Digital Fantasies

F2024, S2025

Illustrator
InDesign
Photoshop
SketchUp

Senior thesis research on the negative social implications of non-consensual AI generated pornography (deepfake pornography).

Students were prompted to select a social issue of their choice to explore over the course of the 4th year and present deliverables of a clock, exhibition, and book.

My personal passion in how computer science and technology impact design led me to this topic. Given the opportunity to shed light on a social issue, I was determined to select a societally relevant, and risque topic.

This thesis examines the intersection of technology and ethics. Highlighting boths is incredible positive and negative influence, and leading viewers to better understand the broader responsibilities that come with designing and deploying new technologies.

My creative process begins with mind-mapping relating concepts and terms. Early concepts explored how to visually convey a sensitive topic through the clock. Past that majority of focus was put into how to organize the information for the exhibit and documenting process in the book.

Visual exploration began by iterating the key points of the social issue in the form of a clock. I used C++ code to translate explicit images of the female body into ASCII art. Given ASCII art’s effectiveness when viewed from a distance, it was an ideal visual communication method for displaying across a room on a wall. Everything was hand laser-cut and assembled.

Students’ clocks were auctioned to fundraise for the Senior Exhibition at the 17th Annual Graphic Design Poster Show. My clock was sold for $85.00 USD; funds went towards materials for our final exhibition show.

A supplementary deliverable of my thesis was a micro-site testing users on their ability to detect deepfakes.

Further information on this project can be found on its project page here.

Website

The final exhibition was open to the public from May 7th to May 11th, 2025. With over 70 exhibitions displayed together, I focused on capturing viewers’ attention and leaving a lasting impression.

At this stage, the visual communication evolved from ASCII to pixelation, the addition of color added a human touch, making the female figure feel as if they were present with the viewer. Strategic use of color and placement was intended to evoke an uncomfortable sense of exploring the body.

The exhibition includes introductory information on the topic, explanations of the AI technologies used, and personal testimonies presented through quotes and case studies.

Interactive tiles test users on ability to detect deepfakes, similar to the supplentary website explore.

My senior thesis book documents all research, process, and personal reflections from my final year, detailing my journey with the thesis. The layout is systematic and intentionally intense, reflecting the motifs of the social topic I explored.