*2024 RGD Trailblazer Award Winner and Honourable mention for 2024 RGD Awards, Information Design Category (Association of Registered Graphic Designers); Feature presentation as undergraduate at 2024 UCalgary CMF Graduate Conference: Digital Power & Justice
Combining a systems-lens approach to research and define a ‘wicked problem’ with Information Design to translate it to a broader audience, an experience is created with the goal of capturing attention, challenging mindsets, and informing future solution-building; Research Dossier, Systems Map, Public Exhibition.
*Non-project related work: Envision.ID event branding (see bottom of page)
SKILLS Research, Data Analysis/Synthesis, Storytelling, Systems Mapping, Exhibit/Experience Design, Event Branding
TOOLS Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Printing
DATE 2023
Envision.ID Public Exhibition, December 2023; Experience Design at MRU Immersion Studio
*I aim to expose and challenge the idea that narratives we depend on to gain knowledge, trigger empathy, or take action within systems, which then shape our understandings and interactions with the world, are often coded in trauma.
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BACKGROUND
Presented with the opportunity to explore a ‘wicked problem’, characterized by having no simple or singular solution and not being easily understood, I was eager to confront an issue that always bothered me: the prevalence and perpetuation of trauma narratives within society. Initial topic investigation began early 2023, where I created a zine challenging the sensationalist nature of trauma storytelling within media. Insights revealed impacts not only on victims and viewers of this media, but an emphasis of impact on marginalized individuals and communities through disproportionate representation and repercussions.
An evolution took shape through centring my positionality within the challenge, including broadening the scope from the context of media influences to a challenge seen on a greater systemic level. I brought in questions I had around what has shaped the understanding of my own Indigenous identity, history and culture, and how trauma narratives have been wielded both for and against me my entire life. Through research, I aim to expose and challenge the idea that narratives we depend on to gain knowledge, trigger empathy, or take action within systems, which then shape our understandings and interactions with the world, are often coded in trauma.
three phases and accompanying outputs: Research // Research Dossier, Synthesis // Systems Map, TranslaTE // Public Exhibition and Immersive Experience.
Initial Topic Exploration: 'The Viral Gaze' Zine
Initial Topic Exploration: Provocative Storytelling Artifact (*Mockup)
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"An incessant cycle of the same narratives around the same groups exists, where trauma acts as a currency for empathy and prescribed narratives are a mask for reinforcing certain power structures.
TOPIC SUMMARY
My research uses a systems-lens approach to examine how major societal structures, such as media, education, government and community, often feature a socially patterned reliance on representational and symbolic trauma as catalysts for learning, caring and engaging. Simply put, the narratives we depend on to gain knowledge, trigger empathy, or take action are often coded in trauma. We learn, or are simply reminded of, systemic issues like racism when we consume stories and digital media around police violence against members of the black community. We dive deeper into broader historical and contextual issues that have always existed only once we are collectively incited by movements like Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). We normalize content wreaking of ‘trauma porn’ as a form of entertainment through societal addictions to media like true crime.
Demystification of this challenge reveals how frequently marginalized identities are centred within these narratives and disproportionately impacted by them. The societal dependency on trauma narratives displays the idea that representation of empowerment is somehow less valued than a demonstration of trauma or the traumatized. An incessant cycle of the same narratives around the same groups exists, where trauma acts as a currency for empathy and prescribed narratives are a mask for reinforcing certain power structures. So what do we do about it? First, we seek an understanding of the prevalence of these narratives and the reasons for their recycled use. Next, we consider our role as contributors, while identifying how these narratives have shaped or affected us on societal, community and individual levels. Lastly, we find ways to disrupt the systems at play and flip the narrative.
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Research // Research Dossier
My goal for research was to immerse myself into a position of listening, work to understand what information already exists, who has been asking these same questions or has experience with it, and explore how the challenge interacts within various systems and spaces.
I conducted a literature review of existing scholarship on the topic, SME interviews with those positioned within the problem, and field work where I constructed my own methodology of investigative research to fill remaining information gaps.
Research Dossier; Includes: Literature Review, SME Interviews, Field Work, and Positionality Statement
Research Dossier; Diverse Research Pathways
Research Dossier; Literature Review Highlight
Research Dossier; SME Interviews Highlight
Research Dossier; Field Work Highlight
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SYNTHESIS // SYSTEMS MAP
My core research output is a systems map and diagram that both work to demystify the presented challenge by revealing the frequency in which marginalized identities are centred within trauma narratives and disproportionately impacted by them. Through a recognition and evaluation of the societal dependency on trauma narratives, my project reveals a systems-level proclivity towards the belief that representation of empowerment is somehow less valued than a demonstration of trauma or the traumatized. It signals the layered existence of enduring, harmful and static narratives around certain groups, where trauma acts as a currency for empathy and prescribed narratives are a mask for reinforcing systemic power structures.
Synthesis Diagram - Zoom Out: Postcolonialism Lems
Systems Map - Zoom In: Present Impact (Interactive Map Linked Above)
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TRANSLATE // PUBLIC EXHIBITION & IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
Research paved a way towards understanding this complex topic, while systems mapping allowed me to synthesize my findings. But what does having this knowledge mean if we can’t translate it for others, both in and outside the problem? With the intention of inviting others into the topic, I transformed this body of work into a public exhibition and immersive experience for a broader audience. The integration of research and design allowed me to invite this audience to not only learn about it, but to hopefully feel inspired in engaging in future solution building.
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Immersive Experience
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Immersive Experience
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Immersive Experience
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Immersive Experience
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Immersive Experience
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Public Display
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Public Display
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Public Display
2023 Envision.ID Exhibition: Public Display
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*So what do we do about it? First, we seek an understanding of the prevalence of these narratives and the reasons for their recycled use. Next, we consider our role as contributors, while identifying how these narratives have shaped or affected us on societal, community and individual levels. Lastly, we find ways to disrupt the systems at play and flip the narrative.
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2023 ENVISION.ID exhibition branding
The public exhibition was only made possible through a collaborative effort with my studio peers. My specific role was branding and identity for the event, accomplished with my partner Kaisey Deloso. Together, we created a visual identity system that spoke to the energetic and innovative spirit at the centre of the presented capstone projects. The goal was to use branding to engage audiences by capturing the excitement and potential of systems thinking and creative problem-solving through design.
Work included: Brand guidelines, logo, templates, graphics, digital and print promotional materials, an asset library, and ongoing support with other teams to ensure brand integrity across all facets of the event.
2023 Envision.ID Brand Guidelines
2023 Envision.ID Event Signage
2023 Envision.ID Digital Display
2023 Envision.ID Banner Example
