For our Cost of Living edition, which explores what it costs to be a woman or gender-diverse person, visuals editor Gabrielle Smith considered invisible labor, the pink tax and the importance of showing commodification in a literal way. Read on to discover more about her artistic process.

How did you approach developing the visual identity for this edition?

My initial thinking behind the visual approach for this edition was based on my research into already-existing illustrations around the ‘pink tax’ and my own observations on the ways in which these ‘costs’ are often spoken about and reported on.

When thinking about things like ‘invisible labor’, how across many industries and societally the perception of women and gender diverse people comes at a ‘cost’. I wanted to take a more literal approach to what that cost looks like by using price tags and stickers as a way to portray a much more visible, tangible version of something that’s usually hidden in plain sight.

A price sticker or barcode is something everyone recognises instantly, even if the actual costs tied to being a woman or gender-diverse person aren’t as widely understood, making it a simple, familiar way to highlight a disparity that often goes unnoticed.

As you worked, what did you learn, related to the theme of the edition, that most surprised you?

What resonated with me the most was the vast ways in which these inequalities exist, and how connected they are, regardless of where the women featured in each story were located. Coming from a family that also participated in sou sou’s – a type of rotating savings club – Megha Mohan's piece about parallel economies and how the legacy of matrilineal practices are held also felt familiar.