Product Description / Strategic Vector

Introduction:

My project focuses on Character Design with emphasis on Illustration. End product of this project is a Picture Book aimed at 6+year olds, falling under the ‘Easy Readers’ category of Picture Books.

This project is looked at from three viewpoints

• Styles / Approaches
• Characteristics / Physical & Personality Traits
• Media Scope / Demand

Styles / Approaches: Character Designers follow a number of styles or approaches in developing the characters. There are characters that look starkly realistic, cartoonish or even super deformed / cute. Here Styles / Approaches also denote the different illustrating styles (Disney style of illustration, Manga / Anime style of illustration, Retro style of illustration etc).

Characteristics / Physical & Personality Traits: What make a character unique are the physical and personality traits the character has. Focusing on the customization of physical and personality traits form an integral component of this project as any other project involving character design.

Media Scope / Demand: Illustrated and animated characters are used in a wide range of media including print, interactive and 3D. Entertainment / Education / Business / Advertising sectors are some main sectors where the character designers are in huge demand. 

Summary: Project Description (Title: An Eastern Festival)

This is a simple introduction to the festival of Onam.

This project comprises of creating a Picture Book for children aged 6+, under the ‘Easy Readers’ category of Picture Books. The story for this project is based around the harvest festival called Onam, celebrated in Kerala, an Indian state, located south most on its west coast. Onam is the largest festival in Kerala and falls around between August / September. Like many other Indian festivals, Onam too has a legend associated with it. In this project called ‘ An Eastern Festival’, the legend behind this festival is presented as a sub story within the main story. The main story has a title character, who is a 6 year old girl, along with other characters.

Storyline in Brief:

A 6 year old child visits her grandparents along with her family on the occasion of the festival, Onam. As a six year old now she is more curious to know everything about this harvest festival. Seeing her interest her grandma decided to tell her the legend behind this festival and make her enjoy this festive time to the fullest. Her parents and sibling also join their hands in this venture and the child has a wonderful Onam, taking part and witnessing the various aspects such as cultural activities, rituals, games etc that this grand festival brings along.

Through this project I am trying to develop an illustration style of my own. Even though the legend behind the festival Onam has been retold several times via various media, through both printed and web formats, the way it is narrated and illustrated will make this concept creative and distinctive from the rest. Story is narrated in simple text. Story is expressed mainly describing the character’s actions and also through dialogues. The illustration style that will be used in this picture book is neither very abstract nor starkly realistic. It will be expressed more as a childlike narrative with characters having more of a comical appearance. Predominant colour scheme used will be matching to the festive theme and the harmonious mood that the picture book portrays. There will be slight variations in this regard, depending on the context. The picture book will be presented in printed format. It is going to be a hardcover book, shaped square, with dimensions 8.5 * 8.5 inches. It will have a minimum of 32 pages with the story narrated in 1500-2000 words. It is expected to be published with a sales target of 3000-5000 copies.

Aims & Objectives

Aims:

• Specialize in character design with emphasis on illustration
• Raise awareness of other traditions and festival through picture book
• Develop new and innovative characters
• Develop own illustrative style
• Reinvent self as a character designer.

 Objectives:

• Research & collection of relevant reference materials.
• Developing character Illustrations
• Developing storyboarding
• Refining sketches to produce final illustrations
• Compiling and producing the Illustrations as a printed book

Market Analysis:

Target Market : Children’s Book Publishers

Around 10,000 new children’s titles are published in the UK every year. Mostly the children’s publishers rely on commissioned writers and illustrators, but there is a market for newcomers into this field, who can showcase exceptional talent. In the UK children’s book publishing industry includes many renowned companies. The editors are on the lookout for original, lively and innovative ideas.

In 2009, the UK market for children’s books was worth an estimated £776.1m at manufacturers selling price (msp). This is an increase of 4.1 % from previous year and an 18.6 % rise since 2005. Children’s books, including picture books account for more than a fifth of the total UK book market. The number of bookshops in a sample of more than 700 British town centres showed slight increase between June 2009 and June 2010. Various charity organisations and initiatives of the Government have raised the profile of children’s reading across the board.

I believe that my project would be unique and innovative catering to the needs of the current market. One aim of the project is to promote the concept of intercultural understanding through picture book. It is a way to introduce an ethnic culture. It will give its reader a chance to explore a different culture and would instil a respect for diversity.

Target Company: Frances Lincoln Publishers

The chosen company is Frances Lincoln Publishers, based in London. This company was founded by Frances Lincoln in 1977. The company published its first book two years later. Have been creating high quality illustrated books ever since. The company started producing illustrated books for children in 1983. It has won many awards for both fiction and non-fiction children’s books. Their publishing partners include Amnesty International, Oxfam, The Royal Horticultural Society, Victoria and Albert Museum etc. Also they represent a variety of publishers from around the world. The company offers sales support to Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, Barn Owl Books, Boxer Books, Campfire, Little Bookroom, Mogzilla, the Natural History Museum, NYRB Classics, The New York Review Children's Collection, NYRB Collections, Tara Books, Timber Press and White's Books in the UK. The company annual turnover is around £6 million and it employs about 40 people.

In 2010, they re-launched the children’s book fiction list. It includes books for children and teens aged 6-14 and comprises of around 20 titles a year. Their recently published children’s books include – Aesop’s Fables, Batty, Bumblebee, Measuring Angels, New Shoes for Helen, Wait and See etc to name a few.

One of their missions is to publish children’s titles that celebrate cultural diversity in the widest possible sense. The company cares about reflecting the richness and diversity of the world through their books. ‘Lighting a Lamp: A Divali Story’ is a children’s book on the Indian festival of Divali, which was published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

Conclusion:

This company has been chosen as the publisher is enthusiastic about promoting diversity in children’s fiction. I believe that having a common interest would be beneficial for my project and also would prove equally desirable for the company.