Final Year Dissertation
The Power of Graffiti:
How Design Influences Societal Behaviours
Abstract
Graffiti has the potential to visually express and communicate messages to influence societal behaviours. Embraced within the theme of the dissertation is a discussion of graffiti’s highly impactful strategy of communication. This subject choice provides evidence for all designers and artist awareness, What behavioural changes could this lead to? How does graffiti relate to the nature of graphic design. Explored through a range of authors such as Fiona McDonald, Maurice J. Whitford and collaborations including Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon. Case studies analysing graffiti’s global impact, activism and political positions, supported by an interview with illustrator Conor McClure and a public survey. Expansion of this dissertation’s topics are explored by visual designers and communicators Anthony Acock, Nil Thyrion and Arwa Haider. Their personal beliefs and skilled knowledge towards events throughout our history and to how graffiti’s role has performed throughout. Abstract The text argues how graffiti is parallel to graphic design and is clarified as a natural movement of communication throughout human history. Who the key performers are in its evolution within the 1960s and 1970s. Heavily identified as self-expressionism, examined through previous acts such as Black Lives Matter and continuous mysteries such as the vigilance of Bansky. This generation of graffiti’s ambitions results in creating a new world full of colour and visual narratives to represent real-world happenings. As individual controversy around the globe results as a graffiti’s nemesis, this dissertation examines how some influences of societal behaviour can result in negative impacts and consequences, proving the dark side of design and how when treated correctly, can lead to greater good.
