OUGD505 - Product Range & Distribution - Idea Generation & Selection

Having selected the British Class System as the focus of my practical/visual investigation and having the direction confirmed following the project proposal, further research has led me to generation of the following ideas/concepts in response to part 02 of the Product, Range & Distribution brief.

Concept 01 – A Manifesto for Change

A manifesto provides opportunity to deliver social comment and call for change through a formalised point of delivery, and as a result can enhance perception of the delivered motives through an amplified sense of authenticity via physicality and formatting.

Concept 01 proposes the development and production of a manifesto calling for society to break through the class system and it's imposing barriers to instead become an egalitarian society based on meritocracy, where prejudice is quashed and endeavours of social mobility are made less arduous. 

Concept 02 – Satire of the Upper-Classes

Inspired by Benjamin Lee's 'Middle Class Problems,' concept 02 proposes a typographic poster campaign featuring satirical quips regarding the classes of Britain. For example – 'Class Content of Quinoa: zero.' This concept would make use of stereotypes associated with each of the respective social classes of the nation and make light of them, showing their lack of importance and authenticity as a supposed analysis of personage.

Concept 03 – Social Mobility Campaign  

A campaign focusing on ambition as the driving force of social mobility, encouraging those from lower-socio-economic backgrounds to not allow prejudice and discrimination to hold them back, but to instead ignore the apparent limitations of class and become more informed on how to achieve goals. Through abandonment of class, barriers and injustices may be alleviated.

Feedback

• Feedback received detailed that a Manifesto would be the clearest way to communicate a formal analysis of the British Class system and why it should be discarded.
• Questions were raised on whether lower-socioeconomic audiences would know what socially mobility was in regard to concept 02.
•  Concept 03 received some support, though it was expressed that this idea was perhaps avoiding of the serious nature of the subject and had potential to cause offence.

Following this I plan to develop a visual manifesto for British Society's rejection of the class system.