Publishing Design - Task 2

23.9.2024 - 03.1.2025 / Week 1- Week 13
Publsihing Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Aliah Farhana Binti Mohd Fauzi / 0357957

Task 2 - Content Generation

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INSTRUCTION

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In this project we were asked to create and design a book of 32 pages that is smaller than A4 but bigger than A5. Thus our task will be to:  Write 3000 words (English/Malay) on any subject that we are familiar with, for example: yourself, your family, someone who inspires you, your hometown, or an experience or an idea/belief that you feel strongly about, etc. The text content must be divided into 3 chapters minimum. It must also have 3/4/5 subtexts (sidebars) and one caption per chapter. Thus we  have 1 week for this and we're also can choose to obtain the text from a source, which you will credit or solicit a real job from a client that falls roughly within the parameters mentioned above.  DREAM IN A JAR This story is about the most challenging and joyful experiences I've encountered in my 20 years of life. I felt inspired to write it, reflecting on my journey from rock bottom to finding the inspiration that became my strength and ultimately led me to what I truly deserve. MOODBOARD Figure 1.1 Colour Choices

Figure 1.2 Inspiration of the jar

Figure 1.3 Procreate file

For the visuals, I've chosen to create hand-drawn artwork in Procreate because I want my work to feel authentic and personal. I don’t often draw and don’t have a natural knack for it, but I gave it my best. I even intentionally made some parts of the drawing a bit rough to reflect the imperfections in my journey.

FINAL SUBMISSIONS

Figure 2.1 3000 words formatted in PDF

Figure 2.2 Unlock, JPEG

...discovering my strength in the face of failure.

Figure 2.3 Distraction, JPEG

...were often interrupted by the pull of distractions, mainly my phone.

Figure 2.4 Isolation, JPEG

My teachers often seemed like strangers to me...

Figure 2.5 Unmotivated, JPEG

...unfinished or were completed half-heartedly.

Figure 2.6 Vast like the ocean, JPEG

...disappointment grew heavier, settling deep into my chest like a stone.

Figure 2.7 Source of light, JPEG

...lights in my world had dimmed to darkness, leaving me alone with my fears.

Figure 2.8 The jar of hope, JPEG

...a jar filled with folded pieces of paper.

Figure 2.9 Sliver lining, JPEG

 ...a symbol of hope that I could cling to when everything else seemed to be slipping away.

Figure 2.10 Passion, JPEG

...I started to adorn the jar with stickers..

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Figure 2.11 The notes, JPEG

 ...I pulled out a note that simply read, "Even on your toughest days, remember how far you've come. You're stronger than you think."

Figure 2.12 Facade, JPEG

Sometimes, I would break down late at night, releasing the emotions I had bottled up. But when morning came, I’d pull myself together, pretending like nothing had happened and masking the pain behind a facade of strength.

Figure 2.13 Covid-19, JPEG

...The COVID-19 pandemic...

Figure 2.14 Anxiety, JPEG

...were postponed repeatedly, dragging on until early 2022.

Figure 2.15 Comfort, JPEG

...my mom wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

Figure 2.16 Brimming with happiness, JPEG

I passed with flying colours, achieving 8 A’s and 1 B on my results paper.

Figure 2.17 Tears of happiness, JPEG

...I saw her eyes well up with tears...

Figure 2.18 Dream in a jar, JPEG

...the jar of dreams my mom gave me, once a symbol of hope when I felt like giving up.

Figure 2.19 Visuals Compilation, PDF

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REFLECTIONS

Experience

Creating this 32-page book challenged me in unexpected ways. Choosing a subject that felt personal helped me connect deeply with the work, making it more than just an assignment. Writing 3,000 words within the original deadline was daunting, but thanks to Mr. Hijjaz’s feedback and the extended due date, I felt more confident and could focus on crafting a quality narrative. Dividing the content into chapters with sidebars and captions pushed me to blend structure with storytelling.

Observation

I noticed that designing a book involves crafting an entire experience. I had to consider layout, pacing, and how to integrate visuals that enhanced the story. The option to create my own story or use sourced content opened up creative possibilities, but every choice needed to align with my vision for a cohesive book. Keeping a smooth flow between chapters and ensuring that sidebars and captions complemented the narrative required careful attention to detail.

Findings

This project taught me that a book’s structure and design are as crucial as its content. Planning is key, and thanks to Mr. Hijjaz’s feedback, I was able to make adjustments that brought my work to life. The extension gave me room to align each part thoughtfully. Overall, this experience taught me valuable lessons in storytelling, design, and time management, equipping me with skills I’m excited to apply in future creative projects.