Emily Oh
Graphic designer based in Boston, graduating from Northeastern University in 2025. My practice spans editorial, infographic, and digital design. Formerly part of the design team at Hot Press magazine, Dublin.
projects: Unseen Forces
Unseen Forces: A Participatory Design System
Unseen Forces is a concept-driven design project that explores how abstract visual language can be used to express emotions that are difficult to articulate with words. The system spans print, spatial design, and digital interaction to create a participatory framework for emotional expression.
what does emotion look like to you?
How can design externalize internal emotional experience in a way that is accessible, participatory, and meaningful?
The Problem
Language often fails to capture emotional experience. Many people struggle to describe how they feel, leading to emotional suppression or disconnect. Design can offer alternative visual systems that make emotional expression more accessible.
The Solution
A cohesive design system expressed across three connected mediums:
1.) A participatory gallery booklet
2.) A speculative exhibition environment
3.) A digital microsite archive
Each component invites individual contribution while contributing to a shared emotional archive.
Gallery booklet
A printed booklet that alternates between abstract emotional artwork and blank prompt pages. The structure models emotional expression and then invites the reader to create their own, shifting the role of the viewer from observer to participant.
Exhibition design
A participatory exhibition where visitor drawings are scanned and projected alongside corresponding artworks. The environment was designed to create a direct relationship between audience input and displayed content.
Cards & micro-site
Drawing cards and a microsite extend the experience beyond the gallery. The digital interface collects and displays contributions, allowing the emotional archive to grow over time.
Design Impact
This project demonstrates how graphic design can function as a participatory system—supporting emotional accessibility, encouraging contribution, and translating individual experience into shared meaning.
Tools used:
