Editorial Experiences for Young Readers
Editorial Design, Illustration & Service Design … Italy, April 2019
Briefing & Design
Master thesis research and editorial project focus on how to apply Service Design methodologies into a new service. Educational and inclusive service for children to write and illustrate their first book, co-designing with illustrators and educators through a self-expressive, real and digital workshop. “Pou Books Collectivo” will demonstrate how Service Design and Participatory Design methodologies can be used for children’s active learning and creative thinking, cultivating the pleasure of reading. Enhancing imagination and collaboration through manual and digital awareness.
The thesis evaluates the available literature related to design in its facets of Design Thinking, and Service Design; it explores information related to children’s habits and behaviours, emerging literacy and learning development issues; editorial and illustration industries specialised in material for children; it analyses available literature related to promoting reading in general and, specifically, digital and cultural awareness.
Methodology
The methodology of this project is based on the combination of children literacy involving their learning and reading process, children’s play, new technologies and children’s daily habits as part of their education and growth. From the research delivered from this combination we understood that Design for children is a rich area that resonates universally and there are infinite encounters of Design and children adopting attributes shared by designers and children themselves, releasing innovation, creativity and dedication.
The aim is to generate cultural awareness to children teaching and sharing knowledge, skills, language and literature from early ages through educational books giving design and technology an opportunity to formulate consciousness and creative thinking supported by illustrators to combine literacy with creativity and allow them to grow in a local, national and international level telling stories from their perspectives as transformative citizens understanding their place in the world and making a contribution to it.
From research to concept
Project to transform childhood into a creative and design-driven open space for children, artists, educators, families and communities. Methods and tools delivered in this project for the development of the service itself and the actions involved in the service for its functionality and for actors and stakeholders involved were thought according to the background and desk research, inspiration from case studies, findings from field research, and professional knowledge from experts involved in the research and development.
From concept to project proposal
Project-based didactic educational and inclusive service for children to write and illustrate their own first book, co-designing with illustrators and educators through a self-expressive, real and digital workshop. Which aims to boost active learning, stimulate the pleasure of reading and promote creative talent. The starting point of ‘Pou Books Collectivo’ is uplift educational systems and improving relationships between children, artists and professionals teaching, learning and sharing skills and creative thinking can enrich both nations and improve relationships between citizens, making children the center of change and culture awareness. Illustrators will have the possibility to join a network to improve artist development through their market, job opportunities and grow internationally. Consequently, it intents to increase the pleasure of reading from early age nationwide and inspire families to read and build a lifelong educational-cultural habit.
Vision.Envision a nation where humans can work together to support children reading literacy and transform lives and communities.
Mission. Inspire and thrive creative thinkers and change agents of tomorrow, through the pleasure of reading and active learning, creating things for real.
Service research insights
The core of ‘Pou Books Collectivo’ is focused on a collaborative Design Thinking workshop made out of curiosity and discovery, used for experimentation and fun.
This thesis provides a throughout analysis of the workshop where, its implementation and the Participatory Design model, on one hand, will prepare children for future social roles and reading engagement, and, on the other hand, will gather educators and individuals involved in the arts to transmit knowledge and expertise within design environments. Is important to outline the Field Research opportunity to experience a preliminary version of a possible design service structure for a design workshop with and for children in Mexico City. Having the chance to participate with an institution where we applied the preliminary version of the workshop gave us insights to understand if the service would be a possible outcome and how to improve it on order to deliver a useful and meaningful service.
Service Design
In order to be a successful service and reach as many partners, stakeholders, and actors as possible, is necessarily to provide a coherent and attractive communication. The service will have a design identity, a digital platform and community interaction to introduce it and share it to the world.
Interaction and development
‘Pou Books Collectivo’ will be an initiative which children as creative thinkers. Boost their learning and pursue the habit of reading from early ages. All this positive objectives can be achieved if communities, families and academic institutions join the initiative. To maintain people interested and reach more, is important to have the identity flowing and evolving according the events and outcomes of the service.
Community
The webiste of ‘Pou Books Collectivo’ is designed to maintain the image of the service and a proper communication for users and possible visitors. The most important point is to be able to provide the offering the service has because is the starting point to get the service going and then maintain it alive with other section os offerings that keep users interested and entertain, understanding that the purpose is the aim of the service.
Final considerations
The results of this thesis indicate possibilities for future research in the field and offer notions for designers to be aware of when designing for and with children.
Client. Politecnico di Milano. Research & Innovation. Project-based Product Service System Design Master of Science Thesis.
