On my travels in the city one day after selecting this brief, I found and purchased a colouring book. Entitled 'The Creative Colouring Book', the designs are aimed at a fairly broad target audience, yet suggestive of a kids colouring book in sections. Obviously these designs (not the purpose) of this colouring book is targeted at those with specific mental health issues, meaning the tone of voice needs to be highly considered.
The benefit of having a tangible copy was experiencing in motion what the viewer will experience. The positioning of some illustrations was really unconsidered, being too far into the spine of the book to be easily accessible by the viewer (especially when considering the viewer, becomes the user), so positioning less important features in the centre of the design is key!
The visually heavy nature of the book could become overwhelming, especially on intricate pages like these. The geometric nature is quite an interesting technique, as the viewer has to slow down and consider shading and the work out the fluidity of the design factors, and so what goes with what. Despite this, all the designs remain quite ambiguous of colour connotations so the user is free to use their creative freedom.
After looking through the book a few times, I wanted to see which designs were the most appealing. I conducted a short poll of 27 people in university, yet this is inconclusive of any primary research as they may not fit into the target audience (people with depression- anyone could have it). The most successful designs throughout the book all featured soft lines, with hints to the retro style being especially soothing. (perhaps this subconsciously links to aspects of nostalgia we associate with 'comfort'). In addition, an easy competition (gratification) is favoured over a design which makes you really work for an outcome.
As the brief is for a specific audience, not too far outside of my reach, I felt it only appropriate to ask their opinions on how to go about this brief... I will keep the interviewees names and details private as I do not want to breach trust by publishing their stories on the internet.
Primary research/Q&A With Target Audience
Would you purchase a colouring book to aid stress related to depression? If not why?
Do you feel a more adult subject matter should be the focus to distract from the childish connotations, or keep it stereotypical and reflect something tranquil?
When you've been in that state of mind what calms you down?
How would you feel completing one of the intricate drawings?
Would you be intrigued by a typography-led solution and page?
Would hand rendered (messy and human) or digital (clean and organised) be more appealing with all this in mind?
- People with OCD like clean and structured
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