Scenography of my National Higher Diploma of Plastic Expression (DNSEP) at the ISBA in Besançon (France).

At first glance, one might think that the title suggests “Apocalypse.” However, in reality, it translates to “Revelation” in Latin. What I want to convey here is that what appears obvious at first glance, what we believe we are reading or doing, can actually be the result of manipulation.

Continuing my research for my thesis, focused on the manipulation exerted on our lives by visual advertising in public spaces, the graphic part of my diploma examines the virtual dimension of advertising. Indeed, since the advent of the Web and smartphones, it has infiltrated not only our public spaces but also our private spheres. The information disclosed daily by the mass media seems to have no influence on our lives. In reality, it is a huge gain for advertisers and brands.

The graphic objects serve as the material transcription of certain Dark Patterns used on websites. They prompt you to buy or sign up for things you didn’t intend to do. These Dark Patterns are part of the attention economy; an economic model that considers the only valuable thing on the Web to be users’ attention. Attention that is quantified and generates data.

The creation process was implemented by imagining these Dark Patterns as acting in public spaces, where “public space” applies here as equivalent to the virtual dimension.

These objects are aimed at all web users. Through scenography and graphic design, they attempt to illustrate these invisible yet present tricks. It’s a way to become more attentive and to read all the information on a page, enabling one to remain a person free to make their own choices.

Project type: student