MARIA PAPADONIKOLAKIS

THESIS PROJECT

Over a period of time, I had to research on an issue and find ways how to solve this problem graphically. When I designed this book on internet censor-ship, I questioned myself: what is censorship and how can I display it graphi-

cally? How can I use materials that are transparant to illustrate the irony of censorship? Are there reasons why the internet is being censored in certain countries? I thought up of many solutions. Some include covering things up,

white-on-white, and information graphics to display the statistics of a variety of issues that are causing the internet to be censored.

Left: Cover of my thesis book, which I treated by using a few layers of acetate, each with parts of the logo on it. The intention of the cover is to give it a “white-on-white”

treatment.

Right: As you turn away, pixels disappear. The layers of acetate are rested on a white background.

This next spread contains a foldout of a piee of 1-part paper. This part of the book talks about the history of the internet and the history of internet censorship. The only thing is that both types of information on this spread is censored. The black key next to it helps decypher the message within the many rows of jumbled up text so you can read the information that has been censored in this book.

Top: This spread explains how there are many U.S. articles talking about France and Germany being banned from viewing

Nazi and White Supremacy sites, but they won’t give us any names. The right page explains which websites, after further

research on these sites, can the U.S. access, which ones they can’t, and which sites changed their content.

Bottom: This spread talks about bloggers that were sent to prison in 2008 . Comparing to the statistics on the number of prisoners in each country are also statistics of these countries’

population and number of internet users.

Top: This book then gets into media websites that have been banned from different countries. I used color code for each site that I used as examples and flag symbols from the countires affected by it. The right page has a key of these symbols with the countries’ names on it for people to know which country is which.

Bottom: Left page gets more in depth why these sites were banned in these countries, while still using the color code and key system I’ve given them. The right page has a pull-out made with vellum. Once pulled away, the message that you give them on media bans have been cyphered.

Left page: The two spreads talk about the stickers. First spread explains what got me to this solution, while the second spread displays sticking the stickers on top of any URL I found out in the public.

Right: These two spreads talk about the t-shirts. The first spread talks about the white-on-white censorship method, the ranks of the thirteen internet enemies, and how my t-shirt designs derived from these two elements. The second spread displays the t-shirts. I designed it in a webpage-style way as if it was an actual clothing site. A few were photographed, which was made into an internet banner advertisement, while the rest were illustrations displayed as if they were options for real shirts to buy.

SUPPORTING MATERIALSAfter exploring the world of internet censorship and the many solutions to solving

the problems of illustrating the topic graphically, I designed various materials to back up my thesis, from informative posters to products and packaging. Each

material would keep people aware about internet censorship.

THIRTEEN INTERNET ENEMIEST-SHIRTS

These t-shirts illustrate white-on-white censorship, which is used by placing white text on a white background. The information I’m providing, yet hiding, are the thirteen internet enemies, which are

countries under strict censorship of the internet.

CENSORSHIP STICKERSSTICKERS AND PACKAGING

When something is censored, you’re covering it up. My idea with designing a sticker would be a strong

way to illustrate covering things up. Stickers also stick onto the surface you’re covering up, making

it stay for at least a long time. A strong symbol that can be used when blocking something is a bold X.

MEDIA BANS TAPETAPE AND PACKAGING

Coming from my media bans foldout spread in my thesis book, it has been

transformed to a roll of translucent tape. Like the sticker, the tape also covers up

information once stuck.

NAZI AND WHITESUPREMACY WEBSITESPOSTERS

After learning that Nazi and white supremacy websites are banned in France and Germany, I tried finding them. All I get is a 404 error in most of them. Being that the US has access to almost every site, why can’t we see any of these sites?

LITERACY RATESPOSTER

One question I had in mind was if there were any good reasons why

internet in certain countries are being censored? One thing I studied was

literacy rates and compared it to their levels of censorship.

DOESINTERNET CENSORSHIP

AFFECTLITERACY?

MEDIA BANSPOSTERS

With popular sites like Youtube and MySpace, not all countries are in favor. These two posters illustrate which countries ban what site and state the reasons.

(PULLOUT OF SECOND POSTER INSERTED HERE)

PRODUCT DESIGNThe products I designed here were designed with the intention of creating an interesting visual. These products were designed with a realistic yet fun and an extraordinary approach. To me, designing products is an opportunity to create something that will

catch the viewer’s eye instead of it being passed by, which can cause it being unnoticed and unbuyable.

chocolate

CAMELLIA HERBAL TEATEA PACKAGING

When I designed this packaging, I wanted it to be fun and not so “traditional”. I gave the pack-

ages fun colors, cylender shape, and scratch ‘n’ sniff covers. This would be targeted for a

younger audience because of its fun appeal.

CHAIRMAN MAOBEER PACKAGING

This isn’t just an ordinary case of beer. What makes this packaging so “revolutionary” is the fact that

it’s an 8-pack and the cans are big. Targeted for men who want to be big and powerful like Chairman Mao. The lining of the faces represent a strong

Chairman Mao army, as well as the idea of Communism.

JOY CHOCOLATESCHOCOLATE PACKAGING

Chocolate is well known to put a smile on someone’s face. With a fun pack-

age, maybe it’ll give people even more joy. Targeted to all chocolate lovers.

chocolate

LOVE IS IN THE AIRUSB CASETTE

Back in the old days, people would make mixed tapes to give to their

loved ones. Being that today’s world is digital, I decided to go back to the

retro days and design a USB cassette with MP3s of love songs in them, making it a handy Valentine’s Day

present for your loved one.

MUHAMMAD ALI FIRST AID KITFIRST AID SUPPLIES AND PACKAGING

Muhammad Ali is known as “invincible”, but in reality, he endorses first aid supplies to keep his “invincibility” image. I

thought putting his face on first aid supplies not only guve that message, but it’s also for someone kids can look up to when

they’re injured and using these products.

CONTACT INFORMATIONPHONE:

(646) 662-7187

E-MAIL:mariap1985@hotmail.com

ADDRESS:1221 McDonald Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11230

SELF-PROMO PENCILSPENCIL AND CASE

Instead of using an ordinary business card, a pencil with my information is not only different,

but you are giving someone a functional present. The pencil case was designed in a way to hold

the pencils together by having them stand up. The case itself can also be used as a pencil holder.