'Confessions of a First Job Dropout' is a visual essay I created for Sunstroke Magazine, an online and print Gen Z magazine.
I wrote an essay about the experience of my first job at an ice cream place. I then translated this writing into an 8-page visual essay using photo cutouts in story-specific shapes. I then gave an overall design to each one that made a creative visual thread run through the piece.
I used a minimalist design philosophy and included thoughtful blank space to create the the visual essay's design. Against the pastel purple color that aligns with Sunstroke's color palette, I assembled collage-like images to regale a personal story of first jobs and growing up.
I always thought that art was the only way someone could share personal stories and narratives through their work. Before doing this visual essay, I didn't think design could go to a personal level. I though it was clinical, meant to be functional above all else, but this project changed that perpective.
Design CAN move, it can inspire, it can be a testament to the human condition just like art. These choices I saw as clinical, like choosing what font to use, or what grid type and layout, are actually a very salient way to share ideas that are visually seen and processed. This project was fun to do but most importantly, changed how I designed and saw design from then on.
