As part of my #throwbackthursday and #flashbackfriday, I am revisiting some personal work. I created Help Yourself as my final project for a bookbinding, papermaking class. I have always been interested in self-reflection and believe we (sometimes) hold the solutions to some of our inner problems. For this project, I produced 18 hand-bound books that were accompanied with a small pencil and gave each of my peers one to fill out. I wanted them to have a tool to deal with common issues that one goes through while in college such as a feeling anxious or stressed.
Obleas
For a self-branding exploration exercise, I searched for ways in which I could brand myself with attributes that I hold dear to my character, such as my love for my culture and affinity for bright colors. With that in mind, I began by displaying my first name, Ana. I chose to use a Mexican treat that I was familiar with called Obleas. Obleas are thin wafers that are often eaten with sweet toppings and are commonly consumed treats in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Venezuela, and Mexico. The material suited my exploration because of its colors, shape, and Latin American roots.
