Reconstructing Your Digital Self Workshop

Introducing Holition Explores

This month, Holition is proud to unveil Holition Explores, an all-new insights page dedicated to dissecting emerging trends in luxury retail, fashion, beauty, and technology.

Rooted in four pillars, Pixels & Perception, Synthetic Human, Blurred Realities, and Quantum Individual, each of these reflect a giga trend shaping how we perceive, interact, and experience both the physical and digital worlds. 

Following the success of Holition’s virtual panel series, Holition Talks, we’re very excited to introduce the newest additions to the Holition Explores brand, starting off first with Holition Plays.

Together, these experiences serve as a space where curiosity and innovation meet community and conversation - through engaging activities that seek to explore our four pillars throughout the year through diverse perspectives and meaningful dialogue.

Holition Plays: Encouraging Collective Exploration Through Interactive Workshops

Holition Plays is designed to encourage experiential learning and connection. Our workshops prompt participants to explore relevant concepts in a tactile, collaborative way, to gain new insights, reflect and constructively reshape our perspectives around key trends and shifts within the consumer retail landscape. 

Our first Holition Plays workshop entitled “Reconstructing Your Digital Self,” aimed to do just that.

Coming from last September’s Holition Talks panel session on Pixels & Perception: Digital Identities, our inaugural workshop, in partnership with Dr. Ana Javornik of University of Bristol and Dr. Bethan Alexander of the University of Arts London, London College of Fashion sought to encourage contemplation and reflection on how we present ourselves online, its implications on our individual self-perception and identity, and how
we can show up more authentically both in the physical and digital worlds.

Reconstructing Your Digital Self

With technology permeating almost every aspect of life, our virtual presence has become a fundamental extension of who we are. This workshop brought together various perspectives—including Dr. Bethan Alexander from the London College of Fashion and her students—to dive into the question of what it truly means to have a “digital self.”

Building a More Authentic Online Identity

We kicked things off with a thought-provoking talk by Dr Ana Javorik on “Identity Building on Online Platforms.” She explained how digital spaces give us room for creative self-expression but also add pressure to project a flawless version of ourselves. 

Dr Javornik described how social media often acts as a double-edged sword: while it can help us connect, share experiences with our peers, and offer creative ways for self-expression, it can also make us feel isolated and even dependent on others for external validation. 

As our increasing time online shapes our self-concept and experiences, Dr Javornik emphasised that understanding and clarifying our self-concept in the virtual space is essential. A well-defined sense of self contributes to personal growth and a more meaningful, authentic life.

Using our Hands to Cut out the Noise

Next, participants began a hands-on activity where they mapped out the platforms that shape their online lives, to help everyone assess, how each platform gives them a unique way to express themselves, shaping their online interactions and relationships differently.

The main highlight of Holition Plays was the collaging activity, where participants looked deeper into their digital selves by tangibly creating visual expressions of their online presence.

With screens down, and hands in full collaging gear, the participants explored these main areas of their online identity:

Online Representation: Participants thought about how they represent themselves—whether through images, videos, avatars, or words.
 

Connections and Communication: They looked at who they connect with across various platforms and how those interactions differ based on the platform.
 

Emotions and Self-Reflection: Finally, they examined how they feel about their online self, thinking about things like authenticity and the tendency to seek approval.

These exercises helped participants untangle their digital personas, exploring both the intentional and accidental ways they present themselves online.

Reimagining the Digital Self: Focusing on Authenticity

In the final part of the workshop, we encouraged everyone to picture their ideal digital self. Using prompts to guide their reflections, they envisioned a more authentic online identity—one that reflects their values and goals.

Many participants felt a greater sense of freedom on platforms like Pinterest and Spotify, where they could express themselves without the pressures often associated with more performance-focused platforms like Instagram. This approach not only helped participants think about how they want to engage online but also sparked discussions on the role brands and platforms could play in supporting healthier digital interactions.  Participants also agreed that by promoting authentic and meaningful interactions, platforms could create a more positive experience for users.

Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

The Reconstructing Your Digital Self workshop emphasised the importance of mindful engagement with our online identities. Participants left with a clearer picture of their digital habits and fresh ideas for creating a more genuine online presence through the collaging exercise and exchange of insights that took place throughout the session.

Showing up with Intention

We encourage you to reflect on your own digital self: Is your online presence true to who you are? Are there ways you can engage more meaningfully online? 

Follow us on social media and subscribe to Holition’s newsletter for more insights and findings from our first Holition Plays: Reconstructing Your Digital Self workshop.

To learn more about how you can get involved with our Holition Explores initiatives, send us an email at marketing@holition.com