Propaganda & Persuasion

• To what extent can the study of Nazi propaganda inform our understanding of persuasive digital design today?
• Comparing the visual/interaction strategies of historic propaganda posters with today’s political memes and social media campaigns.
• The role of typography, colour, and symbolism in shaping ideology — from Spanish Civil War posters to modern UI/UX.
• How interface design today inherits techniques of manipulation from historical propaganda.

📡 Control of Information

• Soviet/Russian information control vs. algorithmic control on social media — parallels in limiting or shaping public opinion.
• The politics of censorship: from banned books and underground press in the Spanish Civil War to modern digital takedowns.
• What lessons can be learned from historical information control systems when designing ethical digital platforms today?

🧠 Psychology & Behaviour

• The psychology of persuasion: comparing historic propaganda methods with dark patterns in apps/websites.
• How fear, hope, and belonging were exploited in political propaganda, and how similar emotional levers are pulled in digital design.
• From mass rallies to mass feeds: the evolution of interaction methods that create collective identity.

🎨 Design & Symbolism

• Political posters of the Spanish Civil War as early “interfaces” — simplified communication to guide behaviour.
• Comparing the design systems of Nazi Germany (uniforms, architecture, symbols) with modern branding in political movements.
• Iconography and interactivity: how design creates trust or obedience across eras.