ILLUSTRATED BOOK DESIGN : RECORDING THE STORY OF JAPANESE SWEETS FESTIVAL

Abstract

In Japan, festivals and seasons hold profound significance, with desserts playing a
pivotal role in these cultural celebrations. Certain sweets serve as cherished symbols of these
festivals, embodying centuries-old traditions. This research delves into the design of an
illustrated book chronicling the narratives of Japanese festival sweets, aiming to disseminate
knowledge about seasonal confections and promote the rich heritage of Japanese traditional
sweets. The primary objective is to explore the preferences and requirements of Gen Z readers
regarding books on Japanese sweets culture and to establish design principles for creating
captivating and accessible illustrated works on seasonal Japanese confections.
Through a comprehensive inquiry and analysis of diverse information sources, this
study distilled key insights to inform the design process. The outcome is a meticulously crafted
illustrated book series, comprising one volume sized A5 with 80 pages, meticulously curated
to capture the essence of Japanese festival sweets. Central to the design concept is the narrative
framework of the "Sweet Hidden Box," which unfolds the enchanting tales of two
schoolchildren, Alua and Ping, as they discover the captivating world of Japanese festival
sweets.
Drawing from the perspectives of experts, students, and designers, this research
employed a questionnaire as its primary research tool to elucidate design guidelines. The
synthesis of research findings reveals that illustrated book designs documenting the stories of
Japanese festival sweets effectively convey information and evoke the cultural nuances of
these confections. Furthermore, there is potential for the adaptation of these designs into
animated formats, offering opportunities to amplify awareness and engagement.