Jackson Ma

TRACE Exhibition

Bachelor of Design Interaction Web Human Centred Design Activism Social Technology

Translated Record of Actions, Clicks, and Exposure

This project addresses the widespread ignorance surrounding digital consent and the hidden risks of data surveillance, particularly among young adults who routinely accept terms and conditions without understanding the implications. Focusing on platforms like Spotify as a case study, the project examines how personal data is collected, tracked, and commodified under surveillance capitalism, often without users’ awareness. The research asks: How might we make people aged 16–28 more aware of the risks in data sharing and the terms they agree to online?

The login screen establishes an unsettling atmosphere through minimal contrast and blurred figures, suggesting anonymity and digital distance. This design choice reinforces TRACE’s critique of data consent and the hidden nature of surveillance.

The introduction greets the user by name, immediately personalising the experience. The bold typography and subtle glitch accents reflect how online identity is constructed and manipulated through systems of data recognition.

The photo grid visualises how fragmented digital traces—location tags, posts, and platform logs—can reconstruct a full identity. Each image includes source tags to highlight how “public” information forms a detailed personal profile.