I made these graphics to post on social media to find people who would fill in the survey.
It's joyful and inviting which I find to be fitting to the subject and I'd like to keep on using an abundance of color.

Some sketches for the book that functions as a collection. The name of the greeting and a description accompanying it. Could also give some examples of awkward situations that could occur?

In this sketch the two sides meet each other literally. The pages come together. This gave me the idea of a remix of greetings.

Part one: Book
A collection of greetings in the form of a book. It's a large collection of greetings to map the large amount of greetings. In this way it will become clear that there is too many way to greet to choose from which makes the greeting more complicated.

At first it would just be a sort of encyclopedia, but I'm also interested in the idea that this would be a more interactive book that would create new greetings in a way. The idea is to combine pages to in this way create sort of a remix. This would then in turn imitate new awkward situations.

I wonder if combining the two: an encyclopedia and the ability to remix makes both ideas less strong. Should I choose one or the other or do they strenghten each other?

Part one: Website
I want to represent a large amount of greetings and don't want to leave any of them by accident. This is why I want to create an online platform where people can add on their ideas and greetings. This would then be a sort of addition onto the book.

The website could also be a project on its own. People could be asked in what ways they greet. All these answers would create a database. This database could calculate for how many people that greeting in a certain is the norm.

Part one: Game
I'm not quite sure about this one. It's kind of similar to the idea of remixing greetings in the book but then in the shape of a cardgame.

I do think that a game would be more managable, though I would be afraid that it would be too much like Dilemma op Dinsdag or Cards Against Humanity which are meant as funny games. To me this is kind of a serious subject that can be treated in a light manner, but should not become a joke.

Sketches for a style of illustration. My idea is that abstraction leaves the image open to interpretation, it also creates a balance between the serious and the comical.

Booklets as part of an encyclopedia / manual series each one based on one character. How would they greet? How are the greetings different for each person and where does the discomfort come into play?

Small sketch of finding a way to visualize 'coming together' in color and shapes

Try-out of a book where two stories might meet in the middle.

A sketch for an awkward greeting situation seen from both sides. Very much a sketch, content wise. Not really sure how to go about this.

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Wrote some narratives of awkward greeting situations. Some based on personal experiences, some on the experiences of people from the survey I took. I've written this in first person format, but not really sure about that.

I’m at a job where I’ve only worked for a little while. Someone who also works at the office but isn’t a coworker has their birthday today. She walks in and all of my coworkers approach her to give her kisses on her cheeks to congratulate her. I don’t want to seem rude and approach her to give her my best wishes as well. Her idea is to shake hands, which in hindsight might have been a better option, but I go in for three kisses on the cheek. Or so I think. She stops at two.

It is a new year. I am a woman who works at an office with coworkers that are predominantly male. I’m at my job quite early but not the first. When I walk in I exclaim “Happy New Year!” to the people are already there, because I don’t really enjoy physical contact or going past every single person that’s already there. I start working while others start dripping in. I notice every single male coworker gets a personal “Happy New Year!” and a handshake, but unfortunately they all think a woman wants to be kissed for a new year.

I’ve been together with my partner for a while now. We’ve occasionally met up with their mother. They are quite close so they always hug when they meet up. With me she insists a couple of kisses. A couple. That is a number that is completely unclear to me, since it seems to differ every single time. Also, as far as I know, it’s custom to start with the right cheek, but I’m not quite sure she agrees.

I’m at a reunion of my high school. Someone whom I don’t remember calls out my name and approaches me. I’m a bit perplexed as they hug me and don’t really hug back.

I’m at a birthday party of a friend of mine. Most of her friends I’ve seen before at another party, where we introduced ourselves to one another but didn’t have any further conversation. This time one of here friends introduces himself to me once again. Do I tell him we’ve already met or do I spare him the embarrassment? If I tell him we’ve already met, I feel as though I’m admitting that I’m forgettable.

I’m walking through my street and I see someone approaching. I don’t know them, but I live in a friendly neighbourhood and I want to be perceived as friendly as well. So I smile widely at my presumed neighbour as we pass. My neighbour decides to say “Good day!” at the very last moment. Do I say it back over my shoulder or should I just ignore what happened and go on with my day?