Education | Arts and Culture | Non-Profit
Out of the BOX
Out of the BOX is a children’s book series that features a colorful cast of crayons that help to artistically teach us about Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Curiosity, Confidence, Compassion, and Communication.
The series follows a Colorful Crayon Box teacher, Ms. Boxy, and her eccentric class of Crayons – Carmine, the spunky red crayon; Clem, the brave orange crayon; Sunny, the cheerful yellow crayon; Jade, the optimistic green crayon; Coby, the enthusiastic blue crayon; Violet, the wise purple crayon; Gerry, the thoughtful pink crayon, and Rusty, the dependable brown crayon.
This dynamic group aims to showcase the beauty in our individuality and the power of our collective impact. Each crayon is named after variations of their colors and their uniqueness and personalities challenge some of the societal ideas that have also worked to box us into stereotypes and assumptions based on appearance. The books also speak to various issues many children face as they work to develop an understanding of themselves as individuals, while simultaneously building social relationships both in and out of school. We hope to show value in the diversity of the crayons and the strength of their togetherness!
Idea
Project Goals
To create a children’s book series that helps to redefine arts education as a progressive learning tool.
Utilize Art tools to tell the story, appealing to children with engaging visuals and activities.
Help to offer sustainable arts education resources and activities to primary schools in rural areas of West Africa.
Process
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Understand the Brand: Understand the characters, storyline, and educational objectives of the series.
Research: Research progressive arts education methods and practices, as well as children's literature and illustration techniques. Gain insights into the target audience's preferences, interests, and learning styles.
Explore West African Context: Learn about the educational landscape and challenges faced by primary schools in rural areas of West Africa. Understand the cultural nuances and needs of the local communities to tailor the books accordingly.
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Conceptualization: Brainstorm creative concepts for the children's book series, keeping in mind its educational goals and audience appeal. Develop storylines, characters, and themes that promote progressive arts education and celebrate diversity.
Visual Design: Work with an illustrator to create visually captivating artwork that engages young readers and complements the storyline. Incorporate interactive elements and activities that encourage hands-on participation and learning.
Curriculum Integration: Align the content of the books with curriculum standards and learning objectives, ensuring that the activities and lessons are relevant and age-appropriate for primary school students.
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Content Development: Write and refine the content of the books, striking a balance between storytelling, educational content, and interactive elements. Collaborate with educators and experts to ensure accuracy and effectiveness.
Illustration and Layout: Create illustrations and layout designs for the books, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and test audiences. Pay attention to visual accessibility and cultural sensitivity, especially for readers in West African communities.
Production and Distribution: Produce the books in both print and digital formats, considering cost-effective printing options and distribution channels. Work with local partners and organizations to distribute the books to primary schools in rural areas of West Africa, ensuring widespread access to sustainable arts education resources.
Children’s Book Mockups
The ‘out of the BOX’ series is made up of 7 children’s books and an ARTivity workbook that encourages using Arts Education and its creative disciplines as learning techniques for gaining critical life skills. This series is perfect for children grade levels 1-4 and ages 6-9 but has lessons we all can keep with us. Children can be entertained by brilliant visuals and beautiful stories that teach applicable lessons and skills useful throughout their daily lives.
All proceeds from the sale of the books go toward sustaining Arts Education programs facilitated by ART of Hearts, Inc.
Children’s Books and Workbook Mockups
Customer Photos
Impact
7 Books
1 Workbook
3 Countries
4 Support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #4 – Quality Education
100+ Books Sold
200+ Children empowered
Credits
In Partnership with ART of Hearts, Inc. and Illustrator, Sonal Goyal
My Role
Creative Director
Expertise
Creative Direction | Communication Design
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite