Josephine Tov (she/her)
I am a first generation college student, majoring in Design and minoring in Fine Arts at the University of San Francisco. Being raised by a single immigrant mom, my sister and I have always worked hard to make her proud. Coming from a traditional Asian household, it was expected that I pursue a career in Medicine or Law, but I’ve always had an overbearing passion for creating art. Art was my outlet for self expression and my distraction from problems. I learned to tell stories and share parts of myself through my work and soon found purpose in it with design. As a designer, I want to create work with empathy that people can make meaningful connections to.
Note to Self
Life can be really hard sometimes. It’s so easy to let yourself be consumed and confused by thoughts racing around in your head. I asked myself the question, “how can I help those going through a hard time navigate their feelings?” The idea for this project stems from my personal struggles with mental health and I hope that it can support others going through a similar situation. After going to therapy and talking to friends and family, I found that journaling is a great outlet for people to be vulnerable with themselves. I learned that our relationship with ourselves and others directly impacts the quality of our lives. Note to Self is a guided journal with writing prompts and activities for anyone to use when they are going through a difficult time but don’t know how to deal with it. It comes with a pen, a matchbook, and stickers for a more personalized experience. I understand that sometimes there are things you never want to say to anyone or want anyone to know so this journal is burnable, either in full or just a few pages. This serves as a way to release yourself of any unwanted or private thoughts and emotions once you feel ready. I hope that Note to Self puts a smile on someone’s face and helps them feel a little better.
View full publication: Note to Self
