Imperfect Index Vol 2 Moth Design For Life & Death

Salkeld, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2626-965X and Rudolph, Ashley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9666-9099 (2025) Imperfect Index Vol 2 Moth Design For Life & Death. Imperfect Index, 2 (N/A). pp. 122-125. ISSN N/A

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Abstract / Summary

How can we talk about death, dying and grief in the digital realm?
The emotionalisation of graphic symbols to express our inner world of feelings to the outside world.

Initiated after a conversation following the massacre at Utøya, MOTH
reflected upon the lack of suitable visual symbols used to articulate
universal sympathy in the context of death and bereavement. Most of the social media messages posted in response to the massacre used
the �. This prompted inspiring questions about the lack of
appropriate and meaningful visual signifiers of mortality and highlighted
our inability to discuss the complexities of death as freely as we discuss love.
The Paper discusses the complexities of creating a collective digital vocabulary of pictorial signs which articulate and communicate the nuances of death, dying and grief. Utilising the emotionalisation of graphic symbols to express our inner world of feelings to the outside world.

Lexicons and systems of pictorial signs represent democratisation of knowledge through [cultural] participation1. Overcoming linguistic barriers and reflecting divergent socio-cultural influences which are constantly being re-negotiated. Helping us to navigate space and each other. Functioning or engaging as universal forms of communication [rejecting or reinforcing stereotypes?]. Or as personal expressions and poetic forms of visual language. To re-imagine how we talk about death, dying and grief in the digital realm.

The work is practice-based and practice-led research to critically reflect on the role of design as it relates to death, dying and mourning [on both the individual, community, and broader cultural levels]. With a focus on semiotics, object ontology and material culture. Design is positioned as both discursive and speculative.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	N/A
ISSN:	N/A
Subjects:	Communication > Visual & Graphic Design
Department:	School of Communication
Depositing User:	Nicola Salkeld
Date Deposited:	02 Dec 2025 14:26
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2025 14:26
URI:	https://repository.falmouth.ac.uk/id/eprint/6257

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