The Student Survival Guide

About

The Student Survival Guide is a publication that provides useful information for those transitioning from high school into higher education. The aim of the guide is to help and support students financially, socially and academically throughout the duration of their studies.

I grew up and attended school in a rural area, meaning that to pursue higher education, I had to relocate to the city. The financial and emotional impact of this transition was significant, for both myself and my friends. From this experience, I was inspired to compile the knowledge that I have gained since living in the city, as well as and experiences of my university friends, to help students who will be in the same position.

The guide includes the following topics:

Cooking skills & Recipes
House Keeping
Study Tips
Health
Mental Health
Self-care
Budgeting
Study Tips
Job Hunting
Resume Writing

105809944_2615059222093116_6611655083468

The Process

Target Audience & Stakeholders

Researching and understanding the target audience is important in ensuring that what I create is actually appropriate, relevant and useful. These are the target audiences & stakeholders of The Student Survival Guide.

Market Research

Brand Identity Analysis

I researched publications of a similar nature, to gain an understanding of how they are designed, including what they look like, how content is displayed, how images are displayed, and even what they feel like. I critically analysed the colours, graphic components and typography of each one, and determined each of their purposes. Conducting this research allowed me to understand how publications of a similar nature are commonly designed, and the ways in which they are effective, and could be improved. I did this because I wanted to create a publication that is unique and relevant.

A common issue that I found in common with current student guides, is that many have poor design choices that make them ineffective in attracting target audiences. This includes having text heavy pages with no or limited imagery, having limited colour, and using typefaces that are not related to the purpose of the book but rather, seem as if they have been selected at random.

I conducted research into publications that are not related to the guide, but rather just publications that I liked the design and aesthetic of. The publications that I was drawn to were the ones that look clean and professional, through using white space and an appropriate balance of information and imagery or illustrations.

Colour

The Student Survival Guide consists of retro colours, which were influenced by illustrations from the 1950’s and old record covers. These colours were chosen for their potential to create fun, bold illustrations to brighten and contrast with the written information. While these colours are bold, they are not bright, meaning they will not be distracting overpowering.

This colour palette is significant because it is not gender specific. I wanted to avoid using colours that are stereotypically in relation to males and females, because this publication is targeted towards all university/higher education students.

Typography

The heading typeface for this publication is Abril Fatface. I chose a font that would essentially make a statement. This font has a dynamic contrast between thick and thin lines, making it bold and interesting. The boldness of the font is a nice contrast with the simplicity of the illustrations. It is also a curvy font, making it appear as young and energetic. The curves are also a tribute to the round typefaces used in the 1970’s. This typeface will be only black throughout the entire publication to complement the black lines within the illustrations. The body text is Open Sans. This typeface is a suggested pairing with Abril Fatface. It is a clean font that is simple, making it easy to read, which is essential for a publication with text heavy content.

Illustrations

The illustrations that I designed for this publication follow the retro and minimalism themes. I used the same ‘retro’ colour palette, and hand-drew simple illustrations. Each illustration is outlined in black to maintain a common theme. I drew a variety of different illustrations that relate to each different topic. The purpose of these illustrations are to brighten up each page and make the publication energetic and fun.

Research Evaluation

Brand Identity Development

Colour

Typography

The body text is Open Sans. This typeface is a suggested pairing with Abril Fatface. It is a clean font that is simple, making it easy to read, which is essential for a publication with text heavy content.

Illustration

The illustrations that I designed for this publication follow the retro and minimalism themes. I used the same ‘retro’ colour palette, and hand-drew simple illustrations. Each illustration is outlined in black to maintain continuity. I drew a variety of different illustrations that relate to each different topic. The purpose of these illustrations are to brighten up each page and make the publication energetic and fun.

Touchpoints

The touchpoints that I created to complement The Student Survival Guide, were prints, a study planner, bookmarks, an Instagram page with relevant posts, and phone screen-savers. I chose these touchpoints specifically because they are appropriate to the main target audience (students), due to their typical age and activities.

The Future

The Student Survival Guide is in the process of being published.