An editorial project based on work by Camilla Mørk Røstvik published on The Conversation. Her article centred around the misrepresentation of menstruation in the media and changes in the industry over recent decades.
In response to the article, I designed a double-sided A1 poster. With periods still seen as taboo, even by the those who experience them, the large scale means that the work must be unfolded to be read, thus getting it 'out into the open'. Once finished, the reverse of the article then makes an engaging addition to any feminist's wall.
As part of the design process, I conducted a survey to see what improvements people had seen in the world of menstrual advertising in their everyday lives, as well as their own experiences. The results were shocking; over 90% of respondents said they felt embarrassed about their periods, hiding sanitary products and taking pain killers in private while they were menstruating.
Over 90% of respondents said they felt embarrassed about their periods.
Half of those questioned also mentioned that advertisers often exchange truthful red for a euphemistic blue, further stigmatising the natural phenomenon. This inspired my final imagery, as I chose to show traditionally red things (a postbox and a traffic light) as blue to highlight the issue.
You can read Camilla Mørk Røstvik's original article here.
