Am I Cringe?

Note

First of all, thank you for visiting this website and spending some time scrolling here instead of elsewhere.

This is my Communication Design senior capstone, my love letter to authenticity.

I ache for the youth that I see trapped in this cycle of wanting to try new things but shying away. Out of the fear of what it could look like from the outside of the self. What if others cringe at me? What does it mean when I cringe at others?

So I present to you… a free online cringe checker! ;)

About

A mobile narrative website that invites you to re-examine our knee jerk reactions and
initial judgements

Problem Space

In our digital age, there is a cacophony of online performance, judgment, and opinion. This endless noise and feedback creates a heightened sense of self-consciousness.

The average American Gen Z user spends at least 4 hours
a day on social media; creating an inflated sense of pressure to be perceived as inoffensive and cool. The barrage of online noise makes authenticity feel embarrassing, resulting in the draining of our collective humanity.

Design Solution

This website experience asks you: Wait...how cringe are you? While scrolling through a narrative that parallels the social media panopticon, it asks the user to explore their cringe instincts. Do they add to the human experience, or take away from it?

Users will walk away with a newfound understanding of this gut reaction and reassurance that to cringe be is to be human.

Behance

Credits

papayapoe on YouTube and her video "how cringe makes you boring" for the content of the site. It was fate for her video to be released 2 days after I began my hunt for media discussing cringe and it's power over us.

Alec LeFors for helping me with special coding and getting this website to the finish line. And for being the best brother ever.

Claire Culwell for looking over all my words and support throughout the entire year it took to bring this to life

My capstone professors, Muhammad Rahman, Sean P. Hafer, D.J. Trischler, and Patti Bresler, you guys were my biggest cheerleaders.

I couldn't have made this without the interviews and advice from Kyle Schilling, Matthew Wizinsky, and Marcus Djuhadi.

Lastly, thank you to tumblr user 2001fallenstar for the weirdcore imagery that added the perfect touch.

Thank YOU for reading and engaging with this website. I hope you leave with something new.

Contact Me!

kiva.rodeo

KIVA@LEFORS.ME