MONO/POLY: Designing for a Post-Marriage Society
Having been raised in a traditional Chinese family where marriage was treated as the highest achievement of a person’s life, Yangying became interested in the growing number of people who are questioning monogamy as the default form of partnership. After learning of polyamory (also known as ethical non-monogamy), Yangying developed her thesis, MONO/POLY: Designing for a Post-Marriage Society, to create services, experiences, and educational games that speak to polyamorous partnerships and envision a society where monogamy is no longer the default ordering principle of human relationships.
The actor asked questions like, “What are you looking for in a relationship?” and “Have you ever heard of polyamory?”
Webbing
Webbing is an online ceremony-planning platform designed for people celebrating non-monogamous relationships. (Webbing is a play on the word “wedding,” implying a relationship ceremony of more than two.) Through the platform, users have access to many services including but not limited to the customization of invitations and souvenir designs.
Poly Pay
Poly Pay is a digital service that offers people in polyamorous partnerships online assistance to create shared financial accounts and set up efficient financial management plans. Partners who live in the same polycule can use the app to manage common expenses such as rent, dates, utility fees, etc. Poly Pay visualizes each polycule’s spending habits and financial contributions, offering users transparency and convenience.
BL!ND DATE
Bl!nd Date was a public dating experience meant to challenge “normal” concepts of dating. Participants went on a “date” with an actor who was behind a curtain. The actor asked questions like, “What are you looking for in a relationship?” and “Have you ever heard of polyamory?” After building a personal connection with the participant, the actor opened the curtain and revealed their committed partner sitting right next to them, asking the participant whether they would be open to participating in a polyamorous relationship. Bl!nd Date was designed to increase the visibility of non-monogamous relationships and educate people about unconventional kinds of relationships.
Happily Ever After
Happily Ever After is a Game of Life-inspired board game centered around human relationships. The game draws on real-life situations, such as being in a committed relationship, breaking up, facing social judgment (towards sexuality, marital status, background and more), joining supportive marginalized communities, and navigating Valentine’s Day. Happily Ever After is intended to create conversations between peers, friends, and families about different types of relationship structures.
To learn more about Yangying Ye’s work, take a look at her projects in more detail at www.yangyingye.com.