Different Body
June 2025
An expression of the female disabled
experience through type and collage.
explores how perceptions and ideals around beauty might be challenged through a self-reflection of
disabled experiences.
The publication explores my self-acceptance journey, detailing my experiences of disability throughout different stages of my life, from hating my disability throughout childhood to finally embracing my
disability as a young adult. Experimental typography
and publication design are used to express the emotion, personal feelings, and disabled perspectives experienced throughout each stage to intensify the written content.
This sheds light on the disabled experience and
attempt to conform to beauty ideals. Sharing disabled voices can empower disabled women to embrace
their disability and encourages change around how
we perceive disability.
Project Abstract
Physically disabled women are more affected by the pressures of Western beauty than their non-disabled peers, resulting in disabled women experiencing lower self-esteem and body image. This practice-led research project implemented an autoethnographic framework
to articulate a woman’s experience with disability. It aims to challenge current perceptions of beauty and shed light on disabled experiences through creative practice.
The publication, Different Body, presents the four stages of self-acceptance, articulating a progressive personal journey of disability. Situated within the contexts of beauty ideals, representations of disability in art, collage and femmage, and experimental typography, the project used publication design, collage and experimental typography to express hidden emotions and societal perceptions of disability. Using autoethnography and action research, this project employed a series of methods of project ideation, collage inquiry, experimentation, and production to articulate
the disabled experience.
Different Body aims to recalibrate perspectives on beauty by presenting disabled women in unique and positive ways, encouraging non-disabled people to change the way they view beauty and disability, while empowering disabled women at the same time.
Best Design Awards Gold Winner 2025
Best Design Awards Silver Winner 2025
Different Body Masters Exegesis
Mia Freeman Design