It's corn! 🌽
Introducing the latest shiny edition of the Edrolo Chemistry textbook for units 3 & 4! I was tasked with the design and development of the cover, encompassing the front, back, and spine. A primary goal was to ensure a seamless visual continuity with the preceding year's units 1 & 2 book, while visually representing the topics covered in units 3 & 4. And it was a great success. Below, you'll find a side-by-side comparison of both editions.
The units 1 & 2 Chemistry cover on the left and the units 3 & 4 cover on the right
To arrive at this final textbook cover, it took many hours of exploration and many rounds of iteration and feedback. During the initial research phase, I encountered inspiration centred around the art of transforming one object to resemble another—a concept that resonated with me. Motivated by this insight, my goal became to emulate this clever approach in my own conceptualisation.
Pinterest board, from which I was able to derive some common themes, colours, and ideas
Sketches and ideation throughout the development
Some of the larger themes of the Chemistry textbook were going to be topics of environmentalism such as recycling, biofuels, and energy. Below are some of the earlier concepts created and presented in the team meetings with key stakeholders.
We quickly gravitated towards highlighting biofuels as a pivotal theme. Initially, we envisioned biofuel (which includes corn and other vegetables) shaped into a hydrogen bond across the front and back covers. The intent was to intrigue students, prompting them to explore the full image by unfolding the back cover. While that concept was eventually discarded, I explored multiple variations featuring biofuels made from vegetables, but we just kept coming back to corn as the focal point.
Incorporating broader audience feedback towards the conclusion, I made the decision to eliminate any potential association with cooking. To achieve this, I removed the table surface and surface shadows, positioning the corn as floating in space alongside numerous other hydrogen molecules.
The creation of this textbook cover presented a valuable chance for me to refine my skills in justifying design choices through articulate writing, and verbal communication in stakeholder meetings. It also served me as an exercise in flexibility, holding onto ideas lightly and being open to pivoting or returning to the drawing board. Collaborating with a dedicated and talented team added to the rewarding experience, ensuring a collective commitment to achieving the best outcome for this Chemistry textbook.
