An exploration into compassion for adults who have had to abandon their childhood or adolescent dreams, the two collages seek to acknowledge the calamity of lost dreams and the complicated emotions that come with them. The posters are crafted from a combination of magazine clippings, handmade watercolor paints, and ink drawing on bristol board and then digitally mounted onto a background with headlines, taglines, and a URL to a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people who need to shift careers through skills training and counseling.

I chose this topic after much deliberation, after rejecting a more political concept. I wanted to have something that many people could relate to, and also offer constructive help. The abstract idea of what I wanted to say and how I wanted it to look came first, vividly, but it took extensive time to put it into words for the headlines. Where visuals often speak to basic truths and situations, words refine those situations and bring in nuance and increased specificity. I took the opportunity of having two posters to present two aspects of a failed dream: The feeling that one has endured a tragedy, and the feeling of shame associated with failure.

The first poster is rendered in mainly shades of blue for sea and sky, with the vividly red degree frame intended to draw the eye with its contrast. The composition is asymmetrical and depicts a figure paddling away from a stormy sea, afloat on an oversized bachelor’s degree. In the background, a desk, globe, and apple seem to only barely float on the surface, moments from sinking. The figure looks over their shoulder at the wreckage, but paddles confidently forward. It seeks to remind the viewer of their resilience, and the fact that even if the profession didn’t work out, they still have their experiences, symbolized by the degree.

The second poster depicts a cozy campfire with people around it, silhouetted by the flames. The colors red and orange contrast against the blue sky; a complement to the other poster. In the fire are objects representing failed careers, and amidst the smoke are little symbols of the spirit of these dreams. This poster seeks to remind the viewer that many, many people are forced to abandon Plan A, and that it is nothing to feel uniquely ashamed about – in fact it can be a source of camaraderie. I created the figures out of charcoal, which seemed fitting as that is what remains after a fire.