02 / Book Design
What are the aesthetic values and standards of beauty in contemporary Chinese society? Who is considered to be “beautiful?”
I gathered numerous photographs of people on Chinese social media platforms and looked for patterns within the photos I found. An overwhelming majority of people posted photos of themselves with light-colored or dark brown hair, and wore light-colored contact lenses, somewhat resembling the physical traits of Caucasians.
Is this what “beauty” is? A set of rigid guidelines that grants individuals the status of being “beautiful” once all the criteria are met?
The Inspiration
I came across “tests” online for one’s facial appearance. The tests were based on the user’s photo that he/she could upload, using an algorithm to analyze the photo, then producing a score out of 100.
The Survey
I conducted a survey targeting the people around me.
“Do you have appearance anxiety?”
“What score would you give yourself?”
“Why do you feel anxious about your appearance?”
“What do you think about plastic surgery?”
The Book
Silkscreen Printing
The covers for the book were wrapped with surgical fabric. The cover designs were hand-printed through a silkscreen.
Book Binding
The book is bound together with three steel screws/screw-posts. The specific binding methodology was chosen with the intention of creating a serious, heavy, and solemn atmosphere.
