Little Pockets of the World

Project

editorial design
BFA CD thesis

CLIENT

parsons school
of design

CONTENT

24 pages
8.5″ x 11″
saddle-stitched

Timeline

may 2021

While trying to find a correlation between the concepts of shame and space during my senior thesis research, I came across Hikikomori (引きこもり), a Japanese term as an extremely socially recluse individual, abnormally avoidance of social contact. These individuals hide away from society, withdrawn to only the space of their immediate rooms and make little to no contact with the physical world. It was the description for an alarming percentage of the Japanese population that are not only ignored, but demonized.

In this editorial entitled, “Little Pockets of the World,” my goal was bring attention to this demographic and capture a glimpse into their lives. Rather than see these people as simple recluses, I aim to present these Hikikomori as a broken community that need empathy rather than shame.

Photos ↓

Here are a series of images visualizing the structure and concept of serialized pages. The book begins showing only a couple images of Hikikomori at a time, reaching the center fold to show every image in the book. Following with a sequential loss of images as the book ends similarly to the beginning; secluded, single images.