Beyond the Surface is a publication design project that reimagines Lili Lin’s article “Blurring Life and Work: The Predicament of Young Middle-Class Women in Shanghai.” The publication explores the emotional and social tension experienced by young women navigating blurred boundaries between career, identity, and societal expectations in modern Shanghai. The visual theme reflects this conflict through layered layouts, muted tones, and fragmented typography, symbolising the pressure to maintain perfection while dealing with internal disillusionment. Blurred images and overlapping elements evoke the erosion of personal boundaries. The design aims to turn academic research into a visually engaging, narrative-driven experience, inviting readers to look past surface-level progress and consider the deeper emotional realities behind modern success and the illusion of the ideal life.