Nothing to Do with Us? : Making Sense of Global Wealth Inequality

• Main Author: Larsson, Carl
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för design (DE) 2020
• Subjects: Global South; Global North; Power Relationships; Consumerism; Globalization; Neoliberalism; Labor Rights; Change-making; Wealth Disparity; Sustainability; Illustration; Comic; Visual Communication; Sweden; Book; Printed Matter; Change; Corporations; Design
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-96654

This design project takes the form of an illustrated story told from the perspective of a young adult middle-class Swede who feels uncertainty in the face of larger issues in the world. Where do all our stuff come from? Is he buying unethical products? Is he actively making a situation worse elsewhere through his choices? How would you even know, when the consequences of such actions might only become evident far, far away from Sweden? How do you relate to this? What should you do? As the protagonist wants for answers, he decides to try and find out what the situation is really like, and what could be done about it. But, as he would soon find out, the answer is not a simple one… In this work-in-progress story, a middle-class Swede must contend with the fact that he’s part of a subset of humanity that in large part benefits off of the thankless work that may be found in the so-called Global South. In his investigation, he seeks to find answers to important questions. What’s the nature of this economic relationship between the Global South and the Global North? Is it really enough to buy ‘more sustainable’ products to relieve the impact on environments and societies? What are the hidden perspectives and stories that those in the Global South experience every day? How can one try to be a good person and create positive change in the world when faced with overwhelming systemic issues on a global scale? Through the story, the nature of global wealth disparity is illuminated as the Swede tries to make sense of global power relationships in relation to labor and production, and so too offers a reader who may be having similar worries an opportunity to learn. As uncomfortable truths are revealed, a greater systemic issue becomes evident. As economic growth takes precedence over social and environmental wellbeing, who wins and who loses – and where? This is the written thesis section of the project, which seeks to elaborate on the different concepts included in the story, as well as surrounding it. Aspects such as the purpose of the project and target audience are gone over, emphasizing the need to communicate complex subjects to wider audiences while avoiding the act of oversimplification of the issues presented. The methodology of the work is presented, and aspects of the design process are documented. The project cumulates into a digital exhibition with other design students, where a work-in-progress version of the comic book is presented digitally for reading. The end of the thesis features a reflection of the result and the design process in order to identify where improvements could be made, as well as the answers the author of this thesis found in relation to the project questions. In summary, there seem to be an indication that working collectively as opposed to individually may be more effective towards creating positive change, in opposition to individual-focused solutions. Finding appropriate solutions to issues may not have to be found immediately, but may be found through a process affected by several different people in a collective that are able to contribute with their differing skills and knowledge to locate the most appropriate path forward.  === <p>Here is an updated version, using the template of the front page that was suggested.</p>