Hi! My name is Christine and I am a Melbourne-based multi-disciplinary designer that studied Design and Business at Monash, specializing in Communications Design and majoring in Marketing. Throughout the course of my design degree, I developed a further interest and passion for UX design, Motion graphics, Illustration, and Branding/Identity, exploring subjects personally significant to me in my projects such as mental health, cultural identity, and digital culture.
PixFix
PixFix is a campaign disguised as a Photo Booth that explores the impacts of social media consumption on body image and the rising prevalence of body dysmorphia, especially within and amongst the younger generation. Using the slogan “Fix Your Flaws, Become Pixel Perfect!” and incorporating an irregularly shaped curvy mirror, reflective surfaces, and seamless gradients contrasted with pixelated and grainy elements, the overall design of the Photo Booth was developed with the intention of attracting passersby that may already have a skewed belief and/or conflicting thoughts and feelings surrounding their body image.
'Inside the Photo Booth'
Once unsuspecting participants finish editing their photos and are in the midst of choosing a face altering filter, the campaign's educational multimedia video will be presented via the Photo Booth screen, as seen in the short demonstration clip above.
The educational video follows the storyline of a typical night spent doomscrolling on image-centric social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. It highlights the gradual distortion of self-perception and the increasingly overwhelming pressure to constantly "transform" one's appearance as the scrolling persists, disregarding screen time limits.
It was also intended to showcase that the appearances of people online can be easily manipulated into a completely different person, turning even an illustration into a “person” that is distinctly human-like in appearance.
Building upon the purpose of the Photo Booth and educational video is a desktop one-page scroll website designed to provide more information on the campaign and on the prevalence of image/video manipulation that contributes to the unrealistic beauty standards promoted on social media.
On the desktop website, submissions are able to be made on the PixPure information page after clicking on “Learn more”, which allows participants to gain a sense of community if they wish to join the PixPure movement.
Included within the website is the concept of “PixPure” which is intended to address this issue by utilising the authentic, genuine and limited charm of disposable cameras.
The disposable camera features a QR code that links to a list of 27 different ideas to take 27 snapshots of (the number of exposures a disposable camera typically has), focusing on body positivity and actions that can reduce screen time, reconnecting with the real world.
As the findings of my design research kit highlighted the issue of frequent body/appearance checking in reflections, I decided to also include a uniquely shaped pocket mirror with the decal “CAUTION: SOCIAL MEDIA’S BEAUTY STANDARDS MAY DISTORT MIRROR REFLECTIONS” as a reminder that the negative self-perceptions they may be experiencing when they look in the mirror is likely due to the media that they consume.
In the spirit of reconciliation Monash University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
