week with them was super insightful, engaging and filled with fun. Most importantly, this trip made me think of design in a new light.
CLASS DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS One of the first activities we did was unpacking what decolonisation really meant. We analysed different ideas of what it means to decolonise and pitched them against each other. This opened up the different possibilities of interventions as designers, and widened our approach to decolonisation. From my understanding, I understood that decolonisation is as political and communal as it is personal. And that the impacts of colonialism has left a psychological, spiritual and physical imprint on indigenous people. When we go about the process of decolonising its crucial to ask questions about the location and identity of the writer of history.
SWADESHI DAY In this activity, we dedicated one day to using only Indian products. This exercise made me appreciate and look out for brands which were Indian. It involved me googling the brand of each product I used, and in the process also learn where they were possibly made. I didn’t have to readjust my usage a lot, but it just made me more aware of each project I came across. There were some instances where I could not avoid using Western products like my laptop and my phone. It also unravelled the mysterious aura around globalisation and reinstated our dependence on the global economy and how with every purchase we make we make a choice.
COLONIALISM AND NEOCOLONIALISM, JEAN PAUL SARTRE
Sartre wrote this book as a series of essays at a time when colonial empires were crumbling about systems of colonization and rising neocolonialism. The book analyses the discourses of colonialism and neocolonialism and to argue for the necessity of decolonization. Sartre delineates a number of what he calls 'situations' in which he intervenes to critique the nefarious effects of these two discourses respectively on the colonized and the Third World. INSIGHTS - Patterns of colonialism - Relationship between colonialism, exploitation and creating dependencies.
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RESEARCH PHASE 2
Economic Growth - Globalisation - Neoliberalism - 'Development' Sustainable Development - Systems of Exploitation
THE NEW WORLD DISORDER, SHASHI THAROOR & SAMIR SARAN (BOOK) The world around us is in chaos. The New World Disorder traces the roots of the problems of globalisation, surveillance in authoritarian countries, social media and the sustainability debate. With a survival of the fittest mentality, t is no surprise that not enough people actually reap the benefits of the global economy as they should. What intrigued me most was the section on the debate over sustainable development. The authors did not just state 28
facts about carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses, but gave me an understanding of what is at the bottom of the climate crisis we find ourselves in - wounds from colonialism and fanatic capitalism of today. Through incidents in history and dissecting agreements and policies that were taken in favour of the environment, the authors weaved interesting stories of the nuances and hypocrisy in the efforts that are made in the name
of sustainability itself. TAKEAWAY : This book helped me understand the exploitative relationship between the environment and the global market led economy. And shed light on how even matters of sustainability are motivated by capitalistic interests.
BROKEN (SERIES) Broken is a Netflix documentary series that explores the corruption and unethical behaviour of big industries like the cosmetic industry, e-cigarretes, furniture, recycling and more. In the episode tackling Recycling issues, broken exposes lobbyist groups and big businesses and ways they manipulate the truth. TAKEAWAY : This docu-series helped me understand the ways in which climate action is suppressed. It isn’t by someone saying the climate is just fine, but by the very people pretending to act in its interest.
CENTURY OF THE SELF (FILM)
Century Of The Self is a four part documentary that examines the rise of consumerism and the role of advertising in it in America. It explores the relationship between democracy and free choice, and asks if we all are really free thinkers? It talks of ethics (its absence of in particular) and the notion of the self manipulated in the interests of profit and power. What was particularly interesting was the section exploring how masses work, and how they can be controlled. TAKEAWAYS : It explains a lot about human nature 29
Neocolonialism in India Colonization by the British Empire in India
weave their own clothes. This was an act of decolonization.
When we were colonized by the British, they made many changes to our political and economic systems to make us more dependent on them which made it easier for them to exert control over us. In India, we had a flourishing industry of a fine cloth known as muslin which was being exported to several countries. The colonial administration cut the thumbs of hundreds of weavers and liquidated this industry. India from an exporter then turned into a major importer of cloth from the mills of England, which ultimately profited them. In this way, the British created new needs, needs that only they could fulfil.
