The Observer Magazine - Anxious?

Our goal was to evoke tension and anxiety, a visceral feeling to make the reader’s jaw clench. We wanted a succinct visual language, building tension through repetition and degradation. The image of a row of gradually chewed pencils—specifically yellow pencils with red erasers, instantly recognisable and iconic—became the central metaphor. To bring this to life, we collaborated with an artist known for his innovative, tactile solutions. In this case, the artist literally chewed the pencils himself to create an authentic, physical representation of the concept.