Derek Stone

I am gay, but I wasn’t always comfortable with that. And the process of accepting myself and finding the courage to tell others is what I explored in this design.

The bright pink text are the words and ideas that were instilled in me about being gay. Their size and color makes these words unavoidable, which reflects the power and influence these words had on me.

The largest text reads, “that’s so gay,” an ignorant but common phrase I heard growing up. It is set in the typeface Gilbert which was created in memory of Gilbert Baker who designed the LGBTQ+ Pride flag.

The shirtless picture of myself reiterates the vulnerability that comes with coming out. Showing someone your authentic self can be received negatively or positively by others.