NAOMI PLEASURE-PARK


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01 THE LANGUAGE OF DESIGN INTERNSHIPS

Information Design
Exploring young designers’ job landscapes


02 SNAKE OIL

Publication Design
A synopsis of health fraud, 19th century–present


03 ORIENTATIONS CONFERENCE

Visual Identity
Brand system for 2-day education conference


04 GAUDI SYMBOL SET

Icon Design
Icons for Antoni Gaudí’s architectural works


05 FREEDOM DIVING ANIMATION

Motion Design
Animated short set to a clip from NPR’s Invisibilia


06 ADDITIONAL WORKS

02 SNAKE OIL



Investigations into the tactics humans have developed to deceive one another, all under the guise of alleviating illness and discomfort. 
March 2024
Publication Design
Cardstock, Cricut foil, Bookbinding materials




A WORLD OF DECEPTION


This book provides a selection of artifacts—past and present, visual and textual—documenting the marketing and effects of “Snake Oil” products. Ineffective at best and deadly at worst, these supposed cures have a complex history of making their way into our homes and broader cultural landscapes.

I assembled this book with the intention of providing all readers some- thing new to wonder, reflect, learn, or laugh about, regardless of any perceptions coming into the reading experience. 









THE FINE PRINT

From the original snake oil that claimed to reduce inflammation, to modern-day scams like colloidal silver supposedly aimed at attacking COVID-19 particles, false health advertising has been endemic for all of recorded history, and likely longer.

Most of the examples in the book could be boiled down to cut-and-dry cases of snake oil salesmanship. However, the people huckstering these solutions tend to spin a complex web of terminology to feign credibility to their target customers.

I used small, intricate details in my bookbinding and digital design processes that represent the complexities and often patchwork nature of the products themselves.




Photo collage spread representing the plethora of facial products on the market today, largely aimed at women, claiming to restore youth.








Section title page with an article debunking cryonics.








Chapter 1: Aches and Pains (inspired by late 19th century)

ERA-INSPIRED CHAPTER TITLE PAGES

Each chapter opens with a custom tongue-in-cheek title page, each designed to mimic different eras of advertising since the inception of the term “Snake Oil” as we know it. 






Chapter 2: Imperfections (inspired by early 20th century)





Chapter 3: Mental Health (inspired by mid-20th century)









Chapter 4: Severe Illness (inspired by 1990s)








Chapter 5: Cheating Death (inspired by 2000s)









Inner cover embossed quote“Nothing more strikingly betrays the credulity of mankind than medicine. Quackery is a thing universal, and universally successful. In this case it becomes literally true that no imposition is too great for the credulity of men.”  –Henry David Thoreau