Project Context!
Make-Up is a self-directed mixed-media project that delves into deeply personal themes of self-image and societal beauty standards. Inspired by my ongoing exploration of parody and social commentary, this project continues from my earlier work, F*** Value, and expands on it by integrating photography, digital design, and physical packaging. The project’s core idea revolves around using humor and satire to confront darker, vulnerable thoughts about appearance and self-worth, wrapped in a bright, playful aesthetic.
Project Goal!
The primary goal was to create a cohesive body of work that blends personal narrative with broader social critique. Through the lens of a fictional makeup brand, Flawless Facade, and a mock teen magazine, I aimed to comment on the pressures young girls face regarding beauty and likability. The project also provided an opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone, particularly by featuring close-up self-portraits, an intimate and challenging form of self-expression.
My Role:
- Art Direction and Concept Development
- Directed the project’s visual and conceptual framework, from branding to narrative elements.
- Design and Mixed Media
- Created digital and physical assets, including magazine layouts, parody advertisements, and redesigned product packaging. The product packaging was then created into reality.
- Photography
- Captured self-portraits and product shots, experimenting with lighting and composition to enhance the project’s themes.
The Process!
- Ideation and Conceptual Development:
- Developed the concept for Flawless Facade, a fictional makeup brand designed to satirize beauty marketing tropes.
- Crafted a narrative blending humor and vulnerability, drawing from personal experiences and reflections on societal pressures.
- Visual Research and Inspiration:
- Referenced teen magazines to emulate their aesthetic, incorporating parody elements such as fake quizzes, exaggerated product claims, and a “free poster.”
- Drew inspiration from my earlier project F*** Value to maintain a consistent tone and visual style.
- Mixed-Media Execution:
- Designed parody packaging for makeup products, using fun, pink branding to draw viewers in while delivering satirical and darkly humorous messages in the product copy.
- The packaging and labeling were then printed out and placed on makeup products I bought and stripped of previous labeling.
- Shot and edited self-portraits wearing clown-adjacent makeup to symbolize the emotional layers we mask with humor.
- Laid out the mock magazine, blending digital and physical elements to create a convincing final product.
The Outcome!
Make-Up successfully conveys a multifaceted critique of beauty standards, blending introspection with social commentary. The project highlights my ability to work across mediums—photography, digital design, and packaging design—while maintaining a cohesive narrative. It also showcases my skill in addressing heavy topics through a light, humorous lens, offering an engaging yet thought-provoking experience for the viewer.
Key Takeaways!
- Pushing Boundaries
- Stepped outside my comfort zone by featuring myself as the main subject in close-up portraits.
- Versatility
- Demonstrated the ability to blend digital and physical mediums into a unified project.
- Narrative Depth
- Successfully used satire and parody to address complex, personal, and societal issues.
Credits!
- Role: Art Direction, Illustration, Photography, Design
- Tools Used: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom; DIY packaging materials
- Artist Statement: “i dont love the way I look, maybe sometimes, but very rarely. i feel like I don’t have much to offer visual wise, and I am anxious about it all the time, even in my relationship. i have so much to offer personality wise to “Make Up” for my looks, i try to be funny, witty, and charming — so please look at that instead.”