Funeral Monologue-a record of the designer’s journey of self-rescue

Abstract

Have you ever thought about the sudden death of your significant other?

If such a tragedy were to happen one day, how would you face it? The beginning of this story originates from grief. On an unsuspecting morning, I received a distressing call. Since then, my best friend and I have been in different worlds. Throughout this three-year sorrowful journey. I began my master’s studies and my first project’s topic is also talking about grief. Therefore I was also considering other themes for my final project, but aligning with my inner self is my expectation for this master’s journey. So, I had to face this fact—the memories sealed away, the soul trapped, a story kept haunting back. I reopened this storybook I thought I had finished, diving deeper even as tears flowed.

If my first project was about disinfecting wounds, then this time it’s about debridement. Those lingering and inappropriate beliefs are like necrotic tissue that needs to be removed from my body. To complete this project, I scanned my grief, integrating my cultural background. I created six characters to express my inner sorrow, replicating familiar patterns and creating a fictional scenario. If had the chance, I would hold another funeral for you, where I could say everything was left unsaid. I owe you a monologue.

I view this process as documentation—a record of how a creator copes with grief, reconstructs, rebuilds the bridge from self-isolation, and reconnects with the public. It’s a designer’s journey of self-rescue.