Things we say to ourselves

Graphic Design Visual Art
The image showcases distressed typewriter lettering in black and red, with the word 'imposter' repeating against a bright yellow background. The words overlap each other at the bottom of the image, making them difficult to read.
Imposter

The Background

The term imposter syndrome is often described as feeling that you are undeserving of successes.

The term was originally coined in 1978 in an academic paper exploring the connections between successful women and their feelings of “intellectual phoniness” (Clance and Imes, 1978).

Some research suggests that women are mostly impacted by imposter syndrome, whereas others suggest it can affect everyone.

Imposter syndrome can be linked with feeling like a fraud, having self-doubt, lacking in self-esteem or not having a sense of belonging. These thoughts and feelings may impact individuals regularly, or within particular situations.

The A4 sized graphic includes distressed and bold typography of the words 'fake' and 'fraud'. The words are repeated and overlaid on top of each other, resulting in a chaotic appearance. The colours used are red and pink, and they are overlaid on a pale pink background.
Fake/Fraud
The image portrays distressed typography with bold words stating 'not good enough'. The font style appears similar to typewriter lettering. The words are repeated and layered over one another, creating a sense of chaos and overwhelm. Towards the bottom of the image, the text is so heavily overlapped that it becomes unreadable. The text is highlighted in bright pink and dark purple against a white background.
Not Good Enough

The Response

I produced a set of visual responses that represent what happens when the thoughts and feelings of imposter syndrome fill the mind.

I began the visuals by using typographic stamps and ink, scanning in words, then manipulating them digitally. The visuals create a sense of chaos and being overwhelmed.

In the A4 graphic, there is distressed typewriter lettering featuring the words 'imposter' and 'impostor' spelt in both UK and US ways. The text is in white and appears against a bold red background.
Imposter/Impostor