CONTROVERSY OVERLOAD
Major Design Project, 2023
About
“Controversy Overload,” a unique webtoon that delves into the powerful themes of family, religion, and LGBTQ+ experiences. Even though the LGBTQ+ community is becoming more accepted, however, within Asian families, they often face unique challenges, like social stigma, rejection, and discrimination. These challenges can lead to adverse mental health outcomes, strained family relationships, and limited resources. Asian cultures can limit LGBTQ+ people's ability to express themselves openly and create barriers to understanding and acceptance within families. It's essential to explore the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ people in Asian families to improve their well-being.
Story Summary
Kwan “Mary” Choi was ready to ease through life when her Christian family moved to a rather big town when she was ten. Her peaceful and quiet life took a turn when she got acquainted with her neighbour, Thi Hoang, who was the total opposite of Mary in every way, even their families were the opposite! But everything Thi does makes every fibre in Mary’s body, especially her heart, quiver in fear and excitement, she doesn’t know what to do and who she should listen to! Her family, her religion, her friends or her heart?
Presentation
Character Design
Upon the character design and creation, I knew that I wanted both characters to be the opposite of each other, one being more confident and open and the other being more closed off and modest. Here are the initial designs of the two main characters making sure they contrast each other in appearance, personality and colours. Both heroines have different silhouettes, making it easy for readers to differentiate the characters from each other.
I’d like to introduce the main characters of the story. Kwan “Mary” Choi: a stubborn and closed-off Christian Korean girl who’s always in the shadows of her older brother aka the “Golden Child” of her family.
Here we have, Thi Hoang: a bright and cherry Vietnamese girl who is always confident and friendly to those around her and the next-door neighbour to the Choi family and yet she somehow wormed her way into Mary’s life.
Of course, these two aren’t the only characters in the story so I’d also like to introduce the secondary main characters.
Hak-Kun “Gabriel” Choi: Mary’s older brother, he’s charismatic and extroverted. He’s a year older than Mary herself.
Lura Cho: a dotting mother-like woman that has enough love for everyone in her life. She’s Mary’s senior at church and friends with Gabriel.
Tanyth Kim: a strict and rude guy. He grew up with Lura in the same orphanage. Tanyth is Mary’s senior at church and a friend plus a classmate of Gabriel at university.
Of course, there are more characters from Thi’s social group, however, they will be introduced later on as the story progresses.
I’d like to introduce the main characters of the story. Kwan “Mary” Choi: a stubborn and closed-off Christian Korean girl who’s always in the shadows of her older brother aka the “Golden Child” of her family.
Here we have, Thi Hoang: a bright and cherry Vietnamese girl who is always confident and friendly to those around her and the next-door neighbour to the Choi family and yet she somehow wormed her way into Mary’s life.
Of course, these two aren’t the only characters in the story so I’d also like to introduce the secondary main characters.
Hak-Kun “Gabriel” Choi: Mary’s older brother, he’s charismatic and extroverted. He’s a year older than Mary herself.
Lura Cho: a dotting mother-like woman that has enough love for everyone in her life. She’s Mary’s senior at church and friends with Gabriel.
Tanyth Kim: a strict and rude guy. He grew up with Lura in the same orphanage. Tanyth is Mary’s senior at church and a friend plus a classmate of Gabriel at university.
Of course, there are more characters from Thi’s social group, however, they will be introduced later on as the story progresses.
Merchandise
Keychains
I’m a sucker for keychains and I’ve always wanted to design one, so after I designed and planned out the story. I designed a double-sided keychain with the main characters, one side showing their high school selves and the other side showing their current adult selves, after I designed the keychain, I searched for a reliable manufacturer on Alibaba and chatted with them what the size, effect and design of the keychain and I’m happy to showcase the final product.
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Postcard
I wanted to have a variety of promotional materials so I also decided to create a little postcard of Mary and Thi, with the QR code to my socials and the webtoon at the back.
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Stickers
I thought it would be a good idea to also create sticker sheets to hand out during the grad show as it’s also a good little souvenir for people to actually use. The sticker sheet I’ve designed will be printed on 135GSM glossy sticker paper and will be printed at a postcard size.
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I’m a sucker for keychains and I’ve always wanted to design one, so after I designed and planned out the story. I designed a double-sided keychain with the main characters, one side showing their high school selves and the other side showing their current adult selves, after I designed the keychain, I searched for a reliable manufacturer on Alibaba and chatted with them what the size, effect and design of the keychain and I’m happy to showcase the final product.
Postcard
I wanted to have a variety of promotional materials so I also decided to create a little postcard of Mary and Thi, with the QR code to my socials and the webtoon at the back.
Stickers
I thought it would be a good idea to also create sticker sheets to hand out during the grad show as it’s also a good little souvenir for people to actually use. The sticker sheet I’ve designed will be printed on 135GSM glossy sticker paper and will be printed at a postcard size.
