OBJECTIVE
To integrate print and augmented reality and create an immersive storybook to bring back the interest of children in reading.
DURATION
Jan 2018 - April 2018
ROLE
Self-initiated Graduation project
MENTORS
Associate Prof. Sushama Saitwal,
National Institute of Fashion Technology
Prof. Nina Sabanani,
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
BACKGROUND
Storybooks fuel imagination, increase empathy and shape the perception of children. They play an invaluable role in the development of language, building a closer bond with parents and shaping cultural values. However, nowadays children have reduced reading traditional storybooks either due to the availability of more attractive options like watching videos on smartphones or due to an increasing burden of school and extracurricular activities in the cosmopolitan cities of India and elsewhere. This project is an attempt to bring back the interest of children to storybooks by making reading more immersive and integrating the smartphones as a part of the experience.
CHALLENGE
To create a gripping storyline, illustrating it, learning new software, 3d character modeling, mastering the technical side of augmented reality and integrating it with the physical book. This project required donning all the thinking hats in order to make a memorable and unique experience.
DESIGN OUTCOME
Exciting Narrative
'Who will Jia grow up to be?' is a story about Jia, a seven-year old who is trying to figure out which future profession would she want to take up for a fancy dress competition. Join her in the journey where there are a million possibilities and a million relatives asking her.
Immersive Storytelling experience
The storybook is supported by an Augmented reality app where each page of the book has a different 3D animation to go along. You hear little Jia tell you her story while you see her running across the pages or while exploring the universe in her red spaceship. The book aims to create a multi-sensorial experience for the viewer.
DESIGN PROCESS
I followed the stages of design thinking in the creation of this book and app. Firstly, this helped in breaking down the task in manageable sizes and taking one stage at a time. Secondly, this made sure that the final product was a result of a well thought out process and would reflect the research undertaken
Empathize
Before I created my book it was of utmost importance for me to understand more about the children I was designing for and which story would resonate the most with them. I researched and collected data through primary, secondary and tertiary sources and drew insights for making the book
Define
This stage involved examining the data I had collected in the first stage and drawing conclusions. I defined the objective of the book along with the scope, brief, background and the methodology which was to be followed. The target age group of children was identified and I noted their physical, social, emotional and cognitive characteristics.
Ideate
This process started with brainstorming about the different storylines with varied genres. The most relatable story which I found while pitching the book to children was that of a seven year old girl who had to dress up as her future self for a competition at school. While coming back from school she contemplates about being a chef, astronaut, sailor, architect and a doctor. She has a major decision to take and the viewer becomes a part of her journey. Apart from the storyline, I also explored how Jia would look and made a storyboard of the book.
Prototype
This was the most crucial stage in the project as this is where I made the book and the AR app. The first step was designing Jia’s character. I had explore various styles in the earlier stage and in this stage I captured the nuances and finer details of her personality. The book has been designed to be from a child’s point of view and therefore the illustration has a hand drawn look to it almost as if a child has made it. After the book was made, I created the 3D character of Jia, animated it, placed it in a 3d environment, created the app, added audio and lastly made the apk.
Test & Implement
A group of children in the target group were given the book and a smartphone loaded with the app. I then observed how they were using it and drew insights. One of the key ways this shaped the final outcome was the decision to add audio as the children were getting too enamoured by the AR and the story was getting lost. The idea was to make it from and for children so I recorded a seven year old reciting the story and integrated the voice in the app.
Learnings
I have been a voracious reader ever since I was a child and used to spend hours imagining the characters jumping out of the storybook pages into my room. I would see Cinderella dashing past as the clock struck twelve, or the three little pigs hiding under my bed. They would dance, play and tell stories to me. As my capstone project at NIFT I decided to make a storybook which would be just like how I had imagined it as a six year old. A book which would come to life when you read it! The journey of making this come true took over four months, learning countless softwares, understanding that if you add an extra bracket in your code it will breakdown ( Disclaimer: I had only worked in print design before this) and a million cups of coffee to make
