Phase 1
Second Semester 2021
Tech Research
Prior to commissioning tech blueprints, a specially commissioned tech-based survey will build a three-month case study on best and worst of social media practice since the advent of social media. Research will look into details such as functionalities, profile specs, triggers for interaction, content moderation, engagement methods and business models. And through articles and interviews, thoroughly scan the history of social media from the founders’ primary intentions to their tech choices, benchmarks, type of IU/UX, terms and conditions, and what they eventually got wrong.

An FAQ will help focus the research into sub-themes. What role has advertising played in social media? What are the existing alternative business models? Where has each social-media platform placed the cursor of moderation?

Content CommissionThis project has photography and visuals at its core. Our editorial research team, including teenagers with parental permission, will be trained in photography to document their peers in their bedrooms and kitchens. A mentorship program will seed this project.

Claudine Boeglin was a mentor for locale-based visual research with the Revealing Reality agency from 2016 to 2019, a teacher in documentary practice at London South Bank University, and a regular multimedia workshop trainer. In addition, creative technology will be used to develop content formats such as video interviews using the most appropriate media: Zoom for collective conversations, edited podcast diaries, curated text messages using Instagram as a soundboard, and so on.

The Big O is first and foremost a creative laboratory.

With the funding in place, in 2022, Abbie Trayler-Smith will expand her qualitative research into the potential for a series of short documentaries in a variety of regions. These could lead to videos-on-demand with a wider audience reach. Her photographic talents would be paired with her talent in interviewing and bonding with teenagers.

Book Design
Kiss It! is a book project tracing the journey from age 11 to 21 of an overweight teenager, Shannon, born and raised in Sheffield, UK. A two-level conversation between author and protagonist, in front and behind the lens it will unfold as a diary. The book will show what being overweight means when parents feel guilty, when shopping and meeting boys are a torment, and you are hiding from schoolmates’ quick judgements. Between 2010-2020, a decade of exploding social media with its oppressive standards of beauty, body shaming and influencer fantasies, Shannon had to shape her own narrative and coping mechanisms. A collaboration with GhostBook founded by British designer Stuart Smith, the book will lead to a media campaign that will also publicize The Big O with the support of design ezines and photo magazines, from National Geographic, to Polka, WePresent, IsNiceThat, and more.

Phase 2
1st Semester 2022
Technology
Research report
Tech blueprints and user journey will launch fully. Our tech partnership will elaborate these different phases.

Corporate commission
Adults & Obesity
With the support of Novo Nordisk, Abbie Trayler-Smith will investigate the life of adults living with obesity in, for example, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia. Final country choice will depend on health restrictions.

Scripting and editing
To script and produce the assembled content of Phase 1, Claudine Boeglin will commission talents in IU design, video editing and motion graphics. The goal is to morph the collection of place-based content into entertaining and compelling story forms as desktops or apps. 

A board of six teenagers from different walks of life will become active editors with inputs on content literacy, design and engagement.

Book Design
With secured funding, GhostBook will launch design and printing.

Documentary
A series of short documentaries will be pitched to NPR, BBC, Netflix, PBS, Hulu, etc. These film segments will mix still / motion images, motion graphics and interviews. The series intend to reach out to a wider audience with content quality that succeed to draw an entertainment audience into the theme.


Phase 3
2nd Semester 2022
Platform and book launch
November 2022
The photography fair Paris Photo in the French capital will act as a first testing board.