Faith and Fear: The Origin of Superstitions

Project Type

Nathan Young

Instructor

Publication Design

Date

May 2026

Full Case Study Here

According to Merriam-Webster, superstition is “a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic, or a false conception of causation”

This definition makes superstition seem irrational and overlooks the cultural meThis definition makes superstition seem irrational and overlooks the cultural and personal meaning these beliefs hold. I realized this when thinking about Chinese New Year, a time full of tradition, taboo, and celebration. Growing up, I learned many superstitions tied to the holiday, like avoiding washing your hair on New Year’s Day or taking out the trash to prevent losing good luck. This year, I could not go home, so conversations with Asian friends made me reflect on the traditions our families share, from deep cleaning to early haircuts to temple visits. What began as a casual discussion became a broader look at how culture shapes superstition and how these traditions evolve into the beliefs people follow today.

Research

Due to the quantity of superstitions around the world, my research began with categorizing them based on practices, conditions, and intent. As my topic is niche, one of the challenges was finding scholarly sources on the origins of different superstitions. Many articles contained extraneous information, and some were unreliable. I mainly relied on interviews, open source databases, and survey results to write my publication.

Branding

Within my design, I wanted to incorporate a zine‑like style, so I halftoned images to add texture and create a more tactile feel. I limited each spread to two colors to maintain consistency while still allowing variation between sections. Every layout and color choice was carefully considered, with color serving as a symbol that references the history behind each superstition. The placement of the vellum pages was also intentional, designed to make the book more interactive and engaging as the reader flips through it.

The Superstitions

Black Cat

I personally never believed that black cats were unlucky, but it’s one of the most well-known superstitions today. For this section, I wanted to explore how black cats are perceived in other cultures to contrast their negative connotation. For this reason, I included Japan¹¹ and Scotland, where black cats are often seen as symbols of protection and good fortune⁷.

Walking Under Ladders

Avoiding ladders seems logical for safety, but I wanted to understand the deeper origins. The emphasis on the triangle in Egypt¹⁴ and Christianity shaped my design, so the text and images follow that form. I also learned that purple was a sacred, expensive dye in the Middle Ages, which guided my color palette of purple and white.

Knocking on Wood

Knocking on wood is often done out of habit or in jest, but it raises the question of whether people actually believe in its effect. In my survey, about 15% of participants said they knock on wood to avoid jinxing themselves, even if they do not genuinely believe it works. While there is no proven effect, superstition often operates on psychology. The action provides a small sense of comfort and control in situations where the outcome is uncertain.

Evil Eye

Similar to the walking under ladders section, this section was inspired by the circular form of Nazars²¹. The text is either contained within the circle or follows curved paths around it, reinforcing that shape throughout the layout. This spread is also the first instance where a language with a non-Latin script is introduced. I searched through Adobe Fonts for a typeface that supports Greek and selected one that pairs well with the Matrix typeface.

Mirrors Facing the Bed

This superstition relates to spirits and energy²², concepts that are not physically tangible. To reflect this (pun intended), I chose a lighter gray to create an opaque quality, while the darker gray references the association with night. On the right side of the title spread, I incorporated vellum to simulate the presence of spirits and the reflective qualities of a mirror.

Dreamcatchers

Dreamcatchers are often treated as decorative objects, but they hold deep cultural meaning within Native American communities. I was especially drawn to the story of Asibikaashi, the Spider Woman, and how women in the tribe began weaving dreamcatchers to represent her protection.

Wishing Wells

Black and green are not colors typically associated with wishing wells, but they are connected to Norse mythology. Green represents fertility, renewal, and the cycles of life. In Norse belief, the World Tree, Yggdrasil, symbolizes the continuous cycle of nature, life, and death. Black represents the depth of the well, while the green is muted to complement this darker base and create contrast within the spread.

Designer: Ashley Yang

Instructor: Nathan Young (Portfolio), Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University

Photos: Adobe Stock and Unsplash

Typefaces: Adobe Fonts

BC Vajgar by Petra Dočekalová & Tomáš Brousil from Briefcase Type

Arpona Sans by Felix Braden from Floodfonts

Matrix II by Zuzana Licko from Emigre

Otta Arabic by Francisco Gálvez Pizarro from PampaType.

Bree Greek Variable by José Scaglione and Veronika Burian. From TypeTogether

Credits

References

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