DISOBEDIENCE&DESIGN

So this is it!

2009-05-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

Final hand in date is today,

will be uploading images soon on recent work, as well as an exclusive video interview with Jonathan Barnbrook.

Keep your eyes peeled!

CRASH

2009-05-02T01:52:00.000-07:00

Dispatches documentary on the financial and economic crisis:

watch first part here and the second here

DVD cover

2009-05-01T04:02:00.000-07:00

So I'm in the process of making a DVD for the project, on it will feature some interviews with designers about the nature of ethics and design, and two more features, one of which is going to be a pseudo documentary based on the book.

more "opposites attract" making of pics!

2009-04-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

Lone Soldier Print

2009-04-17T14:58:00.001-07:00

This poster is done in response to the new army recruitment ads that are being shown at the moment.

The ads are targeting young people who are used to gaming and using technology.

If you havent seen them check them out here .

If you've played call of duty or any other war game you'll see the similarities strait up.

The recruitment "stores" are geared towards the same demographic. they almost look like gaming centres!

By presenting army duty as something where u can "prove your smarts" , these ads are basically bullshitting us. Army duty is where u learn to become a killing machine. Army vets suffer deep trauma, even more so when the reasons theyre fighting are not what they've been told.

So this poster is basically saying: don't think you're going to join the army to stop terrorism, because by joining, you're prolonging the already deep rooted problem.

Poster!

2009-04-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

Been working on this one for the past week,

its based on everyone being tired of the soap opera entertainment soundbyte a minute style of US politics...well actually in the UK its becoming like that too but...US is more interesting.

Plus Gordon Brown and Downing street would be boring to draw.

Might get it printed onto Ts...

First print more preview pics

2009-04-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Been experimenting with different colors for the print,

first I'm gona stencilize the two underlying layers, then screenprint the more detailed black layer.

hopefully it'll come out with that pleasant imperfect sprayed on look combined with clean cut vector sharpness. Thats what Im going for anyway.

First Print coming shortly

2009-03-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

My first print Idea is based on child indoctrination of two opposing clans: the US redneck culture and the Islamic extremists.

I want to show how they are different but basically alike at the same time.

Here are some screenshots, it'll all be screenprinted and stencilized shortly!

the credit crunch

2009-03-08T06:19:00.001-07:00

Linda is the proprietor of a bar in Cork . In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).
Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Linda's bar.

Taking advantage of her customers' freedom from immediate payment
constraints, Linda increases her prices for wine and beer, the
most-consumed beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank
recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Linda's borrowing limit.

He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the alcoholics as collateral.

At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform these customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then traded on markets worldwide. No one really understands what these
abbreviations mean and how the securities are guaranteed. Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, the securities become top-selling items.

One day, although the prices are still climbing, a risk manager
(subsequently of course fired due to his negativity) of the bank decides that the time has come to demand payment of the debts incurred by the drinkers at Linda's bar.

However they cannot pay back the debts.

Linda cannot fulfil her loan obligations and claims bankruptcy.

DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95 %. PUKEBOND performs better,
stabilizing in price after dropping by 80 %.

The suppliers of Linda's bar, having granted her generous payment due dates
and having invested in the securities are faced with a new situation. Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor. The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political parties (and vested interests).

The funds required for this purpose are obtained by a tax levied on the
non-drinkers.

The new rulers of the world

2009-03-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

Interesting movie about Indonesia's inclusion in the world economy, its consequences on the poor, and the role of corporations in plundering its resources.

John Pilger is a renowned BBC correspondant, and dedicates much of his time exposing globalisation for what it really is.

check the movie out here.

IRAN (is not the problem)

2009-02-15T16:35:00.000-08:00

Alright so Iran's been on the public agenda for some time now and its difficult to know what the make of it. As always with these things, you have to look at the history of the situation, how it came about, what the motives and interests are.

I'm deffo gona make some prints/posters about this.

some movies/documentaries I've been watching on the subject:

BBC's Iran and the West (be sure to check out the second episode too)

and a new documentary called IRAN (is not the problem). Lovin the graphics in this one, check it out. I think these slick new documentaries are the way forward. bring information graphics to he forefront! booya!

Oh yeah and for those who know about John Pilger, check out The War on Democracy. A detailed look at the US's backyard buddies.

If you're a university of the arts student, be sure to attend EndGame: David Cross's Lecture at Wilson Road, Camberwell on the 18th of February.

Required viewing

2009-02-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

Some fascinating documentary films about corporate misbehaviour and how many corporate entities are in fact "legal persons".

Should designers work for companies who directly fuck up not only the planet, but many peoples lives too? Grab some popcorn and find out!

Watch the trailer for The Corporation here , a documentary by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbot.

And watch the whole movie here: part1 part2

Also watch Naom Chomskys movie on media power the Manufacturing of Consent here.

Welcome

2009-02-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome!

I've started this blog to help log my research on my final year project: Disobedience and Design.

My work is centered on the ethical responsibilities of the designer: as a communicator of ideas, the designer has a pivotal role in moulding how trends and ideas become accepted as part of the public landscape. How has this role evolved in time? What if any are the social implications? What is the history of disobedience and dissent within the design industry?

My work aims to answer these questions, and many more.

This is a journey of discovery for me, and this blog is going to be one of its tools.

I will be posting links, books and articles relevant to the theme, but one of the main reasons I started this blog is so everyone can contribute to the debate (that is, after all, what it is)

So if you find some information that ties in to ethics and design, let me know, and I'll post it on this blog :)

cheers

Felio Sotomayor