Obsession challenged me to design and develop a poster themed by a particular word. New methods of exploration were required and the typography was to be customized, altered or pure original in order to convey the right message.
After brainstorming, the word “Obsession”, the concept of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder piqued my interest as there was more to it other than the idea of infatuation. "Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental illness. It’s made up of two parts: obsessions and compulsions. People may experience obsessions, compulsions, or both, and they cause a lot of distress." - CAMH. Because of its complexity, the theme would allow for more experimentation and the opportunity to view it from a variety of angles. Many typographic experiments were explored by hand with pencil, charcoal, marker, and paint, words were cut and pasted into jumbled juxtapositions and further rendered in Illustrator.
The final 24" x 36" poster strives to depict the stresses of coping with OCD symptoms. It visualizes the feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed and controlled by intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions. Repeating words that build the silhouette of a person help portray the idea that one can lose their sense of self while trying to overcome their symptoms. For more information on OCD visit: http://tinyurl.com/mkegel3
