Rumination Concept Project
Student @ MassArt | Communication Design Certificate
Jan. 5, 2026–Jan. 17, 2026
A visualization of the hair anxiety I experienced that led me to shave my head. Created from concept to final design over the course of two weeks.
Project Brief:
Create a composition that serves as proof of concept related to a chosen topic that utilizes text and analog components.
Final Concept Statement:
"The suffocating ruminations on the inevitable, damaged state of my hair."
FINAL DESIGN:
Main Ideas and Design Decisions:
Unhealthy attachment to my hair
FONT: mimic coily hair texture → Script font
FONT: unfriendly cursive → An angular script font
COLOR: red → false, overinflated sense of danger
COLOR: black → negative, dismal
COLOR SCHEME: limited → black and white thinking
Incomprehensible and overwhelming thoughts
FONT: tight tracking and leading
TEXT: layered to be illegible
TEXT: rotated and repeated to create a spinning, noisy texture
TEXT: stretched and squashed
NEGATIVE SPACE & SCALE: the frame as my head, nearly filled with thoughts on my hair
I am not my ruminations or anxiety
TEXT: part of my chosen quote
COLOR: white → sane metacognition vs. the dark, echoing, intrusive thoughts
PROCESS:
Concept Development:
Initial Topic → | Emotions → | Inspiring Memory → | Distilled → |
Natural Hair Journey | Negative (Envy, Frustration, Grief) | Second 'Big Chop' | Why Did I Shave My Head? |
“I shaved my head because I wouldn’t stop ruminating over damaged hair I couldn’t even fix.”
Word Associations:
[images]
Mind Maps:
[images]
Lotus Blossoms:
[images]
Crazy 8s:
[images]
Defining 'Rumination':
Incomprehensible onslaught of negative thoughts, memories, feelings, problems (and their causes/consequences)
Effects:
Worsens distress, depression and anxiety
Hinders problem-solving
Impairs normal functioning
How it Feels:
confusing, never-ending, overwhelming, intense, intrusive
Chosen Quote:
“Shut up, she tells her monkey mind. Please shut up, you picker of nits, presser of bruises, counter of losses, fearer of failures, collector of grievances future and past.”
― Leni Zumas, Red Clocks
ANALOG COMPONENT:
I stretched different textured braiding hair to represent the damage I caused through over-manipulation (traction alopecia, heat damage, tangles).
