Camila Lugo
Unsteady Ground

A Visual Narrative on Love, Loss, and Communication


Unsteady Ground is a publication inspired in my personal journey with my father’s decade-long experience with Ataxia, a degenerative neurological condition, this project transforms the complexity of non-verbal communication into an immersive visual narrative.

Through typography, materiality, and layout design, it captures the gradual fading of speech and the evolution of communication beyond words. It's a study in how design conveys emotion, invite empathy, and give shape to invisible human experiences.

Winner | CSM Graduate Award
Finalist | MullenLowe NOVA Awards 2024

Editorial Design
Typography
Layout Design
Printed Matter

My goal was to translate the emotional process of losing verbal communication into a tactile, visual experience.

Typographic Manipulation

Distorted Text & Fractured Syllables: Represent slurred speech and the fragmentation of dialogue.
Disrupted Linearity: Pages that force the eye to "struggle" replicate the struggle to understand the voice.

Material Exploration

    Chapter 1: Reflects the early stages of diagnosis. White soft paper.
    Chapter 2: Shows the increasing dependence on tactile sensations as words begin to fade. Textured cream paper.
    Final Chapter: Ultimate surrender to non-verbal communication, evoking human touch as means of communication. Heavy textured off-white paper.
    Off-White soft paper
    Off-White soft pa othe weight and complexity of communication without words.

    Structural Design

    The layout evolves over time, marking the progression of the condition. Pages are bi-monthly timestamped, creating a chronological tension. Typography becomes more fragmented and abstract as time progresses.

    Narrative

    Personal memories and dialogues are woven into the design, not just as text but as emotional landmarks that anchor the experience in reality.

    Accessibility as Design Intention

  • The book was intentionally designed to be accessible to those with limited hand mobility.

  • It was crafted to be lightweight and flexible, allowing it to be easily held or placed on a surface.

  • The lay-flat binding ensures that the pages stay open without needing to be held, creating a smoother, more inclusive reading experience.

Reflection

This project sparked my commitment to accessible and inclusive design. 

Design isn’t just about form but about creating experiences that include and empower. It also showed me the importance of representation, telling stories that build empathy and reflect diverse experiences.

Since then, accessibility has been at the core of my creative thinking. I’m interested in how design and technology can break barriers, spark emotion, and challenge assumptions about who design is for.