Dan Matsuda

2020 has been an unusual year. It’s been scary at times, traumatic, and disappointing overall. Needless to say it’s a tough year to celebrate, even with moments of excitement and hope we’re at the mercy of uncertainty.

For me, the very nature of carry goods is about movement, travel and the journey from place to place. We don’t have to be explorers or thrill seekers. The basic necessity of commuting requires us to transport our essentials, all of which has been halted by a global pandemic.

I believe Space Exploration is a great metaphor of a journey, both in the literal sense, but also as advancement of the human race. For this reason, I’ve decided to use this as my inspiration to create these two illustrations.

The images are based around the ideas of Fall and Rise. The fictitious astronaut is first shown in a wounded posture, with cords of red invading and piercing the suit. This was done to give the virus an intrusive vessel as well as highlight that the suit is empty and abandoned. Rise is represented by showing the action of resistance and strength in the context of a dark environment where the horizon is fading.

Design Article: Matsuda x Carryology: The Fall and Rise of 2020