Studio Task 3 - CoP Proposal

Pre-Crit

Research Question

Could consumerism function in a society where the First Things First Manifesto is more influential that it currently is?

• Look at the intentions of the manifesto, with various points of view about it was "really" about.
• Look at how consumerism has allowed people to "choose" their identities.
• Compare how both things have an element of political deception about them to keep people "happy", through a sense of empowerment, but it's how the senses of power differ that cause the separation.
• Talk about potential repercussions of having charities play off against each other to win public favour like supermarkets do, and how a lack of choice for consumers shows a regression within society.

Practical

• A series of posters advertising for charities in a way that they may look like if they were trying to gain favour based on their graphic design, by taking inspiration from big successful corporate brands.

         or

• A series of posters showing how brands that sell similar products or services could look similar if their identities were stripped away, which would show the dullness that you get when you take away the emotional connection from advertising.

Post-Crit

Issues With My Proposal

• The subject, being consumerism, is too broad.
• It's unclear weather the essay is based around advertising/branding or ethics.
• The potential repercussions of something happening have no facts about them or any information that can be solidly relied upon.

Suggestions

• Do something with the grey areas of the FTF manifesto that were highlighted in Michael Beirut's 10 footnotes on the manifesto.
• Take something that is suggested as being a waste of time in the manifesto, and compare how the branding and advertising from that product compares with an "acceptable cause" on a similar topic, for example, compare cat food designs with cat shelters graphic design.

My Thoughts

I would like to continue to do something about the FTF manifesto, as it's something I find interesting and I'm still unsure what I think about it. I think by comparing the advertising for pet products and the Design for the RSPCA I could raise some interesting issues that cover the grey areas of the manifesto, and Beirut's footnotes could be useful with highlighting some of the grey areas. Obviously I'd have to use other texts as well, particularly one in that is more pro-manifesto given Beirut's stance on it.