Graphic Design Capstone
Novus Reading Companion App
To graduate from Champlain College with a BFA in Graphic Design and Visual Communication, I embarked on a semester-long project to solve a design problem and present my results in a gallery.
The design problem that I tackled was that of increasing literacy through the use of physical books to make a more meaningful connection between people and literature while also tackling typography, spacing, and the ability to pair with the digital world.
What started as a study on the usefulness of OpenDyslexic as a more accessible font turned into a whole renovation of book design to include adjustments on spacing, typography size, as well as font choice.
I conducted surveys provided to my peers to give insight on what ailed them in their experience with reading, and adapted my design accordingly.
Additionally, I researched the process that teachers take to teach and encourage reading in the classroom by speaking with seasoned English and Special Ed teachers.
The result of my research yielded a multifaceted project that I still am in the process of adapting. Adjusting the formatting of books is just the tip of the ice burg when it comes to the design solutions that might be of use to students and adults alike.
For example, my gallery exhibition was an informative piece to interest and educate people on the issue of literacy and the steps that might be taken in the future to remedy its present shortcomings, because just an app or book design only is part of this process. The other part educating as many people as possible on how important reading truly is to us as individuals and a society.