India’s Independence and Neoliberalisation
But in 1857, there was a significant uprising against British rule triggered by the collective grievances that had built up over a century. To break this system of dependency, during the nationalist movement, Indians all over following Gandhi’s footsteps, set out to 30
India was declared a democratic country in 1947. On attaining independence in 1947, Indian leaders were worried that foreign rule would return in the guise of economic domination through trade and investment. India sought “economic independence” that took form of a soviet style- fiveyear plan. While the world over was forced to take sides of either of the two warring superpowers, the Nehru and other leaders of newlyindependent countries of the third world gave birth to the idea of adopting non-alignment. Indian socialism reached its zenith in the 1970s, when the banks and several major industries were nationalized. This was also when the License Raj was introduced. Nothing could be manufactured without an industrial license or
imported without an import license, and those licenses were scarce and difficult to get. Due to many reasons, this policy did not help improve India’s economy, and instead worsened it. India had huge money problems, and it had gotten harder to resist foreign pressures to liberalize the economy. After 3 decades of socialism, in 1991 India decided to embark on major reforms to liberalize its economy, succumbing to external pressures. P. V. Narasimha Rao became prime minister in 1991. The Soviet Union was collapsing at the time, proving that more socialism could not be the solution for India's ills. (Meanwhile, China had been revolutionized with market-friendly reforms. And so Indian politicians turned in the direction of the market too.) Until this India was seen as a very poor country constantly seeking food aid and foreign aid from all. The 25 years from Narasimha Rao to Narendra Modi have moved
India from low‐income to middle‐ income status. In the 1990s, the government gradually opened up the economy, abolishing industrial and import licensing, freeing foreign exchange regulations, gradually reducing import tariffs and direct tax rates, reforming capital and financial markets, and generally cutting red tape. Those changes enabled India to boom and become a potential economic superpower. SOURCE: https://www.cato.org/publications/ policy-analysis/twenty-five-years-indianeconomic-reform#:~:text=In%201991%20 India%20embarked%20o
The Present With this, we like many other newly formed nation -states were integrated into a global economy, one that predominantly favoured the West. With this came a dominant idea of development, that strongly just represented/ prioritized market led economic growth. This “economic growth� and market fanaticism is at the cost of the environment and the working class. 31
AREA OF INQUIRY
History of Sustainable Development - Role of Colonialism - Role of Capitalism - Climate Action Blockers What Is Sustainability? The quality of being able to continue, sustain or upheld over time. This term has been co opted to mean meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, when we first discovered that we (humans) were destroying the planet. So this does not just mean protecting natural resources to maintain an ecological balance, but we also need social and economic resources. Sustainability is not just environmentalism. Embedded in most definitions of sustainability we also find concerns for social equity and economic development.
The Bruntland Commission In 1983, the United Nations formed the World Comission on Environment and Development. After four years, the Bruntland Commission released its final report "Our Common Future" . It famously defined sustainabi=le development as " development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs " It also outlines the Three Pillars of Sustainable Development - Environment, Economy and Society. 32
WHY LOOK INTO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT? WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY HAVE TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT? 1. When we look at how we got here, how we reached the climate crisis we are now a part of, we see that one of the biggest reasons why is the large-scale colonialism in the past. Colonialism, exploited lands, people and resources, and when it left did not undo any of the damages it caused. This is why todays map of climate change hotspots mirror almost exactly yesterdays map of colonialism. 2. When we look at efforts being made towards sustainability today, we see that economic growth/ development is always taken as a given. Capitalism still rules, and as long as we live in an fanatically profit driven economy, talks of sustainability are futile. Oh, and capitalism is a result of colonialism. Its modern day colonialism. 3. Therefore we can see the deep, intricate relationship between ecology, economy and colonialism. And the need for decolonisation in this sphere.
