two sides two
branding | graduate project
Two Sides Two is a creative community that focuses on offering support, connection and a safe space for student creatives to begin unpacking their inner critic.
Two Sides Two is an initiative created in response to the prevalence of imposter syndrome in the creative industry.
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Many studies found the common element for those with imposter syndrome is the need to compare themselves to others. Not to mention our continual pressure to generate fresh, new creative work.
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Two Sides Two aims to primarily target young/emerging creatives, who may be in a loop of self-doubt during their studies and/or beginning their careers.
The initiative offers strategies (backed by a psychotherapist) to deal with imposter syndrome in the form of a workshop.
How can we assist creatives in building confidence to overcome imposter syndrome?
the workshop
The project was researched, developed and presented over the course of 13 weeks.
Two Sides Two was refined through endless academic research, consumer/market research and industry feedback.
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In other words, one hell of a roller-coaster ride.
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A mock workshop was also hosted.
The workshop was hosted in three parts, with tutors and peers as participators.
first side: discussion panel with industry professionals
I ran the workshop in three parts; first, a discussion panel with ‘industry professionals’
on their own experiences with imposter syndrome, and how they dealt with it in the past.
Then at the end, students are able
to ask questions, and have a casual
conversation with the panel.
second side:
the wall of imposters
The second part was to hand out the card printouts to each person. The card reads: How do you feel when imposter syndrome hits you hard?
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Participants were asked to pin their answers onto the wall, and choose another to respond to.
When flipped over, the card would read:
Words from a stranger to you.
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They were then asked to write something encouraging, or advice for the other person.
This was then pinned back on the wall, and everyone finds their card. In the end, everyone leaves with their own personalised note from a stranger :)
third side:
who's your inner critic?
The third part is the activity
described by the psychotherapist.
I handed out the print out that read:
Sketch your inner critic. With prompts such as, “Who’s the voice in your head?”, “What do they look like?”, “What do they say?”, "Give them a name and a personality”
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Participants were then able to craft their ‘inner critic’ with bits of craft paper, paper cups, pipe cleaners and twine.
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The second part of the activity was to do the exact same exercise, but now with your ‘hype man’. They were asked to hone into a part of themselves that was really confident and full
of love for their work.
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It was interesting as someone mentioned that it was a lot harder to think of something positive
than something negative.
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In the end, I asked them to imagine what these two personas would say to each other. This then allows them to be more aware of what is criticism and what is negativity, to hold things in better balance.
