“Shadow Strangers” was inspired by my experience as a student living in New York. The concept emerged from everyday moments, particularly during visits to the supermarket. Wander around a supermarket and observe the endless aisles of products, the shapes and colors of packaging, and the quiet anonymity of bottles and packages, one after another. I found similarities between these products and myself, just one product among many, blending into the background. From the perspective of the entire world—or even just New York—these people shopping in the supermarket, along with the products themselves, are all very small. Everyone, including myself, goes about their day anonymously, quietly picking out the items they need, while the products, in turn, are quietly chosen.
This reflection inspired the theme of my project, Shadow Strangers, capturing the feeling of being small and insignificant in this vast city, yet still striving to adapt and survive. People in the supermarket were immersed in their own daily lives, which reminded me that, as a student away from home, I am also a quiet participant in this big city, often unnoticed but still present. This project captures a feeling of being small and formless, like a shadow on a wall, yet constantly present, moving within this environment and finding a place in the community, just like me and everyone else around me.
I created six characters using packaged products I found in the supermarket, each with their own personality, to bring out various facets of this experience. Through their dialogues, I aim to highlight their unique perspectives: one that is curious, one a bit pessimistic, another imaginative, one grounded in realism, a character full of optimism, and lastly, a philosophical voice. These dialogues serve as reflections of the diverse emotions and outlooks that coexist within me and within others in this vast city.
The figures in this project embody this sense of quiet perseverance, representing not just myself, but the countless students and individuals who continue to navigate their own paths every day despite feeling like fleeting figures in a crowd.
"Shadow Strangers" explores the themes of anonymity and smallness in urban life. The characters represent everyone living in New York, seemingly insignificant, yet striving to adapt and survive in the ordinary rhythm of daily life.
In the supermarket aisles, where the characters engage in dialogue that reveals their personalities and interactions. The supermarket serves as a symbolic setting, reflecting the everyday choices and subtle exchanges of city life. Through humorous and relatable conversations, the characters bring to light the individual stories hidden within this mundane environment.
As part of the extended design, I created a mini magazine styled like a typical supermarket weekly. This publication introduces the Shadow Strangers, including new characters added to the series.
The magazine combines storytelling with everyday elements: character introductions are seamlessly integrated alongside typical supermarket content such as weekly specials, discount coupons, and recommended products. This playful mix reflects the mundane yet fascinating intersection of anonymity and individuality in urban life.