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Survey To Understand Sentiments About Sustainability Demographic Of Survey Fillers - Largely young people of the age group of 15-24 - Filled by general public and environmental enthusiasts to understand all kinds of peoples concerns of sustainability. - Most feel that what they consume creates a direct impact on environment
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INSIGHT
Most people who are aware of the climate crisis try their best to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. From carrying cloth bags to going vegan, it shows that the general population that is aware of the dangers of the climate crisis and the polluted environment we live in, do modify their lifestyle. 35
Discussions on Reddit
To understand the views of passionate environmentalists (not necessarily experts) I posted some questions about the environments relationship with the economy. - I first took to the r/GlobalClimateChange and r/Sustainability Forums. Here, I was able to validate my argument of the exploitative relationship between economic growth and sustainability. - I then also posted the same question in the r/Neoliberalism forum to understand their argument. This helped me see their point of view, and what I had to further research on. This exercise proved to be quite helpful and I got a lot of responses that made me think deeper about the relationship between the economy and the environment and if it could ever be a mutual one, rather than parasitic. It reassured me that I was going in the right direction. 36
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THE PROBLEM
In today’s world when we are so focused on economic development, talk of sustainability seem to be futile. The rhetoric of sustainable development is constantly being manipulated to protect the interest of those who most benefit out of prioritizing economic growth – big industry, developed countries and the rich.
Here are some ways this is done 38
The Narrative of Environmental Degradation as Our Collective Failure The West enforces this picture of a world order in which everyone would have equal access ‘to the trade and raw materials of the world’ (I.e. Globalization) In doing so they sought to ‐ Characterize the resources of the third world as belonging to humanity as a whole ‐ Reject any discourse which highlighted the extent to which former colonies had been exploited and undermined. ‐ Talk of environmental degradation as something that we all have contributed to, and that it is our collective failure.
The truth is the global order as we know it today is built upon the legacy of conquest and colonization by the West. The narrative of development which has taken root over the past few decades is also part of the same legacy.”
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Sustainability brought to you by Multinational Inc.
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Sustainability has come to mean exploitation is justified, as long as you turn your logo green and throw a few bucks at clean energy. Shell, one of the worlds 10 biggest carbon emitters announced a $300m fund for “investing in natural ecosystems”. The fund sounds big, and it is – until you compare it with Shell’s annual income of $24bn. Shell’s transition towards a low-carbon future is almost invisible in its annual report. It wants to stay in the fossil fuel business, but it needs to fend off the regulation that might threaten this business.
Greenwashing Vs. The Conscious Consumer
"
Greenwashing is the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company/brand or the environmental benefits of a product or service.
The reality is the a company is so large affects so many lives that it needs to be held accountable. If H&M is going to run campaigns trying to convince consumers to behave differently, it should be willing to behave differently itself.
They do this since consumers do seem to care about environmental
impact: Market studies show that stock prices of a company fluctuate alongside news of their environmental impact. Brands from clothing to food to electronics to skincare are guilty of green washing, and many consumers are guilty of falling for it.
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What Has Sustainability Come to Mean? Excerpts from article: The systematic misuse of the term ‘sustainable’, by Victoria Kamila What exactly does it entail for something to be considered sustainable? Today, ‘sustainable’ is most widely used as a marketing strategy to promote products and brands that, in the most literal sense, go against its very definition. Sustainable coal? Try again. Yet coal still makes its way into sustainable development plans and is promoted by ‘green’ organisations as sustainable. Placing the word ‘sustainable’ in front of existing practices that have been proven to be detrimental to our planet is almost like blanketing ourselves from the real issues. ‘Sustainable fishing’ is widely promoted by ‘sustainable’ conservation societies, most of which receive sponsorship and funding from companies that are the cause of our unsustainable future (see BP and Monsanto). Are we observing a highly optimistic trend here of a more fine-tuned ‘bullshit’ meter for what we place the term ‘sustainable’ in front of? In turn, becoming increasingly aware of the reality of what it takes to be ‘sustainable’?
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Excerpt from article: On the Use and Misuse of the Concept of Sustainability, by William E. Rees The concepts of ‘sustainable development’ and ‘sustainability’ continue to be subverted, distorted and otherwise misused in the ongoing political debates concerning global change and economic development. Society continues to be in deep denial of fundamental facts pertaining to contemporary biophysical reality and the increasingly global sociocultural context within which the human universe is unfolding.
