UK – LifeCredit is a game that imagines a possible dystopian future in which a social credit system is run by a private company in the UK.
LifeCredit, which was created by multidisciplinary designer Diana Ganea, gives players a chance to experience how it feels to be subject to social scoring. Set in the year 2050, players assume the role of an office worker. Throughout the game, they face complications as they try and change their job placement. Loosely based on China’s social ranking system, players are scored and ranked based on their actions with the game designed to raise larger questions about the societal consequences of such a system.
‘A discussion of political structures and social systems in China and the UK are beyond the scope of this project,’ says Ganea. ‘However, it is possible to imagine that even in a democratic society such as the UK, a social credit score could exist. It is possible to envisage a somewhat different set-up compared to China, where several companies could operate different types and levels of scores in a rather competitive market.’
As brands and consumers re-evaluate the power of innovation, the project highlights the need for a moral code fit for a digital era.