Discrimination towards Muslims is an ever-growing socio-political problem. Aakifa Chida’s practice based research highlights this global issue, with the aim to increase awareness of Islamophobia through communication design.
Recent global patterns of political hate speech, mass media brainwashing and harmful stereotypes are used to incite irrational fear and general insensitivity towards Islamophobia. Design activism is employed in this study to address these behaviours and attitudes, to create change by catalysing a sense of empathy with victims and heightening responsibility and accountability within viewers.
Undertaken as a Master’s thesis, Chida’s research asks if communication design can impact, encourage and influence social awareness around Islamophobia through printed and digital resources.
The research covers the importance and relevance of design activism when set against manifestations of Islamophobia that are present in social, political and historical contexts. This project attempts to inform and educate viewers about Islamophobia, to create positive and lasting change. Chida produces a combination of self-authored and compiled resources across printed and digital mediums to address the issue, engendering solidarity and social empathy.
Congratulations to Digital Design Major graduate Varvara Solovyeva whose animated film ‘USO’ has been selected in competition for the International Programme at the Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF 2023).
‘USO’ was Varvara’s graduating film for her Bachelor of Design in 2022. Varvara is currently undertaking her Master of Design studies at the School of Art and Design.
The ninthWavesound project, produced for Laura Marsh’s doctoral thesis, fuses feminist activism and a DJ practice to generate an installation and participatory art practice aimed at corporeal, low-frequency, sound-oriented experiences.