BFA+MFA 2022

Hagar Allam, An Ode To Motherhood, Postcards, Coupons and Stickers, 2022. “An Ode To Motherhood” Message Making Kit is designed to enhance connection in maternal relationships especially in terms of expressions that haven’t gotten the chance to be shared. It entails postcards with headings showing gratitude and titles including “I Never Thanked You For”, “I Never Apologized For”, “I Never Told You This”, in hopes to enable freedom of expression. Additionally, it uses coupon cards as a medium to portray an activity with a designated date space to be filled out, which aims to further strengthen one’s connection to a mother. The sticker pack is meant to offer an additional playful element to design one’s postcard/coupon to their receiver.

Hagar Allam, An Ode To Motherhood “Let’s Unpack”, Card Game, 2022 “Let’s Unpack” Card Game: 2 players; Unpack & Let Out. Can be played with two mothers, two daughters, a mother and a daughter. This card game includes three boxes labeled under “The Past, The Present, The Future” referring to three important stages of time during a woman’s growing cycle in a maternal relationship. Each card box contains questions that are reflective of that point in time and aims to allow users to unpack by having difficult conversations that are not normally discussed. There are vulnerability levels to the card game and the goal is to leave with a deeper understanding of each player’s emotions towards motherhood and their personal development.

Hagar Allam, An Ode To Motherhood “The Past”, Zine, Risograph, 2022. This thesis inquiry revolves around three important stages of time during a woman’s growing cycle in a maternal relationship - the past, present and future. Inspired by this, a zine series has been designed dedicated to each stage. “The Past” is the first edition and it discusses reflective observations and answers by women who reminisce their experiences from the past in terms of motherhood. This includes mothers from past generations unpacking who they are behind their “mother” title. It also involves recollections, memory observations and remembrance. The goal of this zine is to show introspections of mothers behind their title (using my own mother as an example) and women’s hardships and resilience during this stage of time.

Hagar Allam, An Ode To Motherhood “The Present”, Zine, Risograph, 2022 . This thesis inquiry revolves around three important stages of time during a woman’s growing cycle in a maternal relationship - the past, present and future. Inspired by this, a zine series has been designed dedicated to each stage. “The Present” is the second edition and it discusses reflective observations and answers by women (mothers and daughters) who contemplate their experiences from the present in terms of motherhood. It showcases hopes/wishes of women in their maternal relationships, their hardest experiences and overall their awareness of the notion. The goal of this zine is to show introspections of mothers in their current being and the present state of women’s self-growth.

Hagar Allam

An Ode To Motherhood

Graphic Design

An Ode to Motherhood responds to a personal interest involving both universal and specific experiences individuals encounter with self-growth and in observing how we cope with these cycles of constant development. This thesis inquiry began by observing and documenting the concept of self-growth through real-life examples of individuals around me, including family, friends, acquaintances, and myself.

An Ode to Motherhood seeks to understand how the mother/daughter relationship impacts our self-growth and attempts to unpack who mothers are—behind their title. Through the intimate research findings and observations from women who shared their experiences, the project culminates in a zine collection, an accompanying card game and a message making kit.

The goal of this thesis inquiry is to create a space for viewers to relate to and reflect on self-actualization through the lens of the universal maternal relationship. An Ode to Motherhood depicts real-life examples of self-growth using artifacts including ephemera, letters, quotes and captured memories to inspire reflection through evocative artifacts.