Domestic Abuse in 1970s New York
Visualizing Hidden Histories Through Collage
Overview
This project involved designing a series of style frames for a documentary focused on domestic abuse among women in 1970s New York. The goal was to establish a visual language that could support the film’s historical tone, while conveying the complexity and often unseen nature of the subject matter.
Concept & Direction
The chosen direction centered on a collage-based visual style, drawing from archival materials and analog textures to evoke both time and memory. Collage was used conceptually to mirror the fragmented experiences of survivors, layering imagery, typography, and textures that would later then be animated. This approach also reflects how histories of domestic abuse were often obscured or overlooked during that era.
Process
1. Research & Contextualization
I began by studying the visual culture of 1970s New York, including newspapers, magazines, and photographic archives. This informed both the aesthetic direction and tonal sensitivity of the work.
2. Concept Development
Early explorations focused on how fragmentation and layering could visually represent themes of silence and visibility. Multiple collage styles were tested to find the right balance between abstraction and clarity.
3. Composition & Framing
Each style frame was designed to function as part of a larger narrative system following the VO script cues, considering pacing, transitions, and how visuals would support the topic context.
4. Refinement
Final frames were carefully adjusted to ensure cohesion across the sequence, balancing texture, contrast, and legibility while maintaining a restrained, respectful tone. Along with multiple color variants to provide client with additional design choices.
Outcome
The final style frames established a cohesive visual direction for the documentary, supporting its themes through subtle, evocative imagery. The collage system enhanced the storytelling by aligning closely with the film’s narrative focus.
Style Frame A
Style Frame B
