Dare to Bare—a product of my inquiry into life

Project introduction

When was the last time you said, “I love you”?

On September 2015, as part of my final school term project with UWE (Extended Study in Graphic Design), I embarked on an unimaginable journey to delve deep into life. I wanted to know more about humanity and create a design unlike anything I have ever done before. I read up on how the east and the west explain life, including religion philosophies, existentialism and human connection theories, sat in for a TED talk and carried out a number of investigations and social experiments to explore the notion of life, which led to more to investigate human connections.

One exploration during my inquiry into human connections stood out. When asked to pen the last ten words, respondents wrote mainly words of gratitude, love and regret. These resonate with the way of life advocated in the east—benevolence.

Why do we wait till the last ten words to say those powerful words? Why do we not say them in time? Revisiting what I read on existentialism and human connections tells me that the reason is likely linked to vulnerability—we are afraid to be authentic.

Life is ambiguous; it is absurd. The truth is, we will never be able to know when our last words will come. Why not express it now?

Project brief

To devise a body of works to touch hearts based on alchemy of the western and eastern beliefs: authenticity and benevolence.

Outcome—Dare to Bare initiative

Over more than half a year of intensive research, readings, explorations, prototyping, usability testing and iterations, the final draft outcome is proposed on May 2016. “Dare to Bare” is a body of works, which includes a compelling experimental narrative in a communal space, specifically an HDB void deck (a common space at the ground level of a public housing building in Singapore), close to the hearts of people.

The experiment design comprises nine prescribed steps which are demarcated into two phases, in chronological order:

i) introspection and ii) outward connection. It is intended to inspire authenticity and benevolence, better connected lives and help individuals confront their fear of expressing themselves.

Space visualisation—overall spatial design

Space visualisation—welcome wall of the experiment

Space visualisation—step two of the experiment

Space visualisation—step four of the experiment and space directory

Space directory which includes a floor plan that is drawn to scale based on a void deck space in Singapore

Scheduled guided tour, which comes with a toolkit, is available. It is expected to help visitors engage with the space more meaningfully. Each toolkit comprises designed cards, letter templates, amongst other items, with information on how to respond to the nine steps.

Dare to Bare toolkit prototype including tools for steps one to four of the proposed experiment

Authenticity card to respond to step one of the experiment

The real deal hanger to respond to step two of the experiment

No-fear pledge card to respond to step three of the experiment

Letter of my dream suite to respond to step four of the experiment

Dare to Bare toolkit prototype

This presentation deck is built to simulate pitching the Dare to Bare initiative to the Ministry of Family and Social Development Singapore to subsequently seek support in the areas of endorsement, finance and/or logistics

This project is extending beyond school to continue with usability testing for further iterations and finally into a robust outcome. Join me on Instagram @daretobaresg.

Thank you for stopping by!
e-mail: imhuishan@gmail.com

For any questions, drop me a direct message. Happy to help!