My Role
Research into early childhood education with specifics on creativity's impact on rapid childhood development. The results helped initiate an ideation process that defined all the underlying themes presented within each concept. As a lead designer, I worked in a highly collaborative environment, establishing visual ideas and implementing the final application of environmental graphics and corporate designs.
The Challenge
To create a corporate brand and environmental design system that inspires students to see and think differently, appealing to a broad age group of students, faculty, parents, and stakeholders. This system also needed to be scalable to grow with mature students.
Concept: Deconstruct to Reconstruct
Children aged 8 to 10 often begin to conform to their peers as their lives become more structured and reality-based. During this period, they tend to be less imaginative and may lose some of their playful qualities. Researchers, including James Moran, have found that throughout elementary school, there is a 25% decline in what we consider creative attempts, a decrease that does not show a significant recovery until college years.
The concept of deconstruction and reconstruction involves breaking apart Chinese written characters and reassembling them into representations of the Chinese Zodiac, such as monkeys, oxen, and dragons. Using positive messaging reinforces a positive mindset, helping children see the world through a new lens and igniting their curiosity and imagination. Forces a positive mindset, and the characters help children see the world through a new lens, igniting the students' curiosity and imagination.
Illustrated Workbook Covers
Corporate Design System
The corporate design adapted a professional and modern design style for internal use and communication with parents.
Environmental + Wayfinding System
Initial Design Problem
The signage was mounted near the 15-foot ceiling, making it beyond the viewport of elementary students and adults. The design goal was to create an inspiring wayfinding system closer to eye level, no taller than 5" in height.
Solution: Wall Signs + Floormaps
Since students are closer to the ground than the ceiling, we introduced iconography-rich floor maps. Since they have not mastered the Chinese language yet, wall graphics written in English and Chinese are intended for adult use only.
Door Signages
