Memoir Ensemble

I can recall exactly what I wore in each moment. My closet overflows with memories. Whether I remember the situation first, then visualize myself in the clothing I wore – or if I glance at the clothes, then place myself back into the situation – the garment tells the story.

Graphic design is a means of communication. It is a problem solving process that begins by identifying and defining a problem through a simple statement or brief. My design brief for this project is: create a garment that reads as a book.

The pieces are developed from journal entries, then designed with expressive typography and stitch patterns that reflect the tone of the story. The colors match the actual garment I own; the paper weaves to symbolize how internal thoughts, objects, and memories all entwine.

The graduate school experience is a marathon. Some days you feel like you’re running down the right path; other days you feel like you should crawl in a ditch and hide until the race is over. The stories within this series showcase moments from my experiences along the path – from the first thoughts about applying to school to the completion of this series. I hold these journal entries close, as one would with a garment. The memoir ensemble is m.e.