Complimentry
Explore my final designs, observational research, character and environment design, storyboarding and sketchbook work.
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Create 8 pages of a silent book for the Bologna children’s book fair.
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This story represents the navigation of being ADHD in a world that is predominantly neurotypical. Many neurodivergents don’t feel seen or like they fit in most places so they feel the need to find others that are the same. This book talks about my experience with this part of life and how it is not the case, in fact finding a friendship group where each individual brings out a side of your personality is so much more rewarding that this.
This is represented by an orange protagonist living in a town that is only blue. After seeing an orange glow outside her window, she goes on a journey to find someone just like her. However, along the way she meets others from each coloured realm that helps her with obstacles on her quest. She realises that she doesn’t need to find one individual exactly like her to feel like she belongs, but to find a part of herself in each friend she has.
Environment design research:
I took photos of interesting shaped trees in my towns woodlands and experimented with the layout with gouache paints. I also took photos of boats and harbours in Devon to find inspiration for what each realm would look like and what kind of life each personality type would build for themselves.
House designs:
I took inspiration from images of crazy hamster cages with tubes and connecting enclosures and merged these designs with elements of steam punk.
Storyboarding:
I researched how cinematographers approached scene layouts and camera angles to express my storyline and emotions since I could not do this through language and grammar.
Initial story ideas:
I knew I wanted the story to be based on neurodivergence but the concept of my silent book began by the discovery of the psychologist David Kiersey and how he categorised personality types. I then found Myers-Briggs personality types and merged the two, creating a guide for the plot and design.
Artist and design research:
I visited the Walt Disney 100 year exhibition where the concept art of Disney films were put on display. I discovered the artist Mary Blair and experimented with her design techniques of using gauche, bright bold colours and simple shapes.
Character design:
I created character design ideas by looking at items i think each personality type would use in their work and hobbies, such as the rational type being fact and science driven so I based their designs on flasks and technological elements. Artisan was based on paint brush shapes and musical instruments.
