Submission for Born Ugly's 'Pitch the Unpitchable' brief. This speculative concept reframes anxiety as something to actively engage with rather than suppress, repositioning it as essential to a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Research revealed within today’s high-pressure world anxiety is normalised, widespread and dismissed, with social stigma discouraging people acknowledging or addressing their emotions.
My solution proposes a three-part participatory Wayfinding System, targeted at overworked professionals and students. Placed in natural settings like parks and trails, it redefines anxiety as a natural part of life. By disrupting serene spaces it encourages introspection and engagement with anxiety, whilst also making anxiety visible in outdoor public environments. This reduces stigma and positions anxiety as a shared collective experience, rather than a private struggle.
Signage: Directional
Signage, inspired by Dadaism, which intentionally features anxiety-inducing cues, to provoke emotional confrontation, prompting people to acknowledge their personal anxieties, by choosing a path.
Signage: Reflectional
Signage featuring QR codes that invite participants to stop and contribute their own anxious thoughts, for deep self-reflection and active participation.
Final Display Board
A visible, collective display at the end of the trail that collates and showcases all the responses, celebrating anxiety as a universal human experience.
