Yi Wan — BFA Fashion Design 2025

Systems & Society

UNSPORTSMANLIKE

My thesis explores how toxicity in competitive video games isn’t just a side effect—it’s by design. Through ranked systems, microtransactions, and “banter” that’s really just harassment in disguise, games push players into cycles of harm. So I flipped the script. I created wearable art—garments that restrict movement to physically mirror the emotional weight of digital abuse. It’s giving: “if you’re gonna make us feel it online, let’s make it real-life uncomfy too.” By turning invisible pain into something you can literally wear, I’m challenging gamers, designers, and companies to rethink how we play—and who gets hurt in the process.

Image: My signature design language fuses ropes and elastic bands into every piece to spark those full‑on bondage vibes—like you’re totally caught in a toxic game you can’t quit.

Image: I pepper my pieces with soccer‑ and sports‑inspired details—think jersey mesh, goal‑net overlays, and elastic “cleat” straps—because growing up streaming FC25 turned the pitch into my second stage. The athletic motifs channel that electric rush of a last‑minute goal and the ritual of pre‑game prep, mirroring how gamers hype up before a match. By blending sport’s teamwork vibes and competitive edge into my designs, I’m celebrating both the camaraderie of the locker room and the solo grind of the gaming world—showing that whether you’re on the field or behind a controller, you’re always playing to win.

Image: I deliberately weave straps, ropes, and rubber‑banded cuffs around the sleeves and wrists so your hands feel locked down—simple moves like zipping a zipper or scrolling your phone turn into a full‑on boss fight. By literally binding the arms, each garment makes you hyper‑aware of how constriction slows you down, inviting you to experience the frustration of being stuck in place and the triumph of pushing through it.

Bio

Hi, I’m Yi Wan, a streamer and researcher dissecting the hidden toxicity of online gaming. With over 1,500 hours in competitive titles like EA Sports FC 25, I’ve witnessed firsthand how games engineer hostility—both as a perpetrator and victim of trash-talk. My thesis, UNSPORTSMANLIKE, uses wearable art and player data to expose how virtual cruelty spills into real-world harm. I’m now working to turn gaming communities into spaces where empathy outranks aggression.

Link to my live stream