UCL Li JIayi's portfolio

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LI Jiayi 2023-2024 portfolio

Customized kissing company

UX design/Product Design individual Project

Call for equal and environmentally friendly systems and wearable products

Experimental Installation /Critical design individual Project

Customized kissing experience design

Moving Image /Installation individual Project

Experimental images on the theme of hair and identity

Speculative Design /Experimental Film individual Project

Building an aerial paradise for idols and fans

Seemingly common flight journeys

According to a query on the official website of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the proportion of

According to the 2022 national population of 1.412 billion, nearly 1 billion people have never taken a plane. Chinese people taking airplanes30%

Shared Guilt

UX design/ Product Design/ Tools used

The consequences brought by a very small number

It is estimated that the aviation industry accounts for 5% of the effects caused by human activities. global warming

Problems and Findings

Society continuously advocates for environmental protection, yet the extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy are becoming more rampant, leading to growing public discontent. Why should the consequences of the "sins" created by the rich be shouldered by everyone? This has led to a "crisis of trust" in environmental efforts.

This project involves designing a product and system that enables the public to monitor and limit the high-carbon behaviors of the wealthy, while also encouraging a renewed awareness of environmental responsibility among the general population.

The public has developed an unbalanced mentality due to the high carbon ranking of the wealthy. I feel that my efforts towards environmental protection are minimal and meaningless.

Twitter account ElonJet has released a flight map of Musk taking off from San Jose, California and landing in San Francisco. The journey is 49.8 kilometers long and to fly. Many netizens have criticized it as a

trip! only takes 9 minutes

The high carbon ranking of the wealthy should not be shared equally by the world, and environmental protection should not become a marketing tool for celebrities. They should restrain themselves, strengthen their environmental awareness, and make them pay more for it.

No matter how small low-carbon actions may be, these efforts are still worthwhile, and ordinary people should not give up environmental protection just because wealthy people consume high carbon emissions.

Rich people only care about their own quality of life, and high tax policies cannot constrain their behavior and awaken their environmental awareness.

People s carbon emission waste behavior is not a lack of low-carbon awareness, but a cognitive deficiency

fan-based kingdoms

Video link: https://vimeo.com/1044161516?share=copy

Project4

Personal project Aug-Dec,2024 programming, Sketching, Modling, animation production Tool: Blender

Speculative design / Experimental film

This year, I started following idols and became deeply immersed in the phenomenon of fan culture and its underlying rules. I realized that all of this is manipulated by capital—idols are heavily commodified into exquisite products that drive fans into irrational consumption.

In the future I envision, idols would break free from the exploitation of entertainment companies and transition into self-exploitation, building their own fan-based kingdoms. Fans, each playing their role, continuously supply energy to the idols, sustaining the prosperity of this "floating city."This seemingly beautiful and free utopia, however, is actually filled with surveillance and constraints, constantly on the verge of collapsing.

Interview

The starting point of my fandom

Runner” and really wanted to meet after watching the drama “Lovely

The event was unforgettable, and front-row tickets to his fan meeting! him. was lucky enough to get

media uproar

In August, my idol got fell even more in love with him.

Many netizens attacked airport security staff. security measures by regarding overzealous caught up in controversy

feels like the most tangible way to “give back” to him.

Distorted consumer values and shopping desires

After becoming a fan, my perspective on spending changed a lot.

While I might hesitate to buy something for $500, wouldn’t think

twice about spending the same amount on a concert ticket.

I became a fan of the lead actor official merchandise and endorsed products. things aren't worth the price, I still can't resist buying loads of

After our first meeting, I really want to see him up close.

Watching videos of other fans interacting with him at a close

periencexe ffo ild airport send w n impulsive and A

On impulse, secretly went to Korea without telling my parents. On my return, I booked the my emotions. him, which also affected

Even though I keep telling myself to stay rational and that these

Honestly, I’ve grown tired of the constant merchandise releases.

Looking back, I see those photo cards are just pieces of paper.

I realize that still feel a sense of distance makes me feel so envious.

felt truly happy!When exited the airport, I was stunned to see hundreds of fans waiting for alongside him to take photos. It was a bit chaotic, but he greeted me, and in that moment, same flight as him. After security check, saw him up close. Fans crowded around, running

him. Some had waited for 7-8 hours, but he took the VIP passage, and no one saw him.

I couldn’t help but wonder: is it more tragic to be a star constantly watched by cameras and fans, or to be a fan desperately running, crowding, and waiting for hours only to leave disappointed?

Both sides of this relationship seem to lose something—privacy and dignity.

Since 95% of my fangirling happens through a phone screen, buying merchandise uncomfortable and ashamed.

fandom duration:7 years

#veteran fan

#delusional fan

How to allocate money and time?

I allocate about of my money and time to supporting my idol and only to my daily life. fund my fandom by

The attitude of the people who oppose you:

andomf f he shame o "T

a fan is often seen as trivial or behavior. In traditional views, being shame about my idol-worship

In concert venues, can freely unproductive.

my fervor makes me feel extremely airport, being seen by strangers in typically relate to fandom, like the owever, in places that don't H express my admiration for my idol.

My mom strongly opposes my fandom.

She believes it's , and thinks that can afford such a hobby.

What does fangirling mean to you?

fandom duration:5 years

#industry professionals degree of fanaticism:

How has chasing idols changed your life?

opened my eyes to more possibilities completely changed my life

Chasing idols has , helping me overcome the shadows of betrayal by friends and school bullying. I also changed my dream and entered the entertainment industry. This has in life, making me feel more vibrant eager to explore this wonderful world .

