Bachelor's Thesis
Design for Open Parent-Child Conversations on Pornography
THESIS ABSTRACT
In today’s hypersexualized world, the notion of sex and its related peripheries are frequently debated with liberal overtones. Sex is no longer the taboo it once was.
In one perspective, society’s newfound space for open dialogue on sex is a positive step forward towards a better understanding of healthy sexuality. In another perspective, the pornification of our culture reveals an ironic double-standard in our thinking as a population: we accept and normalize the role of pornography as part of our sexual lives, yet we cannot go without addressing its impact of distorting our ideas of healthy sexuality and sexual boundaries.
Regardless of one’s moral stance on pornography, the jury is in on how porn can be problematic for our society, particularly the young.
This thesis uncovers the various trends, landscapes, and issues surrounding pornography and adolescents, and seeks to employ design as a creative approach to mitigate its impact on youth. With the help of a team of domain experts, I delve deeper into the parenting aspect of pornography education: the challenges, cognitive and emotional processes, opportunities, and embellishments.
How should parents talk to their children about pornography?
Let’s find out!
COMMERCIALISATION
After the course of this thesis project, I continued working with the TOUCH Community Services team to commercialise this workshop toolkit for their use. With some financial support from the Media Literacy Council, TOUCH launched this toolkit in their Cyber Wellness Symposium 2021 as part of their "e-conversations" series starting with the topic of pornography.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
ABSTRACT
In the fourth year, students are required to research and investigate opportunities and develop a comprehensive design project. The major topics addressed in this level include research methodology, brief formulation, project planning techniques, information search and documentation, product analysis and evaluation, concept development and selection process for design development, design detailing and final market implementation.
The final year thesis gives students the opportunity to self-initiate a project according to their area of interest, preparing the graduates for a career in design. The final project ensures that students are sufficiently competent in research as an integral part of the design process. At this final year level, students would learn to form and evaluate value judgments on design decisions that ensures design proposals meet with rationalised and functional criterion as well as less tangible qualities of the aesthetic. Successful graduates will demonstrate innovation and competency in industrial design.
PROJECT DETAILS
Type of Exercise | Individual
Supervisor | Patrick Chia
Duration | 2 semesters
Collaborators | TOUCH Community Services, Focus On The Family (2019-2020)
Commercialized by TOUCH during its Cyber Wellness Symposium, "e-conversations" (2021)