London university students, Carrie Bale, Doug Hindson and Jooyoung Ryo, created a short stop motion film 'Skew' that comments on the monotonous cycle of daily life in the digital world. The name Skew originated from the word Skeuomorph, which is an object or feature that imitates the design of a similar object in another material.
The short clip features a hand made smartphone that is modeled after the shape and system of an iPhone and its interface. It also imitates buttons being clicked, the alarm clock being set, reading the morning newspaper, map directions etc. Skew has no soundtrack apart from the occasional clicks and clinging of the smartphone. The switching of windows on the phone is continuously repeated, the directions on the map go to and from destinations, alarm clocks are set on a day to day basis and newspapers are read page to page.
Not only is Skew stunningly visual, it also conveys the message of the humdrum of everyday life in the digital realm.
Monotonous Smartphone Skeuomorphs
Skew is a Stop Motion Clip on Everyday Life in the Digital World
Trend Themes
1. Minimalist Design Aesthetics - Companies in the tech industry could innovate by designing smartphone interfaces with minimalist features that reduce monotony in everyday life.
2. Digital Wellness - Businesses focused on digital wellness could leverage Skew's message to offer products and services that promote mindful engagement with technology and mitigate its negative effects on daily living.
3. Experimental Film Techniques - There is an opportunity for filmmakers and production companies to leverage experimental film techniques, such as stop motion animation, to shed light on technological saturation in our daily lives through artful storytelling.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - Technology companies could use Skew's critique of smartphone design to develop more inventive, user-friendly, and engaging digital products.
2. Digital Media - Digital media firms can use Skew's message to develop content and products that helps customers create a balance between their digital and physical lives.
3. Film and Video Production - Film and video production studios have an opportunity to leverage technology to create films that explore the complex relationships between humans and technology.