Monsters as Metaphors is my major research project from the MA in Graphic Media Design. This project examines how the portrayal of monsters has evolved from folklore and mythology to contemporary media, and how these evolving representations continue to reflect, critique, and reinforce cultural anxieties and societal behaviours.
Through iterative research methods and visual juxtaposition, I explored themes such as death, imperialism, and scientific fear, focusing particularly on Europe’s late Middle Ages and early modern period. The project investigates how monsters have historically symbolised societal fears — from the unknown edges of the map to moral panic — and how these narratives still resonate in modern storytelling.
The final outcome is a carefully curated publication: a visual essay that pairs critical text with evocative imagery to unpack the metaphors and cultural narratives embedded in these monstrous figures. Designed to reveal overlooked connections, the work invites readers to reconsider how monsters, both past and present, shape our collective psyche and cultural mythologies.
This project allowed me to merge design research with editorial design, employing layout, typography, and image treatments to translate complex cultural critique into an accessible and engaging format.
Editorial Design, Visual Essay, Research-Based, Typography, Layout, Juxtaposition, Cultural Analysis, Metaphor, Visual Storytelling, Illustration, Conceptual Design, Historical Context, Creative Critique, Multi-Disciplinary Approach.