Communication in art

The unbridled consumerism established during the industrial revolution in consumer society has become a mass phenomenon. The birth of industry caused significant transformations in the world economy, as well as in the human lifestyle, as it accelerated the production of goods and the exploitation of natural resources. People today consume in a way that their purchasing choices define them. Consumption is not driven by social responsibility: individuals often end up engaging in overconsumption habits due to the vast number of options and the perpetual launching of new trends. Consumption is the satisfaction of desires and wants, especially in current westernized societies.
In my thesis, I will address a concern that is shared by many people. I will be using Graphic Design to draw attention to the misuse and waste of our planet's natural resources while critiquing the consumer society and the lifestyle that compels consumption to maintain acceptance within a social group. I will be discussing the different concepts that people have about trash and waste, in hopes to make them aware of our role in the conscious use of Earth's natural resources.

This thesis is intended to disrupt society's social cruise control. The goal is to make people stop and think, even if only for a brief moment, about the social conventions that guide and control their daily lives. People become disconnected from one another and their environments through repetition, apathy, and a general obliviousness toward shared moments. Making people more attuned to these moments - essentially creating an opportunity to take a brief pause - as a step toward reconnection. Social conventions are unique in that they can exist without the consent of the involved parties; the existence of the convention is enough to demand conformity. While it is possible to find graphic design projects that offer some degree of interactivity to draw people into a relationship with a space, projects that encourage social relationships through acknowledgment between people are rare. This thesis will explore ways in which design acts as a catalyst for disruption, while also encouraging interaction and dialogue.