2022
Analog Website
The Analog Website acts as a metaphor for digital websites, inviting people to interact with the installation through inter creativity.
Project Management
Print & Collateral
UX Research
Art Direction
UX Design
Client /
UAL
The Analog Website was the design outcome of my submission for my Master's dissertation in User Experience Design and was accompanied by an essay answering the following research question:
“Popular UX practices in web design reinforce capitalism, automation and user exploitation. How and to what extend can a designer resist and push the boundaries?”
In detail
Main Concept:
The Analog Website consists of several components, each symbolizing an aspect of Internet browsing, from the device (e.g., computer) to the User Interface and internet connection (refer to pic 1.2). In this instance, the Analog Website takes the form of an interactive installation, inviting the audience to embark on a comprehensive journey. It commences with a "User Manual" brochure elucidating the process, encouraging participants to respond to the prompt "rename the internet" within a 3-word limit. To accomplish this, they utilize blank slides, letter stickers, and permanent markers available at the "design station." Subsequently, they proceed to the "viewing station," comprising the computer (slide viewer) and website servers (slide storage box).
As previously mentioned, everything within this project is analog or created in an analog manner, except for the brochure. The labels, featuring a distinctive typeface, are generated using a DYMO label printer. These labels serve various purposes, such as guiding participants through the process, labeling stations, and specifying stages, like "ON/OFF" and "EJECT" on the slide viewer.
The slide viewer magnifies the slides and casts light from behind them, imbuing the photographs with vitality. This not only enhances the visibility of the designs but also evokes a modern screen-like appearance, almost creating a three-dimensional illusion.
Above, you can explore examples of what attendees crafted during the exhibition's opening night. Some worked individually, others collaborated with friends, and some merely observed and documented the creations (akin to browsing a website). Collectively, they assembled an analog website based on the prompt "Rename the Internet."
In-Depth:
This idea's development and finalization demanded months of rigorous research and hard work. At its core, this project embodies values of community, counterculture, openness, and collaborative creativity. Every aspect of my process and research is made accessible to the public, and the resulting design is a tangible manifestation of these values. The installation showcased above represents just one avenue of exploration, as the analog website can serve multiple roles, from a design toolkit to a game. Consequently, I encourage individuals to pose questions, adopt the concept, and explore alternative applications. Moreover, there are myriad websites that can be generated for the analog website, employing a diverse array of materials.