Description:

Youth literacy in New Zealand has been described as being at crisis point. The effects of low literacy levels persist into adulthood and hamper full participation in society. The only way to reverse this crisis is to address literacy at an early age. Ad Astra is a creative response to this worsening issue and the outcome of my interest in how storytelling can empower others, inspire their imaginations, entertain, and teach them. Ad Astra is designed to be an umbrella brand for children’s literature, both a part of and distinct from individual books bearing the name. It consists of a website and a hand-bound, illustrated children’s story book, the first in a planned series. Ad Astra aims to promote literacy through creative storytelling.

The book tells the story of a girl and a book-hoarding dragon. While the story is fantastical, it is grounded by the main character’s relatability. This mix of the real and unreal is based on my research into the kinds of narratives that help children learn what stories intend to teach them. The book is designed to be used in a shared reading environment and many aspects of its design aid with that. There is enough room for both illustration and text on the same page, so that it is easier for two people to read side-by-side. It uses vibrant colours limited to a handful of shades for consistency and to allow readers to recognise characters throughout the book. Colour also helps younger readers focus on the imagery while the words are read to them, further immersing them into the story. Finally, having both text and imagery encourages dialogue between readers and children adding another dimension of interest and exploration.

The accompanying website is designed for both adults and children. It features bright colours, friendly typography, playful background music, and straightforward, simplified language reminiscent of the book. Animated buttons, page-loading and image transitions lend additional layers of interest to the site. The site’s design directs users to discover more about the book’s characters through several calls to action written in a conversational style to drive user engagement. The site’s illustrations are in the same style as the book to maintain consistency and strengthen the connection between the two. The website’s greatest strength is not in its present but in its future. As the primary platform for promoting books and other products to be released under the Ad Astra brand, it has the potential to positively impact the local (and even international) landscape of children’s literature far into the future. Complementary touch-points including children’s clothing, pens, posters, and bookmarks help build a coherent world around the brand and serve as proofs of concept for future products that could be promoted through the website.

Ad Astra is the confluence of several personal passions of mine including storytelling, literature, illustration, and language. I believe that this body of work is a small but effective contribution to addressing child literacy and promoting an appreciation for reading, storytelling, books, and learning.