A visual narrative for the song ‘Like a Man’, exploring toxic masculinity and healthier identities
Like a Man
TIMELINE & TOOLS
Art direction, production/ set design, and styling, 6 weeks.
The project was inspired by Barahmé’s song Like a Man, which examines masculinity in two parts: the toxic and the tender. Across staged photo carousels and a full music video, we built visual narratives that first mirror what society accepts and normalizes, then challenge those ideas through satire and vulnerability, and finally reimagine masculinity as something healthy, expressive, and whole.
ABOUT
Photo Series
I translated Barahmé’s vision into concrete visual ideas for the carousels, exploring ways to represent toxic and healthy masculinity through set design, props, clothing, and styling. Shooting took place across indoor and outdoor locations, including his apartment and mine, where I creatively utilized existing props and materials to build each scene. My role spanned art direction, set design, and styling, shaping the overall aesthetic while collaborating closely with photographers Abdullahi and Baker. The staged photo series was designed to echo the duality of Barahmé’s song through 4+ carousels, each exploring a facet of masculinity—what’s normalized, what’s mocked, and what’s reimagined. The text overlays were written and edited by Abdullahi, and Barahmé himself was the model and subject.
Carousel 1 — A hidden pain: men’s emotions buried in silence.
Carousel 2 — What society expects of men: detached, chaotic, unbothered.
Carousel 3 — The impossible measures of manhood—man up, mask up, measure up.
Carousel 4 — Cockiness and dominance, celebrated as success but hollow beneath.
Carousel 5 — A celebration of gentler masculinity expressed through creativity and reflection.
Carousel 6 — An Arab man reclaiming softness and domesticity without losing himself.
Music Video Production
Following the photo series, the project expanded into a full music video for Like a Man. Working as the production and set designer as well as makeup artist, I translated the visual language developed in the carousels into a cinematic setting. Collaborating with a larger film crew, I focused on building environments that reflected the emotional contrasts of the song—balancing chaos, control, vulnerability, and release.
Transforming everyday spaces into narrative environments through set design
Set Design Transformations
I designed and transformed multiple interior spaces, including a basement and bedroom, using existing materials and props to shape the atmosphere of each scene. Through before-and-after set design, I focused on how space could influence mood—introducing clutter, texture, and lighting to reflect different states of masculinity. My role also extended to makeup, supporting character expression and continuity on screen while working closely with the director, cinematographer, and lighting team.
AFTER (basement) :
AFTER (basement) :
BEFORE (basement) :
BEFORE (bedroom) :
AFTER (bedroom) :
Behind the Scenes
