This project is a reflective exploration of identity, belonging, and the emotional landscapes that define us. It traces my personal journey from childhood to the present, using nostalgia and memory as both subject and source. Drawing inspiration from treasured family photo albums, childhood keepsakes, and personal writing, I reimagine these fragments of the past through textiles, pattern, and poetry.

At the heart of the work is a desire to honour and archive my lived experience — to give material form to fleeting emotions and recollections. Through the development of two key themes, “home” and “celebration,” I created two contrasting yet complementary colour palettes. “Home” captures the gentle warmth of everyday intimacy, while “celebration” embraces vibrancy, ritual, and joy. These palettes inform not only the aesthetic, but the emotional tone of the work.

A key component of the project is the incorporation of my own poetry, which appears throughout the designs in both English and Urdu. These fragments of writing become visual as well as verbal — integrated into prints and surfaces through typography and hand lettering. They act as emotional anchors, offering moments of stillness and introspection within the visual narrative.

As a multicultural designer, this project also speaks to duality — the merging of Pakistani and British cultural influences. Traditional South Asian motifs, patterns, and textile practices are interwoven with contemporary design elements, creating a dialogue between past and present, heritage and individuality. The use of Urdu lettering alongside English reflects my linguistic and cultural hybridity, honouring both aspects of my identity.

This work is ultimately an act of storytelling — one that seeks to transform personal reflection into shared connection. It invites viewers to consider how memory shapes who we are, and how art can preserve what time threatens to fade.