Roàn's fascination with the body and space
- Design
Roàn de Jong, an Interior Design graduate, is fascinated by the relationship between the body and space—more specifically, the interaction between the female body and society. Her graduation project, Your Word, My Body! focuses on supporting female travellers against harassment on public transport through a special design.
Roàn explains: "In our society, the female body is often influenced by external expectations and ideals of beauty. This often leads to intimidation and objectification. External pressures can cause women to lose connection with their own bodies and feel alienated from their physical selves." Her work aims to create spaces where this connection can be restored. "By making women more aware of their own bodies and the space they occupy, I hope they can regain their autonomy and self-esteem."
Protective figures on the platform
The graduate: "Research shows that harassment on public transport is common, especially in the form of nasty comments and unwanted attention, especially directed at women. That's why, for my final year project, I created a design for train stations." Roàn designed an 'army' of soft female figures to be placed on the platform to provide a sense of protection. "These figures can be hugged or used as a place to hide behind. They allow women to strengthen their connection with their own bodies, making them more resistant to intimidation."
An army of guardian angels
Roàn calls these female figures 'embracing pillars' and describes them as a kind of guardian angels: "They come in different colours, sizes and shapes. They are scattered around the platform as a visual and physical support for the female travellers."
The power of physical spaces
Roàn has been exploring the relationship between the body and space for two and a half years. "I find it very interesting to discover how to design a space on my own body, to really deal with these design challenges physically," she says. The interior design programme teaches you to give meaning to spaces, focusing on the social aspect and the experience of the user.
A culture of strength and self-expression
Through her work, Roàn wants to contribute to a culture in which the female body is no longer reduced to an object but is recognised as a source of strength, beauty and self-expression. "By creating artistic interventions specifically tailored to the physical experience, I offer women the chance to break free from constant judgement and expectation and rediscover their bodies from an inner sense," she concludes.
Find out more about the bachelor's course Interior Design
