USER RESEARCH | GAME DESIGN | ILLUSTRATION
An initiative to rethink sustainability
2019 | 3 Month Pre-Thesis Project
The Brief
When we look at how we got here, how we reached the climate crisis we are now a part of, we see that one of the biggest reasons was the advent of globalisation and the rise of capitalism.
Because businesses now controls most of the resources upon which we all depend, it not only creates inequalities but plays a prominent role in shaping the environmental trajectory of the planet.
As an iconic example, a single coorporation - Walmart Stores, Inc. has annual sales that are higher than the gross domestic products (GDPs) of all but 25 nations, and its 2.1 million employees outnumber the populations of almost 100 nations. Given the scope of their influence on global commerce, human well-being, and the environment, the practices of MNCs leave long-lasting impacts.
This project aims to dig deeper into the relationship between big coorporations and environmental degradation, to discover the many ways that the narrative of sustainability is being manipulated to protect the interests of this profit driven, idea of development.
My Role
Researcher
Developing ideas for gameplay, the overall concept and test it out with the users. Designing the rules, mechanics, gameplay, characters and plots involved.
Visual Designer
Build a visual world through colours, images, illustration and typography. Tailor content for the user, keeping in mind
Long Story Short
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
Research
Supporting Texts, Books and Movies
The New World Disorder, Shashi Tharoor & Samir Saran (Book)
This book helped me understand the exploitative relationship between the environment and the global market led economy. And shed light on how even matters of sustainability are motivated by capitalistic interests.
Broken (Series)
This docu-series helped me understand the ways in which climate action is suppressed. It isn’t by someone saying the climate is just fine, but by the very people pretending to act in its interest.
Century of The Self (Film)
It talks of ethics (its absence of in particular) and the notion of the self manipulated in the interests of profit and power. What was particularly interesting was the section exploring how masses work, and how they can be controlled.
A Survey to understand peoples perspective of sustainable acts.
Insights from Survey
Most people who are aware of the climate crisis try their best to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. From carrying cloth bags to going vegan, it shows that the general population that is aware of the dangers of the climate crisis and the polluted environment we live in, do modify their lifestyle.
Most feel that what they consume creates a direct impact on environment
Very few are aware of actions to take beyond personal accountability.
Most look out for environmental news on social media and digital news platforms.
POV’s of Environmental Enthusiasts.
Questionairre on Reddit
To understand the views of passionate environmentalists (not necessarily experts) I posted some questions about the environments relationship with the economy
I first took to the r/GlobalClimateChange and r/Sustainability Forums. Here, I was able to validate my argument of the exploitative relationship between economic growth and sustainability.
I then also posted the same question in the r/Neoliberalism forum to understand their argument. This helped me see their point of view, and what I had to further research on.
Discover
Takeaways from Research
With the power these multinational organizations have, labor and environmental protections are harder to enforce. Multinational corporations are accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions (including slave labor wages, living and working conditions), as well as lack of concern for environment, mismanagement of natural resources, and ecological damage. The UN Development Program reports that the richest 20 percent of the world's population consume 86 percent of the world's resources while the poorest 80 percent consume just 14 percent.
As people around the globe have become increasingly agitated about the impacts of our climate crisis, the entities with perhaps the most power to stop the crisis— corporations —have begun to squirm.
Here are some ways big businesses address the climate crisis we are facing.
Here are some ways big businesses address the climate crisis we are facing.
Igniting a Narrative of Environmental Degradation as Our Collective Failure. As if using a plastic straw is as bad as drilling our earth empty. When the truth is that some groups bear more responsibility than others for our current plight.
Greenwashing - Misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company/brand or the environmental benefits of a product or service. Brands from clothing to food to electronics to skincare are guilty of green washing, and many consumers are guilty of falling for it.
Setting Goals (and finding loopholes) - Eg. Companies actively seek the countries with the weakest labor and environmental protections and the lowest wages. For example, rather than exporting the labor protections it abides by in the U.S., a company might follow lower standards in, say, Bangladesh.
Throwing money at it - But never tackling the problem at its source
How Might We Statements
How might we change the narrative from one that’s centered around the consumer to one that questions the producers, and the industry.
How might we help young adults understand the complexities (nuances?) of sustainability better?
Ideate
Exploring visuals at the intersection of economy & environment
This was important for me because imagery for both seemed very different and disconnected (in traditional terms) but as I explored i found many ideas that brought them closer - like the idea of growth parasitic relationships and more.
Ideas for Interventions
GreenLies - An initiative to rethink sustainability
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
Defining Target Audience
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
Competition Analysis
Value Proposition
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
User Journey
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
Building Visual Identity
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
Writing Content
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
Wireframing
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
Implement
The GreenLies Website
GreenLies is an initiative to bring to light the complexities of the sustainability. It’s a call to inform the public of injustices and hold organisations accountable. It’s a movement that is unapologetic, angry and tired of the green lies that are perpetuated by the very polluters of our planet.
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Like what you see? Email me at pvinati@gmail.com :)
Last Updated May 2023