session task

"Children are more likely to find encountering new places and people stressful which could affect their feedback"

ensure the location of the testing is in a comfortable environment surrounded by their friends.

Have a familier adult there as a safety net.

" They get tired and bored more quickly and are easily discouraged"

Turn the testing into a game or competition.

" Children are more used to asking for and receiving help. If the purpose of your questioning is to assess how clear the instruction/ information is how would you ensure that they worked unaided?"

If its more of an activity then they may not feel the need to ask for help, if you tell them it's a test it will unease them.

Task 2


• What is the audience age range for your final project?
5-7 year olds.

• What elements of your design do you feel at this stage would benefit from user testing?
The flow of the book, legibility and how fun the books seem. Whether the visual elements make sense.

• What method of user testing might you try and what will you be looking for in your results?
Questionare or video. Ideally video as you can study how they react to the design but this may not be possible so i would use a questionnaire.

• What setting would you use to carry out possible user tests?
In a school or over the internet

user testing ppt notes

User Testing ppt

• Important to make your design successful.

• Get to see your idea through the eyes of the audience, especially important from children, you get to see their perspective.

• Get to take on board their comments to progress

• How to test.

Questionnaires, Video/ observation, Interviews, Focus groups.

• Audience considerations:

who are your audience, what are you trying to communicate to them, what setting- where will they be tested, do they have previous knowledge of the subject matter, the larger the group then the more satisfactory the results will be.

• How to test

preference measures-  asking people what they prefer, scoring on a scale of 1-5, best and worst elements, focus groups-open questions and discussion.

Performance measures - How quickly the content is understood, how they react to it, is it stimulating or boring? can measure how much the tester gets it wrong etc. people may prefer a design but it may not be affective.

Process measures - watching and recording people using the artefact, protocol (the order in which things happen). Video and audio can give an insight to reactions and behaviours that may not been noticed at the time.

Testing Children

they are brutally honest and give an insight into things you haven't thought of before.

They get tired and bored more easily and get discouraged.

Feedback

After presenting my prototypes in todays session I received some helpful feedback. I will consider all of these aspects when progressing my ideas further to create my final concepts.


• To include the Grandad character throughout the book to continue the relationship between him and the audience.


• To develop visuals further.


• Maybe look at some children's magazines to acquire what language is used, how its displayed and interactive, fun elements that are used today.

Visual Prototypes

Below are my prototypes of my cover and one DP spread. This example includes flaps where the child has to find some blackberries, there are four flaps one will be the blackberries and the the remaining flaps will have other foraging items in them. The next page may have some fun facts and activities that tie in with this page.


I've tried to make the components of the page detailed with depth and texture, i've also decided to use quite a childlike illustration, i think this will relate to the child more making foraging as a whole more appealing.

Typography for for front cover

The image below show my choices for the title on the cover of my book. I have narrowed these down to 'Paris Je Aime' and 'Lino Stamp Bold' I think these will be most appealing to children as it they both show childish characteristics and they're quite inconsistent but there still legible. I really like 'Lino Stamp Bold' as its quite earthy and wild which fits the theme of the book.

how to set up my children's book

Before I start to create my book I need to understand how to produce it in a professional way. The website link below came in handy as I will consider these aspects when producing my layouts and cover. It suggests what dpi to use and dimensions etc.


http://www.artbookbindery.com/ChildrensBooksComplete.htm

Below are tips I found most helpful:


Choosing a page size/ binding
"The most common page size for children's books is the 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" format. This is mainly due to the preference of many illustrators to create the illustrations in the square format. As a rule, the square format is commonly used when text is placed opposite the illustration pages, and not mixed with the illustrations. If text is to be placed on the same page as the illustration, or if the illustrations are produced in the portrait format, the larger page size of 8 1/2" x 11" is a good choice. You may select the landscape format for your book at no additional charge. The term "Portrait" is used to describe a page which is taller than it is wide. For example, an 8 1/2" x 11" portrait style page is 11" tall and 8 1/2" wide. The term "Landscape" is used to describe a page which is wider than it is tall.

