OVERVIEW

‘Don’t Look Under My Sink’ is a collective visual anthology that brings together personal narratives, each offering a unique perspective on themes of identity, self-exploration, and human experience. My chapter of this anthology, delves into my deeply personal journey with body image and PCOS. The project is an editorial expression of my personal voice, developed through introspection, research, and storytelling. It reflects a mix of authenticity and design, transforming an intimate story into a visually engaging and relatable narrative. By blending personal insights with broader themes of body neutrality, the work serves as both a creative and editorial exploration of identity and acceptance.
Tools used :

EDITORIALY, YOURS

Project brief

‘Editorially Yours was a 4-month collaborative publication design project exploring the power of personal storytelling and visual authorship. It challenged dominant narratives by blending personal experiences with broader social realities, creating a reflective visual anthology. As visual authors, editors, and designers, we critically examined narratives, curated content, and designed visuals to ensure clarity, authenticity, and engagement.

This project honed skills in building naritives, publishing, and design strategy while emphasizing responsibility in crafting inclusive and impactful narratives. Personally, it allowed me to reconnect with my teenage self, fostering vulnerability and authenticity in my work. It highlighted the transformative power of design as a tool for connection, reflection, and change, helping visualize feelings shared by many, but hard to articulate.

Comparing paper types with test prints

brainstorming themes

Testing mock layouts

Brainstorming activity: Breaking concept visually as lines and dots

MY PERSONAL VOICE

Story and context

My relationship with my body has been shaped by challenges. Since I was a teen, being exposed to unattainable beauty standards fostered deep insecurities within me, altering my self perception in ways I never accounted for. Being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome intensified these insecurities. Striving for perfection led to a disconnect, where I felt at war with my body, as I neglected the kindness it desserved to have. Over time, I embraced my condition, shifting from dissatisfaction to acceptance, focusing on health over perfection.

Through this thesis, I aimed to highlight the evolving nature of identity shaped by hormones, treatments, body image and connect with women facing similar struggles. Promoting body neutrality by sharing my journey and using storytelling as a tool for empathy and activism, I explored strategies to move from conflict to acceptance, fostering a healthier relationship with the body.

RESEARCH PROCESS

Visit to Pressworks

My wall of building thoughts and ideas

Market research at book stores

Thinking with mind maps flowcharts

My sonography scan: 2024

Rupi Kaur’s poetry: The Sun and Her Flowers

Rupi Kaur’s poetry: The Sun and Her Flowers

Spectrum interview: College girls and PCOS.

I’ve conducted a multifaceted research approach in order to really bring out the depth in my storytelling and visual creation, by combining personal reflection with insights from various sources. I began by examining my own experiences with PCOS through autoethnography, delving into the emotional and physical impact of the condition. A literature review provided theoretical understanding on shame, vulnerability, anxiety and self-compassion from works like those of Brené Brown and Rupi Kaur. Focus group and indivisual interviews with women of different age groups, provided diverse perspectives on the challenges of living with PCOS. Visual research, drawing inspiration from artists like Ian Woods, Devika Sundar, and Jyasjot Singh Hans, helped me develop a unique visual style for the project. Analysis of Ted Talks on body image and self-acceptance further informed my narrative and visual direction. In-depth research for my term paper on PCOS, body positivity, and body neutrality provided a strong foundation for understanding the complexities of the condition and advocating for body neutrality. Finally, field visits to Pressworks and bookstores, along with masterclasses on journaling, creative visualization, and creative writing, helped me translate research into tangible outputs and refine the storytelling approach.

VISUALS

COMING FULL CIRCLE

My chapter, "In My Ex-cyst-ence," helped me confront and understand the experiences of my past self while embracing my present self. I wanted to set that tone with my cover image which features a photo of my me right now on a flap that, when opened, reveals a photo of teenage me, symbolizing that although I have expereinced this journey of healing and acceptance, my past experiences are still a part of who I am, and I don’t want to disregard how my body felt back then. Every texture, edit and verse of poetry, helped me reclaim parts of myself which I had lost along the way. This deep dive into my personal history allowed me to process the emotional and physical challenges I faced and ultimately arrive at a place of greater acceptance and self-compassion. Sharing my story out in the world, with this raw and authentic take on body image, I hope for it to act as a safety net for those who were not able to be vocal about their struggles with the same.

I want to thank my amazing project mentor, Devangana Dash. This book and story would never have come to life it wasn’t for her detailed guidance. Her constant effort and belief in my potential pushed me to craft a narrative that does justice to this deeply personal story. Thank you for helping me create something that has a special place in my heart now!

THANK YOU FOR READING ! THANK YOU FOR READING !THANK YOU FOR READING !THANK YOU FOR READING !

NEXTMyntra