The Space Between
Xinyun Li
The Space Between investigates the tension between inner feelings and outward presentation. It examines how individuals continually negotiate what to reveal, soften, or conceal to manage social situations. Subtle changes in tone, expression, or behavior often affect how others see someone in daily interactions. Although these quiet acts of self-editing are rarely visible, they influence how individuals manage relationships and social environments.
Through participatory design methods like surveys, drawings, interviews, and interactive systems, this project makes these subtle negotiations visible. Participants reflect on the gap between their internal feelings and external appearances through various prompts and exercises. In one survey, circles are arranged in a grid, and participants are asked to draw their emotional states. They use simple marks and gestures to show how they present themselves outwardly and how they feel inside. These drawings reveal patterns of alignment, tension, and contrast between outward expression and inner experience. Interviews expand on these dynamics to capture moments when individuals change their behavior to meet expectations or prevent misunderstandings.
Taking the form of a multi-chapter book, The Space Between collects participant drawings, interview excerpts, survey responses, and visual patterns to create a shared visual language. Together, these materials translate individual reflections into a collective visual record. They create a space where viewers can see their own experiences through the subtle details that shape how we present ourselves to others.