Some illustration exercises in summer. A series of “self portraits” helped me make self observation, explore body possibilities and subjective feelings, and generate inspiration from them.
Self Portraits Practices / July-Aug. 2020
Body Image Research / Aug.- Sept. 2020
Introduction:
Body image refers to the individual’s cognition and evaluation of his body. It is the earliest part of individual self-consciousness and an important basic part of self-identity. It involves the individual’s view and evaluation of his appearance, physique and physical fitness. It is multi-dimensional and multi-level, and shows different characteristics with the growth of individual age. At the same time, body image is influenced by social culture and the evaluation of important others.
In psychology, medicine, philosophy, feminism and other disciplines, there are different theoretical analysis of body image, and explore the important elements that affect people’s body image. At present, important theories include social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954), social culture theory (Thompson, 1999), objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), symbolic interaction theory (Mead, 1934). There are many measuring tools and methods about how to test people’s body image. These related theories and methods, as well as extended related concepts, provide insights for my next step of design, and helped me to generate my own “body image measurement tool” and possible design directions in the next step.
The model of self objectification theory: what identity are we when looking at our bodies? 
The model of symbolic interaction theory: external culture and values shape our view of our bodies.
How I turned these theories into design inspirations:
Loli’s Day : Visual Concepts / July-Aug. 2020
Loli’s Day: As a critique of the cuteness-oriented “Loli style” aesthetics, the core issue of this project is how to use visual techniques to achieve it? In the process of concept generation, I try to redefine what is feminine cuteness with women as the main body, so as to reshape the connotation of the festival and show its resistance. Young, disempowered and flawless female appearance (lollipop) as the standard of cuteness can be broken by sharp, uncomfortable, imperfect visual elements (thorns).
Process Drafts:
Final Concept: The Lollipop with Thorns/ The Uncomfortable Licking
The Brochure Design
