A Way Through Poster Design

This project aims to visually explore the underlying causes of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) within the sociocultural context of China, particularly focusing on how early-life trauma manifests as a persistent emotional void in adulthood. In the face of collective silence, rigid family systems, and societal expectations, many individuals, especially children - grow up suppressing emotional wounds that remain unaddressed. These unresolved experiences often lead to dissociation, internal fragmentation, and a loss of connection to self and others in later life. The primary audience for this project is individuals who live with the lingering effects of CPTSD in Chinese contexts - those who may struggle to articulate their inner disconnection, exhaustion, or sense of void, yet carry it daily. Many of them have never had the space to name their trauma, let alone process it. This work speaks directly to them, offering visual representations that validate their experiences and create emotional resonance without requiring verbal explanation. Rather than focusing solely on attributing causes, the project centers on exploring the emotional trajectory between fear, void, and hope as a pathway toward healing. Through this body of work, I intend to translate these invisible psychological landscapes into visual narratives that examine the tension between internal chaos and the search for balance. The project also asks: how do individuals living with CPTSD in such an environment begin to recognize this void, and what might healing, or a sense of wholeness, visually look like?

From the original award submission.