Leah Ray

[Xiayi Lei*]


 [Design with logic and wit*]

HOME QUARANTINE

Zine


In the days of quarantine, Chinese families were required to stay within the confines of their homes, facing unprecedented challenges. The prolonged solitude and uncertainty inflicted considerable psychological stress and sparked a newfound understanding of life and a burst of creativity. The increasingly complex health regulations also left the people of China physically and mentally exhausted.

In her handmade zine "Home Quarantine," Leah Ray reveals the profound impact of these strategies through her art. The hand-drawn QR codes are not just the products of extreme boredom; they symbolize the despair and anger in the life of quarantine.

Each zine page reveals the monotony and tedium of life in lockdown. During home quarantine, people were forced to give up their social lives, work, and daily routines. For a young person unable to go out to work, drawing a QR code by hand became an ironic statement in this state of life. This seemingly pointless task became a way to pass the time, a means of combating loneliness, and a release of energy that had no other outlet. For an elderly person, unable to assimilate into the digital society, the trembling hand attempting to trace a symbol he could not understand yet was forced to rely upon—a QR code—was poignant.

In Leah's work, the hand-drawn health codes juxtaposed with the Cultural Revolution-style bold slogans espousing socialist core values provoke deep thought. They reflect not only the psychological state of people during quarantine but also express resistance and dissatisfaction with the current living conditions. This artistic expression cleverly integrates complex emotions, political satire, and cultural critique.

The design of the zine simulates the experience of home quarantine. Like a door sealed with tape, the reader must physically engage by tearing off the seal, symbolizing the breaking of isolation and unveiling the deep societal and personal issues beneath. As the seal is torn, a series of hand-drawn health codes and the interpretation of socialist core values laden with irony unfold before the reader, prompting reflection on the contradictions of the era and the individual's place in society.

Through "Home Quarantine," Leah documents one aspect of the pandemic era and poses a broader question: In such a highly digitalized and surveilled society, how do we maintain personal freedom and dignity? Her work reminds us that in seeking safety and order, we should not overlook humanity's needs and the spirit's freedom.

There is some surplus, contact the upper right mailbox if you are interested.
CV
 Leah Ray (Xiayi Lei) is a San Francisco-based visual designer focusing on impactful graphic design that bridges disciplines. With a foundation in Industrial Design from Donghua University and an MFA in Design from California College of the Arts, Leah combines diverse skills with a deep understanding of design's ability to influence and communicate. Her design philosophy emphasizes blending visual appeal with intellectual engagement, driving innovation by crossing boundaries between genres, fields, and cultures.
INSTAGRAM
LINKEDINLeah seeks opportunities to integrate her graphic design expertise with multidisciplinary projects, aiming to push the boundaries of what design can achieve. Her work reflects a commitment to transformative creativity, exploring new possibilities, and redefining the role of design in shaping ideas and experiences.
OVERVIEW

01*
02*
03*
04*
05*06*
07* PUBLICATIONs / ZINEs
BRANDINGs
LOGOs
POSTERs
WEBSITE / UI UX
BOOK COVERs
OTHER PRACTICE 25*PRINTSYear of Snake
Individual
24*

LOGOTYPE
LOGOTYPE
WEBSITE
WEBSITE
POSTER
POSTER
COVER
BRANDING
SPECULATIVE
CALLIGRAPHY UI/UXEVIL or LIVE 百日成财
FIRST FROST 难哄
𝑴𝒆𝒕𝒂𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒔
Robot Monster
Machinic Modernity
VCS SERIES
Book Collection 2024
VARIETYPE II
Plants Editor
时空中的绘旅人·人间画外
Google Map AI Assistant
Commercial
Commercial
Individual
Individual
Individual
Commercial
Commercial
Collaborate
Individual
Commercial Individual

23*

ZINE

PUBLICATIONS
WEBSITE & ZINE
PUBLICATION
POSTER
COVER
BRANDING
BOOKLET
ALL ABOUT TOOTHPICKS
ICON*OBSERVATION
LIPSTICK
GETTING A SCAM CALL
Poster Collection 2023
Book Collection 2023
EXIT
SF ROUNDED 
TYPE SPECIMEN
Individual

Collaborate
Individual
Individual
Individual
Commercial
Individual
Individual
 22*
-
21*

BRANDING
ZINE
EXPERIMENTAL&
EXHIBITION 
SIGN&TYPE DESIGN
INFOGRAPHICPUBLICATION&
DESIGN FICTION

4MINS INSTITUTE
HOME QUARANTINE
BRUISE
NEW CAPDA SIGNS
FENGSHUI REFERENCE SHEET
GiftA&Giftist
Individual
Individual
Individual
Individual
Individual

Individual