FOOTSTEPS OF DIFFERENCE

FOOTSTEPS OF DIFFERENCE

This is my graduation project: an interactive illustrated book designed for families, especially those with children who have limb disabilities.

Ideation: Inspired by real stories from research and field trips, I set out to create an interactive illustrated book for parents and children to enjoy together, especially families with children who have limb disabilities. Through the real-life experiences and perspectives of teachers featured in the book, my goal is to create a space for communication between parents and children, helping parents better understand their kids and fostering greater developmental potential for children with limb disabilities.

Reflection: Although this project was part of a university course, it marked the first time I had the opportunity to design a book, blending illustration, interactivity, and graphic design. Despite facing challenges and moments of uncertainty throughout the process, I gained valuable practical knowledge and deepened my understanding of these fields. This project not only enhanced my skills but also gave me a clearer sense of direction for my major and future career path. It helped me realize the areas I am passionate about and the impact I can make through my work.

• Project Title: Footsteps of Difference

• Brief Description: An interactive illustration book designed as a shared experience for parents and children with limb differences, aiming to foster deeper understanding and connection within the family. 

• The Problem: A lack of visual resources to help families, especially parents, understand and compare the experiences of children with congenital limb differences versus those with acquired limb loss. Additionally, there's a need for a tool to initiate meaningful conversations about experiences and feelings that children may not readily share. 

• Goals:

  • Provide insight into the daily lives of children with limb differences (social interactions, learning, self-care).

  • Facilitate understanding between parents and children. 

  • Encourage open dialogue about challenges and unspoken stories. 

• Target Audience: Families (parents and children) with children experiencing limb differences. 

• My Role: Designer, Illustrator.

• Timeline: Approx. 12 weeks

• Initial Research:

  • Explored related topics: comics about prosthetics, inspirational stories, social projects.

  • Analyzed successful projects like Open Bionics' Hero Arm.

• Identifying the Gap & Opportunity: Recognized the lack of resources directly comparing the experiences of children with congenital vs. acquired limb differences. 

• In-depth Research:

  • Visual Research: Analyzed illustration styles for children and families, books on disabilities; studied layouts, color palettes, abstract and friendly styles.

  • Technical Research: Investigated principles and appropriate approaches for illustrating sensitive topics, particularly regarding people with disabilities.

  • User/Context Research (Field Trip): Conducted a field trip to Maison Chance, interviewing a teacher to gain real-world insights into the learning environment, the teacher's role, interactions, and children's unspoken thoughts often unknown to parents.

• Key Inspirations:

  • Youthful, positive illustration styles.

  • Profound insights from the field trip to Maison Chance, especially regarding the importance of family communication and the school's role.

• Final Concept: The book comprises three main parts:

  • Part 1: Compares daily experiences (social interaction, learning, play, self-care) between children with congenital and acquired limb differences.

  • Part 2: Explores how teachers aid integration and delves into stories children might not share with parents (revealed through interactive pop-ups). 

  • Part 3: Focuses on the roles of family and school in supporting the child (also utilizes interactive pop-ups).

• Illustration Style: Employed a child-friendly drawing style with a bright, positive color palette, ensuring respectful and optimistic representation. (Include final illustration images)

• Layout & Typography: Designed clear, easy-to-follow layouts harmoniously integrating visuals and minimal text (if applicable). (Include images of final page spreads)

• Interactive Elements (Pop-ups): Designed creative and intuitive paper pop-up elements to enhance the reading experience and reveal hidden content. (Include images/videos of the pop-ups)

• Video/Walkthrough: A short video demonstrating how the book works and the user experience.