The Tale of Hot Pot
Book Design + Visual System
Defamiliarization, the feeling I experienced after studying abroad, became the starting point of this project. This book explores
the sense of unfamiliarity and insecurity I faced as an international student adjusting
to a new environment. To express this, I
use the metaphor of a hotpot to represent
my experience.
the sense of unfamiliarity and insecurity I faced as an international student adjusting
to a new environment. To express this, I
use the metaphor of a hotpot to represent
my experience.
I believe many people share a similar sense of unfamiliarity and insecurity when they arrive in a new place. I deal with that feeling by connecting the unfamiliar with the familiar. Through my own experiences and observations, I noticed that the streets are laid out in neat square blocks, which reminded me of the grids in a hotpot.
I realized that my grocery shopping process reflects how I adapt to life in a foreign country. To get what I need, I go to both Asian and American stores—just
as I navigate between different cultures, friendships, and ways of living.
as I navigate between different cultures, friendships, and ways of living.
my balance in life, and at the same time, gathered enough good ingredients to make a tasty hotpot.
for the hot pot party, keychains as giveaways, with tote bags and hot pads inspired by food. I hope this project
can help other international students living in unfamiliar environments find their
own way to navigate, adapt, and build their own rhythm.