Young adults in the United States live in a variety of different environments during this transitory stage of life. Some young adults might move into their first apartment or dorm, while others will continue living in their childhood home. Whatever the circumstance, this new phase of life may leave some feeling like they lack control over their physical surroundings.

The Space That Surrounds is a collection of zines that guide young people in how to gain more control over the physical spaces that they experience. Each zine describes how to recognize and alter certain characteristics of a given physical space to suit an individual’s need for work, play, and rest. Through research on interior design, Feng Shui, and personal observations on how a person’s environment can affect them, I explain what actions can be taken to achieve balance in a space. The design of these zines shows how we can learn from our physical environment through imagery, collage, and typography that mimics nature.