Jasmine Bashaj
Toronto, Canada
Project Question
How can we foster life lessons and humanistic exchanges through a multi-generational and cultural community?
Aim and Objective
The purpose is to develop, share and foster connections consisting of curated alternative learning between generations and cultures through an interactive online community platform.
The project aims to preserve, document and pass on multi-generational and cultural traditions, lessons and a glimpse into the daily life of everyday people from around the world.
This provides an opportunity for connection, sharing, and understanding for those lacking access to people of different age groups and cultural groups in their lives.
The platform revolves around and is a collection of humanities and everyday life. Sharing old fashioned skills that are fading with the modern world, providing insight into home economics including cooking, gardening, personal finances and wellness from the perspective of older generations and diverse cultures.
Problems include:
– Lack of connection between generations
– Generational and cultural stereotypes creating barriers
– Loss of “old fashioned” or life skills
– Lack of well-rounded insights and ideas from a community
– Humanity lacking empathy and understanding of each other
Final Outcome
The final outcome will be a website with a community presence, including membership open to all. Reminiscent of a YouTube channel but with panelist biographies, a blog with related links and a messaging function. This pairs with the YouTube channel and is another option for a final outcome.
Users will have the ability to submit their questions to the community with a voting system in place to select the top questions for the panel to answer for that month.
The video segments are interviews of a panel answering questions asked by children aged 7-15. The answers are presented in a documentary style format using the familiar YouTube playlist on the website, as well as part of playlists per question on the YouTube channel.
Solutions
– Connecting youth and seniors from different parts of the world.
– Opportunity for cultural sharing and communication
– Preservation of lost skills, advice, and insights
– Encouraged bonding and human connection
– Non-traditional, humanistic education
How has your practice developed while studying the MA in Graphic Design with a global cohort?
Coming from the stock industry in a world of motion and illustration, along with my educator background, I knew I would progress in my own practice and grow in my fields. When I first started I realized how much I didn’t know, but was guided into the world of graphic design through amazing tutors and ample resources. My eyes were opened to different perspectives, methodologies and practices all while developing an appreciation for working in a collaborative environment for the final project, something I hadn’t practiced before.