SINGAPORE – Shopping for clothes should be an enjoyable experience. Yet, for many women, finding pieces that both allow them to express themselves and fit well is often an uphill task. <\/p>\n
At the heart of the problem is that different labels size their clothes differently. A size M at one store might fit differently from a size M at another.<\/p>\n
For The Straits Times\u2019 digital graphics correspondent Stephanie Adeline<\/span><\/a>, experiencing frustration while shopping for clothes inspired her to embark on a project to illustrate this less-than-ideal experience for women.<\/p>\n \u201cMy observation is that it\u2019s very hard to find something that fits you perfectly… It tends to fit quite well in the waist area, but not in the hips,\u201d said Ms Adeline, who was speaking to an audience about her story at an SND workshop on April 24. \u201cSo it goes in any combination for different women, because women\u2019s bodies are so diverse – it\u2019s not all hourglass, it\u2019s not all pear-shaped, so I wanted to test this to see if there is data to back up my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Her interactive feature unpacking the issue, Inside the confusing world of women\u2019s clothing sizes<\/span><\/a>, emerged as one of the top stories at The Society for News Design\u2019s (SND) Creative Competition. It won one gold, three silvers, one bronze and two awards for excellence.<\/p>\n Now into its 47th year, the competition organised by the US-based SND, is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards for news design and visual journalism globally.<\/p>\n According to SND, the judges described the entry as highly innovative, \u201cwith a wide range of elements including infographics and 3D features that enhance personalisation and storytelling\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cThey noted that the fundamentals are strong alongside boundary-pushing design, making it engaging to explore.\u201d <\/p>\n To pull together the data for the story, Ms Adeline and the team from ST surveyed 105 women on their experiences shopping for clothes and studying size charts from eight brands.<\/p>\n Besides telling the story with charts, videos and an interactive tool, the core team of seven took it a step further by using 3D modelling to visualise what different brands think different sizes look like, and how these compare to actual women bodies.<\/p>\n The team 3D-printed about 40 dolls with different body types and invited five female colleagues at ST to attempt to identify one that represents them best.<\/p>\n The story illustrates the common difficulties faced when shopping for different types of clothing, explains how size charts vary across brands due to reasons such as different target markets, and provides practical tips for shoppers on how to shop for clothes that fit them.<\/p>\n The story capped a strong ST strongest showing to date at the competition. This was the first time ST won four golds in a single edition of the competition. <\/p>\n These included golds for a feature on noise pollution, as well as in both the individual and staff art direction portfolio categories.<\/p>\n In total, ST took home a total of 109 awards – four golds, 12 silvers, 28 bronzes and 65 awards of excellence across both digital and print works – on April 24, a leap from 53 awards last year<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n ST editor Jaime Ho said, \u201cThese awards are a recognition of The Straits Times\u2019 commitment to design, visual journalism and new ways of storytelling. We consider these essential to engaging our readers and intend to continue to innovate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am especially heartened by our portfolios getting awarded the highest accolade for the first time. It is a testament to the excellence, not just of individual stories, but of our body of work.\u201d<\/p>\n Commenting on ST\u2019s wins from the competition this year, Ms Adeline added, \u201cI think it just speaks to how our teamwork is like, and how we are very collaborative and always support each other…Every single person who worked on all of our projects made it better in some way.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 100 publications globally participated in the competition, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, South China Morning Post, Reuters and Bloomberg.<\/p>\n Here are some of ST\u2019s winning works:<\/p>\n In one of the world\u2019s densest cities, peace and quiet are hard to find. The traffic never stops, and for some, the constant sound is often impossible to escape.<\/p>\n Diving deep into the issue of noise pollution in Singapore, a core team of four at ST collaborated with Professor Gan Woon-Seng, who teaches audio engineering at National Technological University (NTU), and senior research engineer Santi Peksi from NTU\u2019s Smart Nation Translation Lab to record sound levels inside 25 residences across the city.<\/p>\n To make this story about visually captivating, the team made use of sound waves to demonstrate the volume and texture of traffic noises heard from various neighbourhoods in Singapore.<\/p>\n Readers can also deepen interaction with the story by clicking on icons to hear the different types of traffic noise heard in an area \u2013 from buses to motorcycles, cars, airplanes and ships.<\/p>\n The story went on to snag one gold, one silver, two bronzes and three awards of excellence.<\/p>\n READ MORE HERE<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Published in the lead up to the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships, the story about Singapore\u2019s first Paralympic gold medallist takes a close look at Yip Pin Xiu\u2019s swimming techniques and strategies.<\/p>\n From how she positions herself at the starting line to how she depends solely on her arms to propel herself in the water, the story brings readers through a detailed look at Yip\u2019s entire process of swimming as they scroll, using shots of her both above and under the water.<\/p>\n Helmed by a core team of four at ST, the story about Singapore\u2019s most decorated paralympian won a silver, a bronze and four awards of excellence.<\/p>\n READ MORE HERE<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Unlike restaurants, hawkers do not have multi-page menus that detail the stories behind their food, nor a dining room to immerse guests in their culinary vision. All the information about who they are and what they offer has to be communicated through the signboards perched above their stalls.<\/p>\n Put together by a core team of seven at ST, the story examines how the various components of signboards \u2013 language, colour, font, photography and text \u2013 each plays a role in sending a message, as well as how cultural influences and norms shape the look of them.<\/p>\n The story, which also examined the results of a survey of more than 100 people on their interactions with signboards, won a silver and three awards of excellence.<\/p>\n READ MORE HERE<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Byte-size\u2019 plants: Singapore Herbarium goes online<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Photo Story Design (single date) (Print: Multiple pages)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n 60 Singapore objects<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Arts & Entertainment (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Arts & Entertainment (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Use of Animation (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Arts & Entertainment (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (In-house: Single illustration)\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Charlene Chua<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Individual (Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio) (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Individual (Infographics Portfolio) (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Christmas hunt: 25 holiday treasures<\/span><\/a>\t<\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Lifestyle (In-house: Single illustration)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Illustrated Reporting (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Floods, storms upended their lives in Bangladesh; work in Singapore gives them chance to rebuild<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Climate & Environment (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Climate & Environment (Digital: Single URL)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n GE2025 surprises and new faces: Who are the election candidates you will be