I Wasn't There
Overview
Absence speaks louder than words
<I Wasn't There> is a set of two booklets enclosed in a box cover, exploring the themes of absence and existence through two different poems. It examines how memory, imagination, and personal histories are shaped in the absence of direct experience and how these gaps inform our understanding of existence.
Year
December 2024
Duration
5 Weeks
Type
Editorial
Role
- Graphic Designer
Tools Used
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
Exploring the concepts of absence and existence, I reinterpreted them by three poems and a series of black-and-white photographs, presenting how these two concepts can be perceived across multiple mediums.
Challenges
The main challenge was translating abstract concepts – absence and existence — across multiple mediums, including
photography, poetry, and editorial writing. This required a clear understanding of the themes before developing a
cohesive visual and narrative system.
To address this, I curated photographs that visually reflect these concepts and selected poems from authors with diverse
perspectives. I also incorporated some commentaries to connect these elements, emphasizing that absence and existence
are not defined by a single viewpoint, but shaped collectively across different contexts.
Ultimately, it was needed to distill these complex ideas into a format that can be both visually engaging and
conceptually clear for the reader.
Approach & Key Process
Background Research
- Examined how absence, memory, and fragmentation can be visually represented.
Target Audiences
- Considered how readers emotionally engage with fragmented storytelling.
Literary Analysis
- Analyzed the structure, pacing, and thematic layers of the text.
- Identified key moments that shape the emotional rhythm of the book.
Visual Trends
- Researched contemporary editorial and experimental book design.
- Studied how typography and layout contribute to atmosphere and meaning.
Book Specification
- Determined format, size, pacing, and physical structure of the book.
- Considered how material choices affect reading experience.
Layout & Grid
- Established layout rules to guide rhythm, spacing, and hierarchy.
- Explored how absence and silence could be expressed through layout.
Book Concept Development
- Defined the relationship between text, negative space, and imagery.
Build Moodboards
Visual Direction
- Developed the visual language through typography, spacing, and restraint.
- Refined a system that supports emotional pacing rather than decoration.
Content & Composition
- Structured text placement to emphasize pauses, absence, and silence.
- Balanced readability with expressive layout decisions.
Prototyping (Printing)
- Tested sequencing, pacing, and materiality through printed mockups.
- Refined layout decisions through iterative adjustments.
Mockup Creation
Assembly & Final Polish
Present
Theme
Absence × Existence
<I Wasn't There> is a booklet series that brings together three poems under a shared title. Using a strictly black-and-white color palette, the project visually and conceptually explores the relationship between absence and existence. Each poem is paired with monochromatic photography, where black and white imagery reinforces the tension between what is present and what is missing, allowing absence itself to become a form of presence.
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