I don’t know what sustainability looks like anymore, but I know its not this. And that the first step to undo the damage done in the name of the environment, is decolonise our minds.
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PERSONAL STATEMENT
When I started this project, I was intrigued by methods of colonization in today’s world, and came across
neocolonialism. My journey from understanding neocolonialism to how our economy is colonized to the inherent colonization present in the sustainable debate was a long one, which included many “I didn’t know that, how did I
not know that!” moments. Now when I look at a brand that claims they’re sustainable, or read an article about some government “environmental” scheme, I look twice to see if it really is as well-intentioned as they claim to be. For
the past few years, I have actively tried to be more environment friendly by buying biodegradable toothbrushes,
carrying my own tote bags to switching to a menstrual cup. I believed that I was making a change, and contributing to a more sustainable world in the small ways I can. I still do. However, I now understand that individual change is
inconsequential unless the systematic changes occur. It makes me anxious to know that those with real power don’t understand the gravity of the situation were in and continue to fanatically obsess over economic growth! There
are so many ways in which we are being deceived of the progress were making towards a more sustainable future.
The knowledge I’ve gained through this whole process is what I want to share with others like me, simplifying it, and condensing it into a form that’s accessible. 44
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
1.
Economic growth/ this idea of development is rooted in unsustainable means – resource exploitation, human exploitation, widening inequalities
2.
There are many ways that the narrative of sustainability is being manipulated to protect the interests of this profit driven, idea of development.
3.
The common person isn’t aware/ is deceived into believing that almost all efforts towards a sustainable world put the environment first and are well intentioned.
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The fight for climate action is no longer just against climate change deniers, it’s against every policy that prioritizes economic growth even when advocating for sustainability. Every company that greens their logo but doesn’t change their exploitative production cycles. Every decision that overlooks centuries of colonial exploitation and parrots ideas of responsibility borne equally. It’s against systems of extraction and oppression that have been around so long that it’s hard to imagine a world beyond them. it’s against ideologies and interests that have systematically blocked climate action and have undercut every good faith effort.
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IDEATION
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Exploring visuals At The Intersection of Economy and Environment
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Final Output Ideas
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Approach
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ECONOMY
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ENVIRONMENT
Exploring Visuals At The Intersection of Economy and Environment I wanted to explore the imagery and ideas formed when we talk of environment in the economy, or the economy in the environment. This was an exploration of conceptually binding the relationship between them and hence developing more conceptual ties.
This was important for me because imagery for both seemed very different and disconnected (in traditional terms) but as I explored i found many ideas that brought them closer - like the idea of growth parasitic relationships and more.
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1. The Colour Green and the word "Growth" When I went through the Economic Times, I found that the word "growth" was used a lot along with the colour green. Which is ironic, because it is at the price of natural growth most times. Probably because the colour green symbolises health, abundance, serenity and security all qualities derived from its role in the natural world. So economic growth deludes us into thinking its healthy for us, while in reality it might just not?
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2. The Environment Matters, Only Within The Economy Why is it that the environment matters only within the economy? Not that its inherently wrong, but when did we get to this point, where even in the midst of a raging climate crisis we chase economic growth/ profits? Who does the environment belong to? Its highest bidder?
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3. Growth/ Development ?
A video exploring how imagery of what growth has come to mean. To grow, to mature, to evolve, to become fuller, to ripen, to develop. But what if development is at the expense of natural growth? Is to grow to develop?
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FINAL OUTPUT IDEAS
1. Neocolonialism For Dummies When I first started this project, I was inclined towards methods of neocolonialism and started researching more about it. Quickly, I discovered that this was something the common person was unaware about. The idea was to make a guide to help people identify neocolonialism in real life, and explain its history, how it works and its true intentions.
HOW IS NEO-LIBERALISATION PORTRAYED ? I looked into 10th grade economics textbooks to understand how our country understood the impacts of neo-libealisation and noticed how it was portrayed as something great, that saved us all. This pointed to how we really weren’t shown the cons of opening up our economy, and the control we lost over our own.
