During this project, I explored the social and ethical impact that graphic design can have on large audiences and how visual communication must be carefully considered to avoid misleading, offending or negatively affecting viewers. The project encouraged an understanding of how design can influence public opinion and raise awareness around important global issues.
My chosen focus area was fast fashion, a subject I am particularly interested in due to my passion for fashion and contemporary culture. Through research, I investigated how fast fashion has become an increasingly widespread issue, driven by rapidly changing trends and consumer habits. Many major brands rely on low cost manufacturing, cheap materials and underpaid labour in lower income countries in order to mass produce clothing at high speed and low prices.
I also explored the environmental consequences of this system, particularly the amount of waste created through disposable clothing culture, where garments are often only worn a few times before being discarded. This contributes significantly to pollution, overconsumption and unsustainable production methods across the fashion industry.
The aim of my project was to inform audiences and spread awareness around the impact of fast fashion through a series of visually engaging public posters designed for real world environments. Alongside the poster campaign, I also designed a website that explored the wider issues surrounding fast fashion, including the countries most affected by large scale production, the environmental impact of the industry and more sustainable alternatives consumers could consider. Through this project, I developed my understanding of ethical design and how graphic communication can be used to encourage awareness, discussion and positive social change.
