Platinum Winner of the International Architecture & Design Awards 2026

Variable Playback Speed for Short-form Video

Conceptual

Communication & Networking

Completed / Built / Student Category

Architect / Designer:

Ziyu Cheng

Country:

China

In an age dominated by short-form media and constant scrolling, sustained reading has become increasingly rare. This project explores the restless psychological state shaped by fragmented digital consumption, with illustration serving as the primary narrative language.

The visual system contrasts overstimulated, screen-like compositions with calmer, immersive scenes that symbolize focused reading. Layered frames, circular motifs, and repeated digital elements reflect algorithm-driven feeds and fractured attention, while softer spatial transitions and more stable imagery suggest depth, reflection, and mental presence.

Rather than depicting reading in a literal manner, the illustrations translate abstract conditions—distraction, acceleration, immersion—into symbolic visual forms. Shifts in density, scale, and compositional balance guide viewers through different states of awareness, creating a gradual movement from visual noise to contemplative clarity. The project ultimately positions illustration as a tool for social observation, capturing the tension between fleeting consumption and meaningful engagement in the digital era.