Text & Motion Graphics

A.R.C.A.N.E

2022

ARCANE stands for the Association for Reframing Civilization's Advanced Networking Equipment, a program that takes over regular ATM machines and transforms them into informational kiosks, interfaces for the ARC to disseminate their message about the truths of genetic modification and bring about the change they envision in a future fictional dystopian world.

The World

Set in the near future, gene manipulation has been developed to the point that the government has control of genetic modification.

Societal class has become based on genetics– the favorability of their genes. With the government's control on the dissemination of information and the media, society has become unaware of the risks of genetic manipulation in favor to be better than a "normal" human.

Those with more favorable genes have greater to access to  facilities and social and occupational standings, like better food and living arrangements. Those unable to afford or are against genetic modification aren’t eligible to these benefits. 

Association for reframing civilization (A.R.C)

Introducing the ARC, which stands for Association for Reframing Civilization, an undercover rebel group that comprises of citizens of this world who have refused the process of genetic modification. 

This group of individuals aims to spread awareness around the health risks associated with genetic modification in an attempt to prevent future citizens from modifying their genes and eventually leading to a “back-to-natural” world.

They understand the disadvantages that come with having unmodified genes, and so they have created a system of fake profiles for any citizen that wishes to avoid the process without having to face the implications of refusing the government, and themselves had fake profiles. 

A.R.C.A.N.E

ARCANE, stands for the Association for Reframing Civlization’s Advanced Networking Equipment

It is a program that takes over regular ATM machines transforming them into informational kiosks, interfaces for the ARC to disseminate their message and bring about the change they envision.

World Building and Narrative development

  • The world, while fictional, was created as a near future possibility to reflect on our present ethical conflict as we continue to make advancements in the field of genetic engineering. 
  • A mundane object, such as the ATM Machine, was chose as the interface to ground the project in everyday current reality. 
  • The name Association for Reframing Civilization was developed upon various iterations such that on the surface it reflected the notions of genetic modification, but on a deeper look made the audience question what civilization means and where it is heading.
  • Arcane means ‘understood by few; mysterious or secret’ and it was only fitting that the name of the interface subtly reflected the nature and intentions of its entity, the undercover rebel group. 

Identity Design

The logo references the acronym for the organization. The chrome finishing and sharp edges are designed to embody their technologically advanced abilities to uncover secrets about the methods of genetic engineering. 

Due to their secretive nature, the logo is kept simple and devoid of any iconography so as to not catch too much attention to their agenda. 

Interface Sitemap

The process to build the interface started by creating a site map to understand the flow of the interface, the pages we needed to design and path flows for the decisions the user made.

It was important to answer questions about how the program would be activated and would go back to normal once the “transaction” was complete. 

This stage was also important to figure out how the interface would function in different scenarios, for example, how would the interface behave if it was approached by someone from the government, an already modified citizen or an unmodified citizen. 

Arcane, the font

  • The font was developed by carving out and adding sharp edges to the standard sans serif font, Helvetica.
  • The font was designed to match the sharp edges from the logo and embody the high-tech, futuristic nature of the group and the interface. 
  • The cutting out font and its gradual appearance as the user went through the interface, is meant to symbolize the process of genetic engineering: cutting and replacing gene sections. 
  • The manipulation of a standard font, such as Helvetica, represents their anti-government political stance on the subject. 

Progress animations

These are further animations built on the same gene and biology process narrative and are used to add motion to the interface to keep the user engaged with the message. 

Characteristics Symbols

  • This genetic modification was focused on internal characteristics or qualities that would be important for individuals of specific professions. They were: Creativity, Intelligence, Speed, Strength, Aging, and Sight.
  • Since these characteristics are intangible and abstract, they were visualized through geometric symbols.
  • The three dimensional quality and moving nature was to capture their dynamic quality and embody their movement inside our bodies,

Symbol Transformation

  • The symbols are designed such that their motion changes and they transform when the user selects that particular trait 
  • The motion of each symbol visualizes the change in that trait with genetic engineering, while keeping with the abstract design.
  • While the initial symbols loop in their motion, this transformation happens once after which the symbols become static so as to represent the decay or cutting up that the organization is trying to call attention to.

Informational Diagrams

  • The diagrams are created to give a small visual preview of what is trying to be changed and its end result biologically through the genetic modification process. 
  • The aim is to reinforce and highlight the primary aim of the interface, which is to provide information in a clear and understandable manner. 
  • This highlights the contrast between the ARC and the government where the latter is withholding information from the users. 
  • It is also a critical commentary on current day government related information and how it is disseminated in a complicated and manipulative manner, often embroiled in a lot of jargon. The interface aims to counter that by simplifying scientific and technical information. 

Government Ids

The government IDs are the government issued interfaces that are used by the citizens to access and move around the city. These are scanned at every entrance (of buildings) and before any interactions (for example, purchases)

Fake Profiles

For these fake profiles to be created, the user selects their gene combination just as they would in  an actual modification scenario and the same is reflected on the ID.

Old Ids

  • If the user opts for a fake ID, they are asked to insert their old government issued ID so as to erase the previous unmodified data and change the details within the government system. 
  • The old ID is overwritten with a secret symbol that visualizes the themes of genes and technical glitches. 
  • This serves as a memorabilia, a symbol of their inclusion into the ARC vision. While seemingly harmless to the unaware eye, they also serve as a way for other users to potentially recognize each other, to create a feeling of solidarity amongst the now rebels to boost the resistance.
  • These cards can only be “unlocked” by the fingerprint scan of the user itself, to reveal details of the time and place they obtained their fake profile.