Card Development and Visual Research

I have created some initial designs for the cards, they will be A6 size (normal card size) it's important that they're not over crammed with content- the text on each card basically needs to be the activity and the week that it is. The back of the card will use imagery relating to the activity for that week.

My initial idea for the back was to use simple digital illustrations which can be seen below. However, I'm not sure whether this style of illustration is boring or whether it's very me. After a rethink, I've decided that hand drawn illustration or less neat illustrations would be more appropriate to childhood and will look a lot more interesting.

Week 1: Front of card

Week 1: Back of card

Week 2: Front of card

Week 2: Back of card

I have gathered research on illustration that focus on a hand drawn and playful childlike aesthetic, this includes work from several different illustrators.

Ideally, this would have been a good collaboration with an Illustrator that works in this way, however I think it will be good for me to broaden my illustration skills. My plan was to also have this project done by Easter and I would need time to contact illustrators to see if anyone would be up for it.

Illustration research:

Jordan Awan:

Jordan majored in illustration at Pratt Institute, before embracing freelance life while working as a part-time designer. “I liked the conceptual aspect of illustration – the way it can tell a story, solve a problem, or communicate an idea"

Fátima Moreno:

Developing a fluid style across her portfolio, Fatima's bizarre and playful illustrations smudge and bleed across the page to create their own individual patterns. The weirdness and playfulness of the characters that she paints and draws have a real childlike feel to them which I loved.

Instead of using just pencil drawings for the illustrations that I create for the cards it might be interesting in add paint in a similar way Fatima's work.

Michael McGregor:

Michael McGregor looks towards his immediate surroundings for inspiration. Whether it’s the market, the cafe or something stumbled across in his home studio or found on a morning walk, it’s the smaller things in everyday life that he finds the most interesting. 

I loved the rough, hand drawn aesthetic of his illustrations as they feel a lot more light, personal and playful than a regular line drawing or digital illustration for example.