My work is designed to expose how elements, language, tone, and imagery are used in propaganda to reinforce ideologies. My book ‘A Publication from Colony 5’ imagines a collectivist society, 200 years from now, living on a spaceship, and is a manual for each citizen. It criticises and reflects on twenty-first century values such as materialism and individualism, through the lens of their enlightened society. It relays their mentality as thinly veiled propaganda.
‘Laketide’ is a fictional village that’s unwelcoming to strangers and harsh to its own inhabitants. Set after they have destroyed their environment, their only goal is survival. Letterpress printed, the woodblock prints play on a homely safe feeling, contrasted with coercive language. A new poster is issued each week.
The animations are narrative moral building blocks for Laketide’s community, depicting behavioural codes. They explore the influence of sound and polite language while depicting something ominous.
How can communication design explore survival mentalities in a space age? A manifesto for a spaceship showing citizens why they live collectivist lives. As the work evolved, it became relevant to implement and communicate their current system and values, and to do this using directive language
I wrote the copy to seem immersive, no over exposition or direct explanations to the reader of what the citizens would already know. It was important that what was written be scary but not seem dystopian, the mindset is positive for its time and though it may sound immoral to us as 21st century readers, the reader would understand that it is suitable to the time and context for which it is intended to be read
When it came to deciding on the cover and possible packaging, I decided to vacuum pack the book, like they do with space food for astronauts. Keeping it air tight would also make sense for preserving archival imagery
These posters explore how language, tone, and feel are used in propaganda to reinforce ideologies. A new poster is issued each week on the village noticeboard
There are imperfections in the type, this was intentional as it lends itself to the authenticity and nostalgia of the piece. Some letters are printed darker than others, some have notches cut out
The nostalgia of the wood type versus the aggressive tone creates a push and pull, just like in propaganda
Research
Research and experiments in tone, language and feel of the book. Who runs it, what does it feel like, etc.
Following on from my Colony 5 book, I wanted to work with language and tone of coercion but in a more tangible context. After some experimentation, I decided to go a typography only route using woodtype and a metal tag line that would unify them. The woodtype gave it the character and grit it needed to bring across the aggressive and authentic feel I was going for