EMPOWER US CONFINE
This publication uses the widely recognized hashtag symbol (#) as both a visual and conceptual metaphor to explore adolescent self-expression and social conformity in the digital age. By juxtaposing hashtags in various typefaces with simplified human body silhouettes, the book reveals the tension between categorical uniformity and individual difference.
The layout transitions from minimal, text-based pages to increasingly experimental visual compositions, guiding readers to reflect on how digital tags influence adolescent identity and body perception.
The cover design draws inspiration from another project outcome, the interactive installation #Armor. Its interlocking pattern originates from the 3D-printed hashtag modules, embedding the dual metaphor of “connection” and “restriction” directly into the book’s physical form. This visual continuity reinforces the project’s central theme of social belonging versus suppressed individuality.
Through the contrast between typographic diversity and symbolic form, the publication creates a tactile and contemplative space, inviting readers to consider how social media labels, while meant to connect, may also quietly confine.