WHY THIS DIDN’T WORK I understood as I tried to gather data and information that this was a topic that was quite wide. Along the way, I had identified the impacts of neocolonialism on the environment. This was something that peaked my interest and so, I decided to immerse myself into this narrower lens. 55
2. The Greenest Brand Ever
This brand sells the idea of being green and how greenwashing plays out in the process. It’s a parody on how brands these days position themselves as “green” “eco friendly” or “natural” Aim: to then encourage people to read their labels.
3. The Anti-Growth Growth Zine A commentary on the nature of “development” and how its really antigrowth. Its an exploration into the imagery used while talking about development and growth.
4. An Online Initiative / Publishing Platform
A website for the environmentally concerned citizen that makes them aware of how the economy colonizes the sustainability debate, through simplified articles accompanied by illustrations.
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APPROACH
PURPOSE In a system that always prioritizes economic growth, talks of sustainability are futile. They are manipulated and presented in ways that make it seem like were working towards sustainability, when in actuality not enough is being done. The narrative of sustainability is deceptive this way. The purpose of this website is to bring light to the ways in which the sustainability narrative is being influenced to deceive us. Becoming aware of this deception is the first step to decolonising our minds while looking at the climate crisis we are facing. To question the status quo and examine its colonial tendencies. MEDIUM A website VISION I hope that after interacting with my website, people become more critically aware of the power play that exists in the sustainability debate, and hopefully empower them to think in a new light, and inspire a new wave of action.
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"Colonial, white supremacist organizational practices seem inevitable because they were so universally adopted over the next centuries, and they still govern the great majority of our institutions, but they were design choices. This means that other choices are available, even when they seem far-fetched." — Edgar Villanueva, Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal and Restore Balance 58
FINAL OUTPUT DEVELOPMENT
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Competition Analysis
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Colour Palette
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User Journey
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Typography
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Target Audience
User Journey Mapping Flow Of Website
Social Media Strategy Logo Explorations Moodboards
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Colour Interaction Imagery
Writing Content
Information Flow Wireframing Iterations
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Competition Analysis Insights
Websites and blogs focused on making sustainable changes to an individuals life, conscious consumerism, and related information
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Websites for people who are well informed and want to stay updated about the advances in sustainable practices. These websites are often complex and for the expert on this subject
Social Media platforms like Instagram where people who are environmentally conscious receive small doses of simplified information.
TH E G A P FOR THE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS / BEYOND INDIVIDUAL IMPACTS
FOR ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND EXPERTS / WHO WANT CLIMATE NEWS
FOR INDIVIDUALS & ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS, PANDERING TO LIFESTYLE CHANGING
COMPLEX NEWS, EVENTS, UPDATES AND TERMS
TALK OF INDIVIDUAL IMPACTS ONLY
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Target Audience AGE : 20+ Years GENDER : All DEMOGRAPHIC : WELL EDUCATED, MIDDLE CLASS INCOME INTERESTS : MAKE SMALL ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CHOICES, USE SOCIAL MEDIA
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User Journey
An illustrated journey mapping the user's lifestyle, how she stumbles upon the website and how her actions and thinking changes after interacting with the website.
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USER JOURNEY MAPPING
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Flow of the Website
1. 2. 3.
LANDING PAGE
- User interacts with the articles on "green lies" - These articles make the user rethink and question
THE ARTICLE
- Introduction to the dilemma and questions to think about - Section that provides additional resources
4. 5.
CALL TO ACTION PAGE
- Then the user can look in here to understand their role in relation to all this.
ABOUT PAGE
- Tells the user what our mission is and why they should subscribe for further articles
STORIES OF HOPE PAGE - Lists stories that do what the articles challenge. To show the use that it is indeed, possible.
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Social Media Strategy / Instagram The aim of the Instagram page is to give out small bits of information from the articles that will intrigue viewers to check out the website. To put out content that’s shareable and makes the viewer want to tell more people about what they just learnt. 1. MINI PRESENTATIONS This type of posts are used quite popularly to expel complex information in simple digestible bits. It attracts young audience, who want to learn more and share their recently gained perspectives. 2. NEWS This post basically calls out "Green Lies" as they are happening around us. Instances like, a fossil fuel funding green energy to brands claiming they are conscious. This is to make people more aware of how often it happens.
