I Read My Mind Through You: designing personal communication in the public realm
As graphic designers, we’re trained to be rational, systematic, and concise. In contrast, human emotion is irrational, passionate, and complex. By projecting personal experience into the public sphere, this study explores the tension between these two mindsets. I Read My Mind Through You elevates the voice of the banal to a call for empathy and renewed sentimentality.
This body of work originates from a love affair with turns of phrase, an affinity for the absurd, and the current cultural obsession with self-disclosure. My works co-opts everday communication formats—street flyers and bulletin boards—to promote a shared intimate dialogue. By nature of their scale, public placement and casual tone, the projects promote introspection and encourage participation.
My thesis is concerned with the disconnect between public modes of expression and the intimacy of our private lives—and aims to instigate dialogue between the two. This body of works demonstrates that design can be a sincere advocate for the return of sentiment within the public consciousness.