Absurd Expressions
Illustration & Typography Mini Booklet
ACADEMIC PROJECT
Printed booklet
Duration
3 weeks
Sept–Oct 2023
SOFTWARE
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
IDEATION
For this assignment, we were asked to select six idioms from a set of nine, and turn them into a cohesive set of illustrations. For my designs, I decided to combine both the literal and figurative meanings of the phrases. This was accomplished through small details and emotional implications behind each illustration. After the six designs were completed, they were assembled into a folded booklet along with the idiom meanings, with a final closed booklet size of 2.25x2.25”.
TARGET AUDIENCE
This booklet could be used for non-native English speakers to learn more about and create visual associations with idioms. It is also a fun entertainment piece for native English speakers who already know the idioms well.
Initial Concept Sketches
Connecting with the full set of idioms through first-read illustrations, and beginning to explore how to communicate both literal and implied meanings
Style Exploration
Narrowing down to six idioms and experimenting with different ways to render illustrations through shape, line, and color
Color Studies
One set of several color studies designed to explore how colors affect the mood and tone of the illustrations
Final Solutions
ILLUSTRATION STYLE
I opted to color block all shadows and highlights instead of blending them out. I felt that this style skated the line between illustration and iconography, which reinforced the teaching purpose of the book, as icons are easily identified and remembered
COLOR
When selecting colors, I was aiming for a palette that was playful and bright, without coming across as childish or overwhelming. However, I was also attracted to some of the moodier color studies I had experimented with earlier in the process. Finalizing my color palette, I opted for oversaturated tones like the yellows and blues, contrasted with solid black backgrounds to enhance the richness of the colors without making them look overly harsh
Booklet
The final booklet measures at 15.75x2.25” opened and 2.25x2.25” closed. I was aiming for a high legibility sans serif as the one typeface I was allowed, taking care to choose one with slight recognizable quirks like the size different in stories on the “B,” as well as the perfectly round “O.” Leaving the description pages white allows the illustrations to remain the star, without creating so much difference that the pages don’t look cohesive
Reflection
CHALLENGES
The most difficult challenge I encountered throughout this process was achieving consistency in the level of detail between illustrations. Because each image was on a completely different scale, I had to make several judgement calls on simplifying some illustrations while adding details to others. In the end, I feel that the designs remained consistent regardless of the scale, and I’m extremely satisfied with how everything turned out, including colors to typography as well.
CONCLUSION
This project was one of my first major print projects, so I learned a lot about translating web color to print, as well as how to perform effective and efficient print tests. I loved exploring the connection between verbal and visual language, something that will continue to inform the way I design and the decisions I make in other projects.