Watch Your Step

Art direction for a self-initiated artist’s book project Watch Your Step documents the basement storefronts of New York’s Chinatown. Characterised by steep steps, narrow staircases, and the absence of English signs, this underground realm is often perceived by above-ground pedestrians as mysterious and unapproachable. This accordion book gives readers a virtual tour of the community of hairdressers, Chinese herbalists, food stalls, recreational clubs, and more. Watch Your Step was sold to museums and retail stores in New York and Tokyo, including the New Museum, the Museum of Chinese in American, the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Paul Smith store on 5th Avenue. The book was featured in the annual design competition of Print Magazine and architectural magazine 32BNY, as well as showcased at various juried exhibitions in the United States.