The most common binding style is the quality softcover (also known as perfect bound or paperback) format. Generally, books containing 20 pages or more are produced in the quality softcover format while books containing fewer than 20 pages are produced in the saddle stitch binding format. The hardcover binding format is also available, but is not as common because of the higher production cost."

Scanning tips

"There are many brands of scanners available on the market. Even the most inexpensive scanner will be able to produce the high quality images needed for printing. Properly setting your resolution will determine whether your images will be blurry, or print quality. Print resolution is measured in dots per inch (DPI). The more dots used to make up the image, the higher the quality of the image.

For best results, illustrations should be scanned at high resolution (300 DPI) in either the TIFF or JPEG file format. If you are planning to enlarge the size of your illustration to be printed, it would be advisable to scan your illustrations at 600 DPI. Some scanners automatically default to 72 DPI between uses so be careful. Illustrations scanned at 72 DPI would not be considered acceptable for printing.

Note: Higher resolution is not necessarily better. A resolution over 600 DPI will only increase your file size (sometimes dramatically) and cause your computer to run more slowly."

character/ illustration style development

After establishing what media type I wanted to use I went on to develop this further. As mentioned in older posts, I have been inspired by how Eric Carle produces his work and the affect it gives.  He layers up different textures and paints over the top. I thought i would use this method with my pieces but also adding aspects of my own style to create a good balance. Below shows the process i have taken to create my Grandad character…

Sketching the character

Choice of textures materials

Transferring sketches on to texture

Base with textures to paint on to of. This
also includes layering.

Painted over

As the paint itself doesn't give enough depth to the
image, I manipulated the painting in photoshop to simply add
shadows and highlights using various brushed and colours.

Media Selection

As stated below, I thought of using gouache paints to produce my work. I want a textured look but also want an element of childish characteristics within the work itself, if feel this would be more relatable to the audience. The image below show me testing the various media I could use.

After testing these on paper i have confirmed that Gouache would be the best approach to take.


Oils could be used to outline the image as it gives a nice texture to it but it is quite messy and busy, I worried it would overcrowd the page making it illegible, especially as children are the primary audience. Pens are too child like and unprofessional. Acrylics and watercolours are ok but I'm still not satisfied they'll cater towards the build up of texture and colour. Gouache does do this and this is why i'll be using it in the illustrations.

presentation content

After feedback from the my roughs deadline I came to the conclusion that the interactive elements were a good idea but i felt i needed some sort of character to bring the book together and have a point of focus for the audience. I decided to include a grandad as this character; I think that this idea would appeal to both genders and give them something to relate to. As mentioned before, children like to have a sense of control and asking them to help the Grandad character will give them this as well as teaching them to help others as well as the obvious point of foraging.


The setting of the book will be in beaches, hedgerows and in forests. There will be a question for example, asking the child, "can you help Grandad find some wild garlic?" there will be various flaps and pull outs where different items can be found, the child has to explore the page to find the garlic. The next page will include purely the garlic in a pop our form to further visualise the element and set the scene. It will also give some fun information about the subject. This will be the layout of the book and at the end will be an activity sheet, similar to an earlier concept asking them to draw what they've found, where they found it and what tools they used. This element should encourage the child to actually go out and forage with the information they have learned from the book.

An example of a successful pull out concept

An example of a successful pop-up concept

Initial concept idea located in a garden. Example of layout and
pop-out idea.

progression of idea. Located in beaches, hedgerows and
forests. Elements and interactivity the same as before.

The illustration style came from ins pirate by Eric Carle, i love how he uses paint built up of different paints and textures, I will use something similar to this for my own illustration style. I will use different textures and mainly use Gouache paints as I feel they really textures a piece of work and this will be better suited to my design.

Eric Carles, the very hungry caterpillar. Illustration style.

Example of Gouache paints that I will be using.

I Feel this illustration style will suite 5-7 year olds as it gives an extra dimention to the image, they will want to interact with it, its quite earthy which relates to the activity of foraging. Subconsciously it will bring the design and theme together. Possibly inspiring the child to carry out the activity.

