Client: All Hallows’ School
Categories: Document Design, Print Design
Background:
I initiated the re-design of the AHS Student Diary after seeing how much the students could benefit from an improved design. Various teams around the school agreed and also wanted to see more of a mental health emphasis used throughout. The diary was previously a very corporate-feeling document that lacked colour, style and a way to connect and actually resonate with the target audience – students. I aimed to re-build it from the ground up to be a document they would reference, take something from, and enjoy using.
The Problem:
The diary is a big document – over 200 pages – including everything from emergency procedures to study tips and, of course, the diary element with pages for each week. With such varied subject matter, I had to find a way to create a design flow that would work throughout the whole diary, keep the students interested, and give them everything they needed in a functional diary.
The Solution
I started by conducting focus groups, through gathering students together and asking for their feedback on what they wanted, what they needed, and what they definitely didn’t need in a new diary design. These sessions were so valuable, and it was interesting to see the vast range of feedback from students in Year 5 versus Year 12.
For the design, I opted for bright, colourful pages with vector graphics and a flow that existed through the document, but with each page and section just a little bit different from the last. This gave the diary some interest, and allowed it to appeal to children aged from 9-18 with ease. I integrated tabs to seperate sections, and implemented things the students specifically asked for where possible, like plastic pockets and a school map.
The end result was a diary that was as functional as students needed, and as beautiful as they wanted.
This brand new, reimagined diary is more than just a tool for study. A strong emphasis on student wellbeing and support is included, and through strong liaison with school departments, I was able to craft a diary that become a handbook for student life.
