My Meal, My Story

Internship project @The Lien Centre for Social Innovation

☀︎ Summer 2024 ᝰ Editorial, Identity ✐ Art Director, Illustrator, Copywriter

Roles: Art Director, Illustrator, Copywriter

Extended Team: Tasnim Abdul-Hadi (Project Manager)

Time Frame: 3 months

Tools: Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign

Skills: Visual Identity, Editorial Illustration, Creative Storytelling

  • A partnership between Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Lien Foundation, the Lien Centre for Social Innovation catalyzes social innovation in Southeast Asia by bridging the public, private, and social sectors. Among its key projects is the Hunger Report series, the first nationally representative studies on food insecurity in Singapore. These reports document the extent, causes, and consequences of food insecurity, sparking policy discussions and interventions.

    However, the Hunger Reports’ dense academic style make them inaccessible for younger, non-specialist audiences, limiting their ability to evoke empathy.

  • People resonate more with personal narratives than abstract data.

    In each report, interviews with individuals experiencing food insecurity uncover rich, poignant stories that could bridge the gap between research and human connection. By reframing these narratives, the Centre could create an avenue for understanding the emotional and social dimensions of food insecurity, beyond what the numbers alone convey.

  • A many-part illustrated series translating the Hunger Reports’ abstract research into the compelling, first-person stories of real people, told with dignity.

    Each booklet centers on a different individual’s experience, weaving their challenges and resilience into a narrative format that humanizes the issue. The project’s bespoke illustrative identity combines empathetic storytelling with accessible design to engage readers emotionally and intellectually. This approach not only educates but also empowers audiences to see food insecurity as a shared societal concern, fostering empathy and sparking grassroots action.

 
 
 

♻ Process Blog!

Before starting any project, a mood board is a must.

Early style tests: editorial-illustrative or Vox-style collage?

Getting analog for color inspiration and experimentation.

Initial idea mapping and story ideas.

 

Reflection

Learnings

Fine-tuning a project’s direction requires both research and the confidence to advocate for meaningful change. Initially tasked with telling a single representative story, I worked with my manager to pivot toward a series highlighting multiple real interviewees. This shift not only allowed the project to better capture the complexity of food insecurity in Singapore, but helped me become more comfortable with advocating for my own ideas and collaboratively brainstorming in a professional environment.

Future Directions

There are still many interviews that have not been adapted, and many interviews to be conducted! This project is meant to be continued by illustrators beyond myself to bring life to each unique story the Centre encounters in its research, and exist as a collective thing to be presented to younger children at fairs, seminars, and other educational events.

Experience

Working on My Meal, My Story at the Lien Centre was a deeply meaningful experience that extended far beyond design. I’m deeply grateful for my supervisor, Tasnim, who empowered me to approach challenges creatively, and the rest of the Lien Centre team.

Living in Singapore for a summer further enriched this journey. From enjoying kaya toast at a bustling kopitiam to walking through the serene Botanic Gardens, the city’s vibrant culture and community shaped my perspective in and out of work.*

* I also wrote a scrapbook-style blog post about my sponsored internship abroad experience here.

 
 

Thanks for checking out my project! If you’d like to chat more in-depth, please reach out to me!