voting<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Politics & Elections (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Hannah Ong<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Individual (Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio) (Multiplatform)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n How hawker signboards tell the story of Singapore<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Print: Single page<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n How to make the most of small spaces in Singapore<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence –\u00a0 Local & Regional (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Print: Single page<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional Print: Single page<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Experimental (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Multiplatform\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Inside the confusing world of women\u2019s clothing sizes<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Social Issues (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Print: Single page<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Social Issues (Print: Single page)\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Social Issues (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver –\t Multiplatform<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Experimental (Digital: Single URL)\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Gold – Social Issues (Digital: Single URL)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Kelongs were once a common sight in Singapore\u2019s waters. Today, only a handful remain.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (In-house: Multiple illustrations)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n of Excellence – Use of Animation (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Lost Games: How five stones and other old-school games are cultural anchors to Singapore\u2019s past<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Lifestyle\u00a0(Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Use of Animation (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Lifestyle (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Making a splash: Highlights from the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Photo Story Design (single date) (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Mapping Singapore through 60 books<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Arts & Entertainment (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Print: Single page<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Arts & Entertainment (In-house: Multiple illustrations)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Illustrated Reporting (Digital: Single URL)\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Marcelo Duhalde<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Individual (Illustration Portfolio) (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Individual: Art Direction Portfolio (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n More than a convenience store: Disappearing mamak shops<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Use of Animation (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n No quiet at home: The reality of living with Singapore\u2019s traffic noise<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Print: Single page<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Local & Regional (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Use of Audio\t (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Gold – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Prawns and pomfrets: How Malaysia\u2019s looming fish trawling ban could affect your dining options<\/span><\/a>\t<\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence –\u00a0Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Press Start to begin<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Lifestyle (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Punggol Digital District – Singapore\u2019s blueprint for future smart district<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Business, Economy & Technology (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Business, Economy & Technology (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Singapore\u2019s landscape is constantly evolving. Here are some changes to come.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (In-house: Multiple illustrations)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Print: Single page<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Multiplatform\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Stephanie Adeline<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Individual: Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Individual: Infographics Portfolio (Multiplatform)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Straits Times Staff Portfolio for Illustration<\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Staff: Illustration Portfolio (Print: Multiple pages)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n The Fantastic Four: A legacy of first steps<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Arts & Entertainment (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n The Straits Times<\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Staff: Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio (Digital: Multiple URLs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Staff: Infographics Portfolio (Digital: Multiple URLs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Staff: Visual Editing Portfolio (Digital: Multiple URLs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Print: Multiple pages<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n The Straits Times\u2019 Newsroom Over the Decades<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – National (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Illustrated Reporting (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Staff: Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio (Digital: Multiple URLs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Staff: Infographics Portfolio (Digital: Multiple URLs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Print: Multiple pages<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Staff: Art Direction Portfolio (Digital: Multiple URLs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Staff: Art Direction Portfolio (Print: Multiple pages)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Gold – Staff: Art Direction Portfolio (Digital: Multiple URLs)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n The year in 25 headlines<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – International (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Illustrated Reporting (Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – International\t(Print: Single page)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Under The Red Light: The Hidden Lives of Singapore Sex Workers and A Tale of Two Sex Workers<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Social Issues (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n We asked more than 40 people to track their coffee consumption for a week. Here is what we found.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Lifestyle (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Lifestyle (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Why handwriting matters<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Use of Typography (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Yip Pin Xiu: Queen of Grit<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Award of Excellence – Sports\t(Multiplatform)\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence –\u00a0 Sports (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Multiplatform<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Award of Excellence – Print: Single page\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Use of Video\t (Digital: Single URL)\t<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Silver – Sports\t(Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n How Singapore is rethinking nature in the city<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Bronze – Local & Regional (Digital: Single URL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n Shannon Teoh<\/span><\/a>\t<\/p>\n Bronze – Individual: Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bronze – Individual: Infographics Portfolio (Multiplatform)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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