Plutocracy

I created this project while I was an MFA Graphic Design student at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Arts).

MENTORSHIP:
Ellen Lupton
Jason Mathews Gottlieb
Jennifer Cole Phillips
Kiel Mutschelknaus

Challenge & Requirements:
> Enable people to experience social inequality through different perspectives and, primarily white, privileged people;
> The game needed to be welcoming enough to draw people into it;
> The experience needed to be engaging and fun without disregarding the harsh reality of social inequality.

Role & Responsibilities:
> As it was my thesis project, I was responsible for everything: user flows, game dynamics, UI/UX, all visual assets (both 2D and 3D), motion graphics, and copywriting.

Plutocracy is a game and a world created to enable people to experience social inequality through different perspectives. This game was inspired by my experiences in Brazil and the USA (specifically in Baltimore).

The game went through many changes. It started as a serious game that focused on 100% accurate real-life examples and statistics. However, during many critics' sessions, people would feel uncomfortable and in denial when I showcased my project. Because of that, I decided to change my storytelling completely. In the end, the final result was this ironic and funny outcome. This new communication achieved its goal to raise awareness without discrediting such a severe problem.