What is your opinion on the distorted fangirling culture?

ose to ans to get c f orf ansign is an opportunity F

eirh en t h and , ansf eh ten meet t f s o e ido Th .

events h y spend money to attend t

Fangirling culture is shaped by the company’s .

Essentially, it’s all about managing products, and airports are just ambiguous guidance

another business location. Fans , pickups , so they .

For the company, extreme behaviors like sasaeng fans or airport riovah esist sasaeng be r onglyrst the idealized image. as it exposes idols' private lives, creating a gap between reality and

What‘s the ultimate outcome of fangirling?

My family and some social circumstances are beyond demystification and socialization opportunities for it to end.

escape from reality personal choice

my control, but the idol follow is my which makes me feel more at ease. Even if it's onesided, can still form a deep emotional connection, and it provides me with an

Only will end star chasing.

Demystification, a lack of trust, and having your own life are all

The K-pop industry’s endless exploitation them in albums to attract fans! clothes into pieces and randomly include

objectifying idols increasingly distorted methods of of idols, in pursuit of greater profits, has

Entertainment companies cut idols' worn waste well-printed albums eventually become but ish rom t f itsf uge pro h companies make ntertainment.Eotteryl ansignf inning a w f ances o h eir c h bums to increase t la ysicahp f arge number o ase a h ans need to purc F perform flattering actions physical contact eir names h remember t ll w s eir ido h oping t

on and spying on their private lives issues ogicaloh ead to psyc even ll ive norma l s to l or ido f e impossib privacy makes it f rampant invasion o ,ormationf t in higfl ,addresses s ido h y obtain t llegall ansf ome obsessive S

Fans were purely attracted to the talent and works of their ginhasC ratS of egnhaC ehT

The monetization channels of the fan economy have focusing more on the object of their admiration rather than the act of fandom itself.

Fans immerse themselves in the become more diversified, leading to the further

commodification of idols. , rather than mere idol worship.

k What forms will fandom ta act of fandom itself

e in the future?

Future speculation Design concept

In the future, idols, as the main figures in fan culture, establish their own kingdoms, no longer exploited by entertainment companies. They sustain the prosperity of their kingdoms through self-promotion, attracting fans to keep their realms flourishing. Fans, in turn, play various roles, each supporting their own "king."

Thus, I have envisioned a floating where each fan community transforms into a , ceaselessly operating to supply energy to the park's core. Yet, beneath its dazzling surface, this park is exceedingly fragile; a system sustained purely by "love." Should any part falter, the entire park will begin to unravel, gradually descending into collapse, and eventually, it will fall... amusement park lavish ride

Based on the characteristics and behaviors meanings and underlying relationships. of idols and various fan groups, I extracted key words and further categorized them, eventually abstracting their images into designs. The "movements" of each character in the animation and their positions relative to each other also reflect their Entertainment company exploits idols

ersona Appearnce Business capability Exploiting content

Idols primarily captivate audiences on stage, showcasing their exceptional talents in singing and dancing, while also boasting striking physical appearances. With the expert branding and packaging from their management companies, they present an idealized persona that mesmerizes fans, compelling them to invest their time and money in their beloved idols.

and harassment, causing serious disruption to the idol's personal life.

In fan communities, photocards are a highly circulated form of currency, with prices far exceeding their actual printing costs. Fans are extremely protective of photocards and cannot tolerate any flaws or scratches.

it hard to categorize them as private fans. name:

hater are individuals who display negative emotions or strong aversion toward a certain celebrity. They often post critical, attacking, or even insulting comments on online platforms, with the intention of belittling or undermining the person they dislike.

Two biases in fan culture research

(1) Idealization:

"Textual poachers" and "nomadic readers"

The concepts of "textual poachers" and "nomadic readers" were initially introduced by Henry Jenkins. He defined fans as textual poachers who appropriate parts of the texts that are meaningful to them and reinterpret them in their own way. Additionally, fans are also "mobile" nomadic readers, constantly moving between different texts, appropriating new materials, and creating new meanings.

(2) Stigmatization: "obsessed individuals" and "hysterical crowds."

In early fan culture studies, fans were often categorized by the public and scholars as two "pathological types".The first type is "obsessed individuals," referring to fans who, under the subtle influence of media, fantasize about having a strong connection with celebrities, imitate their behavior, and chase after their whereabouts. The second type is "hysterical crowds," describing those frenzied fans who scream and cry upon seeing a celebrity.

Analysis - Relationship diagram

Participatory

culture

Jenkins points out that the fan community is an imagined community, and he describes today s fan circles using terms like "affinity spaces," "interest communities," and "connectivity and collectivity." He also mentions that fans utopian imagination serves as the spiritual driving force of the fan community.

Quasi-social relationships

A quasi social relationship is a one sided relationship where one party extends emotional energy, interest, and time, while the other party, the role, is completely unaware of the other s existence. Fans, as a group with a para social intimacy with the star, participate in the star s production and maintenance process and act as protectors of the star s public persona.

Fan-driven nationalism

‘Loving the country like you love an idol a new form of online nationalism that merges fan culture with nationalist movements. They pursue and uphold their country through their fandom activities, while simultaneously constructing their personal identity and collective identity in the process."

https://vimeo.com/1044161516?share=copy

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