The Modern Divide

This project required the development of a standard-size poster addressing a social, political, or cultural issue, supported by a deliberate colour strategy to reinforce meaning and emotional tone. I was inspired by The Economist article “Why young men and women are drifting apart,” and expanded this idea to explore the growing emotional and relational divide in modern heterosexual relationships. The poster, titled The Modern Divide, examines how disconnection and miscommunication are reflected in contemporary dating culture.

2026

Editorial, OCAD Project

Project Notes

Description

The visual direction is anchored in a dark olive green palette, chosen for its association with emotional stagnation, disconnection, and psychological withdrawal. This colour creates a sense of heaviness and tension, reflecting relationships that feel static or unresolved.

The selected image already contained a subdued olive tone and depicted a woman in sharp focus with a man blurred in the foreground. I chose this composition intentionally to reinforce the idea of emotional distance and misalignment between two individuals occupying the same space. I further distorted the image using a glass-like fragmentation effect to emphasize separation and fractured perception, suggesting a breakdown in clarity and connection.

To contrast this, I introduced Pantone Primrose Pink 12-2904 TCX as the secondary typographic colour. This soft, romantic tone creates tension against the muted green while also referencing culturally gendered associations of femininity. The contrast highlights how traditional colour coding and social expectations continue to shape emotional expression and identity.

Typography is set in Helvetica Neue to maintain neutrality and legibility, allowing the imagery and colour system to remain central. The word “divide” is visually manipulated to reinforce the concept of separation, functioning simultaneously as a structural break and a conceptual entry point into the composition.