Overview:
Starting out as a desirable trait to having small feet, foot binding eventually integrated into Chinese culture and beauty standards in the 10th century. Young girls would have their foot bones broken and tightly bound, forcing their feet to grow into the position it’s constrained in with a permanent effect. It is now a banned practice, but the remaining women with “lotus feet” still live today.
Challenge:
Because Chinese foot binding is a topic that not many learn about in school today, many may find it very disturbing and not connect the concept to today’s beauty standards. Morphing our bodies is not a new concept, and has always been a common idea throughout history.
Execution:
This publication will revolve around the concept of beauty standards and how they are so impactful that it can get to the point where people augment their bodies to fit societal expectations. Visually, I want to incorporate the idea of “binding”, and have some of the type and images feel uncomfortable and tight while maintaining legibility.
What I Learned
It’s ok for publication and typography to look uncomfortable. I learned that breaking the grid occasionally or tightening the margins would fit the concept of my project more than if it didn’t. Designing my publication this way would still maintain its cohesiveness.
Further Development
More interviews or real experiences
With more time, I would have searched for more secondary source interviews of these survivors to create another spread that details more of their individual stories.
Photographing
If the publication was printed in time, I would have photographed closer shots that would show more details on the typography and paper texture.