Above are some examples of typefaces I am thinking about using. I have decided I want to use a san serif typeface as its far more legible for the child to read. Typefaces such as Arial Rounded are especially easier, this style is similar to what they are used to reading at school. Although I may add a more creative typeface for title pages and the cover otherwise it could seem as though I'm patronising the child. 7 year olds will be a lot more competent at reading so I need to find the correct balance between all ages with in the age group.

I have considered the cover of my book to be similar to the roughs further up the page. Through-out  the book the grandad may not appear so I think I need him to be displayed on the cover so the child has an image in their head of what he looks like. I will probably have him located in one of the locations in the book as to tease the audience and want them to read further. I will also have a more creative typeface to give the impression of fun into the book, again to excite the reader.

progression continued

After the helpful feedback on my last post I have slightly changed the concept. As the topic of the book should be about foraging in the wild, its inappropriate to have a garden as the setting of the book. I have now changed this to 'Foraging with Grandad' as i like the idea of having a friendly character that appeals to both genders. Children like to have a sense of control and the idea of helping a loving character will accomplish this theory and also help them to learn.


Instead of a garden as the setting I have changed this to beaches, forests and hedgerows. All the other aspects of the concept will be the same as below, only the location has changed.

Concept Progression

After reviewing my earlier concepts i feel these need improving on. I have
established that I want to include interactive elements, which I have worked
on. But although interesting ideas, they come more across as activity books.
I feel i need to include some sort of generic character that a child can relate to;
Everybody can relate to a grandparent this is why i've included a grandfather
into this concept. The child reading the book plays themselves, This will give them
the sense of control over the book, making it more enjoyable.

The first DP spread asks the child to help the Grandad find the vegetables. Again this
makes it seem that the child has the control, on the following page it asks which item to search for,
in this cue, a carrot. There will be various different flaps, pop ups and pull outs to explore to find the carrot.
This will teach the child where to forage for the different products.

As this is aimed at 5-7 year olds, i think it's important to start on a basic level and the adult character shows that supervision is needed.



On the second DP spread will be a pop up carrot to give the child a sense of achievement. as discussed before i would like to use a painted collage affect but this will be explored further.

Interactive Children's books

As mentioned in the post below I want to include interactive elements into my book to keep the child interested and excited to learn. I have picked a selection of books I think are appropriate and interesting to play with. It also gives me an indication in to how the mechanics of these elements work.

The Jolly Postman is a classic and offers unique interactive elements with its envelopes and letters. This Christmas version also include even more activity aspects such as jigsaw puzzles and games.

This book is full of flip ups and pull out. But
I a specifically interested in the pull out elements
as this is something i have in mind for my own
designs, i think its a great way of drawing
the audience in. I'm thinking of a hide and seek
approach, similar to the concept of this book.
This is a great example to prove this theory works.

This book shows some really detailed and complex
pop-up's. They look  great with it's minimal text,
it's a very visually focused book, which is constructed
in a brilliant way. I love the use of descriptive words
that sets the scene perfectly in your mind. Although
this is a very visually stimulating book, it's
quite predictable. I want to include rhythm and
routine but i also want to include an element of
surprise and suspense. 

books aimed towards 5-7 year olds.

Below are some examples of children's books aimed towards 5-7 year olds. I've found between these two books that there very illustrative, the text style suggests that the parents would read to the children. These elements mixed together makes the child listen to the story while looking at the pictures. As they are so detailed they are kept occupied, this also offers scope to play a game with parent and child e.g "can you find 5 bears?…"


The Teddy Bears Picnic

This shows an example of some lovely illustrations, very detailed with lots visually to look at, I may use something like this in my own designs. I can remember reading this book as a child and loving the rhythm of the poem with in the text style. I think the positioning of the typography is lovely, its subtle and follows a clear hierarchy, the typeface used follows the style of the traditional book it is with a serif typeface. I personally feel a san serif typeface is more legible but as its more likely the parent would read the book it's not too much of an issue. An extra nice element is that the start and end pages show the characters traveling to and from the picnic, another visual element that can enraptures the audience.


Peepo!

Peeop! is another favourite books of mine. As before it has some lovely illustrations. It also has a subtle interactive element with the circle cut out on every other page. I used to really enjoy this book because of this. Again, the text is constructed in a rhythmic way. Rhythm and repetition is proven to enhance learning for a child and relates to them as this is how they follow a day to day life. These are all considerations that i will think about with my own designs.


