Shorter is an installation that questions current patterns of information production and consumption. Composed of seven oversized segment displays, it delivers news headlines in a rapid sequence of words, each no longer than seven letters—based on studies showing that, for easy readability in English, words should average five letters. Similarly, research by the American Press Institute indicates that sentences under eight words are the easiest for anyone to understand.
The rise of short-form content reshapes digital communication, raising concerns about its social impact. This project serves both as a commentary on the phenomenon and an experiment in attention retention and information perception. These two challenges define all digital content, yet they become paradoxically more pronounced in short-form media. The fast-paced consumption creates an illusion of accessibility, but the lack of context and forced prioritization of certain information over others can lead to a shallow understanding and a premature sense of oversaturation.
Between news bulletins, which run every half hour for 5 to 10 minutes, the installation displays an abstract light sequence using its 84 segment components. This visual play references the role of entertainment in news programming and its use as a tool for capturing attention.
