Graphic Design| Illustration | Print
Proposed book cover designs for the University of Hawaiʻi Japanese language textbooks (Volume I of Musubi: A New Approach to Language and Culture in Reading & Writing and Oral Communication).
This design uses a modern illustration style to appeal to a younger audience and express the excitement of learning Japanese language.
Adobe Illustrator
Fall, 2020
The Musubi textbooks are written by the University of Hawaii Japanese language professors. The lessons reference local areas and personas to bring a sense of familiarity and relatability to the university students.
The textbooks are printed on campus as loose-leaf packets with no cover design. This proposed design aims to convey the unique, customized mix of Hawaiian and Japanese culture that you won't find in other Japanese textbooks.
In Volume I of the Reading & Writing book, students practice writing in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. Students also learn about Japanese culture and customs and how it is similar and different from the local culture in Hawaiʻi. This book cover designs brings both cultures together by mixing Hawaiian and Japanese imagery.
In Volume I of the Oral Communication book, students learn to introduce themselves and make small talk in Japanese, such as where they are from and what they like to do. Thus, the imagery in the design focuses on hobbies, interests, and activities that people commonly talk about.
