Gallery
foto: Buzia
Experiment overview
A counter-cultural zine designed to challenge Gen Z’s smartphone dependency through provocative statistics, practical digital wellbeing strategies, and nostalgic RISO printing.
The publication transformed abstract digital environmental impacts into concrete examples using popular culture references, creating an ironic analog intervention in an increasingly digital world.
Main objectives
Creating environmental urgency by quantifying familiar cultural touchpoints, empowering readers with actionable optimization techniques, and embedding the message in a deliberately nostalgic physical format that forced a pause in the very behavior it critiqued.
Achieved results
The zine translated abstract digital environmental impacts into tangible metrics that resonated with the target audience.
By balancing educational content with humor and wrapping serious messages in Gen Z-friendly aesthetics, the publication created cognitive dissonance that encouraged reflection on digital habits.
The RISO printing technique reinforced the message through its tactile quality and environmental credentials while adding a layer of ironic commentary - using analog means to discuss digital problems.
Main reflection
This project demonstrated the power of format-message alignment in communication design.
The strong response to culturally relevant examples (like the popular among target group rapper’s video energy calculations) confirmed that abstract environmental impacts become meaningful when connected to personal interests.
Most importantly, the project revealed that effective behavioral change communication doesn’t require sacrificing humor or aesthetic appeal - in fact, these elements are essential when asking youngster to reconsider deeply ingrained habits.