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A QUICK NOTE
Green Lies is not a blog. It is not an online publication. It is an initiative to help navigate the environmentally conscious through illusions clouding a truly sustainable future. It is to make them think, question and want to learn more. This is the first step to decolonising our minds while looking at the current climate crisis we are in the midst of.
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Logo Exploration
I explored two names for the website - The Sustainability Hoax and Green Lies. I chose to go with Green Lies as it seemed more apt and conveyed the message in a more interesting and concentrated way to the audience
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To show deception and manipulation, I placed the short-listed logo names under the scanner and distorted it. I arrived at a variety of distortions that I chose to use as a changing logo in my website. These are used for the logo animation. 71
Colour Explorations Moodboard 1
A NEW SIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY Tone of Voice: Honest and Friendly Visual Language: Bright peppy colours to depict scenes of irony, breaking away from the typical green colour palette Website Essence: A fresh take on talks of sustainability customized for the young
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WHY IT FAILED This colour palette was too peppy and bright for the articles and message being relayed to the audience. Rather than being seen as ironic it will become a complete disconnect. Here, I question the need for irony and if it actually required.
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Moodboard 2 (Final) HIGHLIGHTING DECEPTION
Tone of Voice – It is a provocative commentary aiming to bring to light the ironies of the sustainability narrative. Visual Language – Green with black puts forth the idea that green isn't always clean like we picture it to be. Use of photographs and gifs to manipulate existing images
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COLOUR PALETTE
Dark Green # 2E5C36
Deep Orange # F21900
Creme # F7F7E3
Black # 090909
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COLOUR INTERACTIONS
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FONTS
Degular
Printer Generated Type
Heading Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Franklin Gothic URW
Captions, ByLines
Utopia Std
Alternate Heading
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IMAGERY
ICONS
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ILLUSTRATIONS
Writing Content Draft 1 Outlined around 15 "Green Lies" and researched supporting material. This draft only consisted of the theoretical outline and the supporting examples.
Draft 2 Detailed out 3 "green Lie" Narratives. This included creating a story around each green lie and presenting it not in a way that shows facts and figures, but rather raises questions and implored the view to look further. It peaks the viewers interest in the topic and then leads them to more credible sources.
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Illustrated Essays
All essays primarily ask the viewer to think, and question some basic views we have about the whole sustainability debate. Through this journey, the viewer will understand how they have been decolonised by popular narratives of what sustainability should look like. 1. BURIED PASTS This essay addresses the role of colonialism in shaping how we got to the current climate crisis. 2. DEVELOPMENT / GROWTH This talks about how we often mix up development and growth, when in actuality development is at the cost of growth 3. RENEWABLES Here, we address the popular narrative of renewable energy as the alternate fossil fuels. And question if its actually viable 80
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INFORMATION FLOW
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ROUGH WIREFRAMING Roughly sketched out and mapped where images and texts would be placed, and some potential layouts.
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Wireframing Iterations 84
Homepage Iterations
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FINAL OUTPUT
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DELIVERABLES
Green Lies Logo Website Prototype Green Lies Instagram Page Essays for Website Essay Covers 88
LOGO
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WEBSITE - LANDING PAGE
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WEBSITE - HOMEPAGE
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WEBSITE - ABOUT PAGE
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WEBSITE - ESSAYS
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WEBSITE - STILLS FROM ESSAYS
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WEBSITE - STORIES OF HOPE PAGE
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WEBSITE - ESSAY COVERS
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SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
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REFLECTIVE STATEMENT The idea of decolonisation was daunting at first, but as we dug deeper, I understood how colonialism
affected so many aspects of our lives. My journey to the end of this project has been rocky, yet inspiring. Unlike my previous projects, this one relied more heavily on my research and the process I went through during it. This meant that my final output was heavily based on all the things I had learnt during the
research period. This particularly forced me to read more books, something I hadn’t done in a while! The research period was indeed the best part of this project. I only wish I had more time to dig even deeper.
