Folding Book
Stories play a pivotal role in shaping us. Human actions, experiences, and connections are deeply intertwined with narratives, which impart meaning to our experiences. In this project, I had a chance to interview my classmate, Sara Malik. Through our interview, I learned about Sara's unwavering optimism and her deep appreciation for her cultural background and upbringing within a closely-knit Muslim community. These insights profoundly influenced my design approach and the elements I incorporated into the project.
Before starting the design, I gathered information from my interview with Sara and picked out the key parts of her story and upbringing. I began by sketching ideas on paper to visualize her story. Then, I narrowed down my ideas and created digital sketches with colors to test how they looked before finalizing my design decision.
After deciding which elements to include in my design, I took photos of the rock path in my front yard and the sky at the beach. I also used Illustrator to create black illustrations of the person and butterfly figures for the final design.
Final Design
The design's front panel represents life's journey, acknowledging challenges with a path of rocks. Sara's vibrant energy is portrayed through rhythmic waves, symbolizing her love for music and positivity. A dancing-like figure atop the wave signifies her enthusiasm despite life's ups and downs. The back panel shows Sara's gratitude towards her past and family, with a forward-thinking mindset symbolized by a woman's face looking towards the future. Butterflies emerging from her face represent her journey towards positivity, with the phrase 'I'm grateful for who I am today' encapsulating her appreciation for her identity and culture.