I think this was a great book twenty years ago but as technology changes and everything improves, i feel there are more expectations nowadays. i think i need to add an interactive element but i think it needs to be more than peepo! has to offer.  

Foraging with Andy Hamilton

Durning our last session we went out around the campus and found various items of flora, Andy showed us what was safe and the uses each product brings. He also gave us some interesting pieces of information to consider when designing the content for our final brief.


Andy has suggested that the best time to go foraging is between May, June and July. Costal foraging is best in March and April.

Here is an image of a Cleaver, as i child i used to
love throwing these at my friends, this could be a good
item to include into my book. These also make juice
and are a herbal remedy used by the celts.

This is an image of Yarrow, It's like grass and is edible.
It's medicinal and can also be used to make beer. It's very
good to congeal and stop blood flow. It's also good for tooth
ache as it numbs the mouth. Its also great for varicose vaines.

Here is an example of a dangerous plant.
This is called 'Lords and Ladies',
If eaten it burns the throat causing blistering.
This can cause you to choke to death.

This is wild mustard. Seeds fall off the plant
that then gets turned into mustard.

Here are some blackberry leaves. They can
be used to make blackberry tea.

Here is blossom, it's good for making slow gin.

Here are some nettles. These need to be cooked
to wilt poisonous hairs down. Makes a good
nettle soup. They are also medicinal as they
are full of iron. Seeds are good to cook fried
with butter and nutmeg.

Visiting speaker Andy Hamilton

Notes taken from session talk.


• He co-founded the website 'Selfsufficientish' with brother, this lea to interest from publishers asking him to produce a book. He published his first book in 2008 and has gone on the publish a few more.


• he's presente on various t.v programs.


• He runs foraging programs for children.


• Boy's tend to be more interested in the danger and digging aspect and girls look for food and flowers, Andy's observation.


• Different areas:


Cost - wild food thats easy to find.


Country areas - Harder to find.


You need to forage in different places and the correct time of year.


Urban areas are easier to find as there are more habitats. People grow lots of different types of plants in urban areas so seeds blow around and grow.


You need to know the history of places. e.g if a petrol station used to be there before its dangerous as of remaining oil.


• Kids are very adventurous and absorb the information more. Adults can be more reserved and unwilling.


• If the kids get bored you can set them tasks and fun mini tasks and games to keep them occupied.


• To get them started pick simple things such as berries, garlic an fruit. these are also low risk.


http://www.selfsufficientish.com/main/

Rough Visuals - early concepts

This concept is a simple design as its aimed towards 5-7 year olds. From research carried out, I feel that to engage the children, i need to add some sort of interactive element. Here i have done this by creating a simple image on the first page asking 'can you find ... some blackberry's' this would be a generic attribute to all items in the book, keeping it clear, simple and easy to read and understand, with minimal assistance. On the following page i have included flaps where the child has to unfold each one to find where they would find it.

Sticking with including an interactive element, i have created this concept. The first page includes a turning circle where the child can choose what item they would like to forage for. They then have to think where they will find the item and continue to decide what appropriate tools should be used. The following page includes an activity sheet where the child has to draw a picture of the item collected. They then write where they found it and draw what tools they used. I think this concept will build up a good knowledge base of how to forage, it also teaches the child how to learn from any possible mistakes.

Here is another concept which focuses on the instruction element. The design would be in a painted, textured, collage form with nice visuals. Pages are layered from smaller to bigger to include a simple interactive element which embraces the instructional form. The first page shows the image explained above to indicate which item the child needs to forage. The following page suggests how to do this with nice imagery to help this process. 

Questions to ask Andy Hamilton

To make the most of having guest speaker Andy Hamilton in, I have thought of some questions i'd like to ask him. This will enable me to have a better understanding of what children are like when foraging and will help indicate what direction to take my design process.


1. What aspects of foraging to children find the most exciting?


2. What items do they enjoy searching for the most?


3. What are the main safety guidelines that are enforced when children are foraging?


4. Where are the main places that children would go to forage?