Thank you for your question! :0
There were many inspirations for this game, most notably some physical health issues I have been going through throughout this year. Much of the worldbuilding and many of the mechanics are pretty blatant metaphors for such issues.
Likewise, I wanted the aesthetic to be sort of gothic. This game serves as an exploration of poor health and disability through the lens of "the other." This inspiration mainly being from the portrayals of classic horror stories in the Universal Monsters format (Frankenstein, Dracula, & The Phantom of the Opera were the main inspirations), which I am a massive fan of and have been since I was a child. The poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes is another big inspiration; the visceral reaction I had to how Hughes describes the aftermath of a dream being deferred was reminiscent of body horror to me - also felt much like how I have felt about the acne that my aforementioned health issues has suddenly spurred on this year. An abridged version of the poem is included in the game.
If you look through my devlogs, you can actually see some concept art as well! I hope you enjoy :)