i am not american is a multi-narrative book visually representing my own thoughts about the Declaration of Independence — taking part in a conversation about the complexities and chaotic nature of the American identity.
CHALLENGE
The project was presented to examine the Declaration of Independence through my lens as it relates to current American culture and add my narrative to play in conjunction with the document. Additionally, I needed to create a robust typographic identity and integrate images to create a cohesive visual system.
Scope of Work
Print Design: Booklet/Zine
Research and Definition of Narrative
Visual Language Exploration
Typography Exploration
What does it mean to be American? Am I wrong about what it means to be American? What does everyone else think about being American?
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I'M ASKING
In the beginning, I was very uncomfortable with this project. The source material and my view of American culture was a space I only thought about a little and avoided. However, this uncomfortable feeling was the direction I needed. I could question, reflect, and explore the uncharted territory of my emotions and thoughts. As such, this direction became the fingerprint of my curiosity and criticism about what it means to be American.
A bold color palette, disruptive typography, and a critical attitude lend to a subjective visual system based on being expressive and curious.
Who else has a folder full of scanned, ripped, bitmapped images, an aggressive marker brush, and a tendency to question everything?
i am american
SOLUTION
i am not american is an invitation for thought, curiosity, and design philosophy of the world around me. Emotion and expression were at the forefront throughout the process, experimenting with those qualities through typography, imagery, and layout design. The narrative ends with the understanding of my own American identity. Still, I must ask myself - What other parts of my identity have I not explored?
