MIRZA MAS’ODVisual Designer


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Zero.Dawn
Archaeologies I
[Meta]Morphosis: Insecta
CTRL+ART+DEL
Transient Workers Matter 2
U.C.S
Citizen Apparel
Viral

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United Cities Of Singapura:
A Dystopian Pandemic Response

2021

Speculative DesignVisual PropagandaMarketing CollateralSocial CommentaryDystopian Aesthetics  

This project, conceived and executed during the peak of COVID-19 lockdowns in Singapore, explores a speculative future where pandemic prevention efforts have evolved into a dystopian government control system. Inspired by the real-world experience of strict lockdown measures in Singapore, it creates a series of propaganda posters and banners for the fictional "United Cities of Singapura" (UCS).
 Using stark, minimalist design and bold typography, the project reflects the atmosphere of uncertainty and control that permeated Singapore during the height of the pandemic. It extrapolates from actual policies and public health messaging to imagine a more extreme, authoritarian future.

The series employs a limited color palette of red, white, and black, with recurring motifs of smiling faces, hearts, and virus-like shapes. Messages range from seemingly benign ("Stay Apart, Remain United") to more sinister implications ("Report Infected Citizens"), mirroring the escalating nature of real-world measures.


Key elements explored include:

  1. Authoritarian messaging disguised as public health initiatives
  2. The tension between unity and isolation in crisis response
  3. Manipulation of information and social behavior
  4. Visual storytelling through simple, impactful graphics

This project aims to provoke thought about the balance between public safety and individual freedoms, the power of visual communication in shaping social behavior, and the potential for well-intentioned measures to evolve into oppressive systems. Rooted in the Singaporean experience of the pandemic, it serves as a cautionary tale about the long-term societal impacts of crisis management policies.