Ocean Beach Billboards

I explored visual dissonance as a way to critique branding by creating a video that compares two forms of visual messaging that are pervasive throughout San Francisco: tech billboards and graffiti. While both operate as signals to specific audiences, they often leave the broader public out of the loop, creating a sense of alienation from the cultures they represent. In the video, tech billboards feel sterile and disconnected from human nature; when placed alongside the kinetic, expressive presence of graffiti, the contrast becomes especially striking. I found myself more engaged and drawn toward the graffiti—toward a culture I’ve never been a part of or fully understand—because it carries evidence of a real person and a lived story behind the work. The video was composed using footage I shot at Ocean Beach, into which I overlaid simple sketches of tech billboards commonly seen around the city. I filmed on an iPhone using a gimbal, and compiled and edited the final piece using After Effects and Premiere.