WHEN I HAD TO WEAR A DRESS

This project was created as my senior thesis exhibition. When I Had To Wear A Dress is a personal, autobiographical series that explores formative moments in my life through poster design. The exhibition uses the dress as a recurring visual and emotional symbol to reflect on people’s shared identity, memory, and the complexities of growing up.

I developed the concept for the exhibition and was responsible for every stage of its execution. I sourced the dresses from my own closet, designed and printed each poster, and curated the physical installation with a focus on user experience and experiential design. This included considering flow, spatial layout, and how viewers would emotionally engage with the work in the exhibition space.

MY APPROACH

I approached this project through a deeply personal and reflective lens, aiming to use design as a tool for storytelling and emotional connection. I photographed each dress on a hanger against a blank wall to strip it of its original context, allowing the viewer to focus on the garment as a symbol rather than an outfit. Each poster paired the image with a title, either serious, sentimental, or humorous, and supporting text that offered personal context, giving insight into the memory or emotion tied to that specific dress.

The layout and typography was intentionally minimal to let the dress and story take center stage, while the copy balanced playfulness with clarity to set the tone of the narratives. I explored various layouts and type combinations to find a rhythm that could carry both the visual and emotional weight of the project. The goal was to create an intimate, relatable experience that encouraged viewers to reflect on their own childhood clothing and the memories those items hold, turning my personal history into a shared moment of nostalgia and introspection.

"From a young age, I gravitated toward tomboyish outfits, intentionally rejecting femininity. When I was required to wear a dress, it felt like a deliberate choice, representing a significant shift in how I expressed my identity. As I've grown, my relationship to dresses has evolved, and through this project, I want to invite viewers to reflect on their own coming-of-age journeys regarding gender and self-expression."