Collaterale
(UNIVERSITY)
POLITECNICO DI MILANO
(COURSE)
COMMUNICATION DESIGN
(CLASS)
DESIGN FOR ARTIFACTS AND COMPLEX SYSTEMS LABORATORY
(MAIN AREAS)
EDITORIAL DESIGN
(YEAR)
2021
“Collaterale. Effetti digitali indesiderati” is an independent magazine that explores the impact of Internet Addiction on mental health, particularly among young people. The editorial project was conceived as an educational tool to inform readers about a more conscious use of social networks and the web in general. The challenge was to address purely digital topics through an analogue medium. Each issue of “Collaterale” is designed to focus on one of the various mental illnesses resulting from technology misuse. Only issue zero has been produced and printed, focusing on Social Network Dysmorphophobia.
Most Italian magazines covering mental health are primarily aimed at professionals in medicine and psychology. Our magazine, however, is directed mainly at young people and teenagers, a more vulnerable audience who may need external support. The goal is to approach mental health with empathy and humanity, focusing on self-care and care for others. To stand apart from the more formal health magazines, we’ve adopted a conversational tone to make readers feel welcomed and guided through a journey of knowledge and self-awareness.
The first four main chapters of the magazine explore the themes of Dysmorphophobia and identity construction. Each chapter includes an article reworked by the editorial team, along with intimate testimonies from young people who have experienced the disorder firsthand. At the end of each chapter, there are lighter contents, such as song lyrics, films, or artistic projects.
The final section has two features: “Senza filtri,” a collection of posts from various Instagram profiles that champion body image, and “Istruzioni non incluse,” offering five tips for mindful social media use. The magazine aims not to criticize these platforms but to raise awareness about the risks of their unconsidered use. Finally, there is a special feature with frames from the audiovisual project “What Body Dysmorphic Disorder Feels Like” by Sindha Agha, produced for the BBC.
The remaining five magazine issues explore themes such as digital narcissism, social anxiety, cyber-relationship addiction, and F.O.M.O. Each cover has been designed as a removable poster that can be fully unfolded and displayed. On the back of each poster is a manifesto summarizing the “Collaterale” project and its objectives, allowing readers to choose which side to display.