The sudden impact of the pandemic threw my whole project off track . Suddenly I had two whole months
in hand, but with no deadlines looming over us it became hard to sit with the project with the intensity and
passion I felt before. It was the first time in four years that I sat to work at home, and not in my PG. Looking back now its interesting to see the role college environment creates, and how much I missed it once I was forced to leave.
Finally, this project I chose to work with a digital medium, something I had not done before. I was very
particular in not letting the softwares limit my output which led me to learn a number of new softwares
(Adobe XD, After Effects and Figma) so I could work around the shortcomings of each one. Designing for screen has been such a different experience, in the sense that it becomes much more than just layout
design. Its designing an interaction. Every transition, and overlay mattered. This also inspired me to learn more about coding, something I'm still working on.
Overall, this project has been an unforgettable journey, and has made me confront so many of my fears head on - extensive research, working with no close deadlines and learning new things.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sartre, Jean-Paul. Colonialism and Neocolonialism. Routledge, 2001. French, Patrick. India: A Portrait. Penguin, 2012 Roy, Nupur. "GLOBALIZING INDIA AND CONSUMERISM IN A NEW WORLD ORDER (1991-2016)." Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 77 (2016): 987-93. Accessed February 15, 2020. doi:10.2307/26552733. Patnaik, Prabhat. "Capitalism and India's Democratic Revolution." Social Scientist 44, no. 1/2 (2016): 3-15. Accessed February 15, 2020. www.jstor. org/stable/24890229. Wainaina, Binyavanga. “How to Write About Africa.” Granta 92. May 2, 2019. https://granta.com/how-to-write-about-africa/. Olivier, Bert. “Decolonisation, Identity, Neo-Colonialism and Power.” Decolonisation, Identity, Neo-Colonialism and Power (2019). Deschner, Claire, and Elliot Hurst. “Decolonisation and Degrowth.” Degrowth. February 1, 2018. https://www.degrowth.info/en/2018/02/ decolonisation-and-degrowth/. Malhotra, Rajiv. “The Axis of Neocolonialism.” Accessed February 14, 2020. https://rajivmalhotra.com/library/articles/axis-neocolonialism/. AROKIASAMY, P.MICHAEL, and DR. M. MARY JAYANTHI. Neo-Colonialism in India as Represented in Aravind Adiga’s The Last Man in Tower (2019). Dinesh. “Top 6 Reasons of Emergence of Neo-colonialism.” Accessed February 14, 2020. http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/international-politics/ 106
top-6-reasons-of-emergence-of-neo-colonialism/48500. Galloway, Michelle. “Peeling Away at the Layers of Colonisation – Public Lecture by Sylvia Tamale.” Accessed 20 October 2019. https://stias. ac.za/2019/10/peeling-away-at-the-layers-of-colonisation-public-lectureby-sylvia-tamale/. Haque, Umair. “(How) Climate Change Is a Hangover of Colonialism, Exploitation, and Slavery.” Medium (Aug 23 2019). https://eand.co/howclimate-change-is-a-hangover-of-colonialism-exploitation-and-slavery898d12b0759c. Wiseman, Rosanna. “Colonialism Capitalism = Climate Crisis.” Global Justice Now. Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/blog/2019/ oct/7/colonialism-capitalism-climate-crisis. Extinction Rebellion. “Emergency.” Accessed July 24, 2020. https:// extinctionrebellion.uk/the-truth/the-emergency/. Jensen, Derrick. “Sustainable Development Is a Lie.” Fair Observer. Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www.fairobserver.com/more/environment/ sustainable-development-is-a-lie-9067. Solheim, Erik. “To End Poverty We Also Need to Ensure Equality and Sustainability.” The Guardian. Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www. theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/dec/05/endpoverty-ensure-equality-sustainability. Gupta, Bishnupriya. “Catching Up: India’s Transition from a Colonial Economy.” Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/ macroeconomics/catching-up-in-transition-from-a-colonial-economy.html.
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VINATI PYDIKONDALA Final Thesis Project 2020 (Undergraduate Professional Programme) Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology Bangalore - 560064 Karnataka