The Self-Worth Project, Phase 1
300 postcards placed within the Tube inviting strangers to open up
The postcards, left for strangers to find on empty Tube seats between January and March 2025, asked two questions:
‘Is there something you keep feeling judged for? and ‘If so, how do you try to hide it?’
The design, based on two candid photographs, used humour to make the prompt more approachable, encouraging reflection without resembling an ad flyer. Over 50 people replied. Their handwritten answers, roughly grouped into themes like Appearance, Identity, Belonging, and Work, revealed how people shape themselves to fit in.
I was struck by the honesty, coming home, I’d hope another postcard had slipped through the letterbox
appearance & ageing
identity & bias
perfectionism & belonging
relationship & norms
social skills
work value & success
acceptance & confidence
There was no pressure, no face-to-face interaction, I just left the cards and waited for the right person to find them, rather than vice versa
