User Testing

To test my Concept Idea I first of all gathered three parents from my neighbourhood. There were two mothers and one father. I presented my idea to the group and asked for their opinion and thoughts wether they would or wouldn't purchase the cookbook.

From this discussing I was able to gather positive and negative feedbac

Amina - "I do indeed admire the appearance of the book. It does grab the readers. However, am not to keen on layout of the recipe. It is clear and the instructions are easy to follow but maybe you need consider a sticker page or some kind of reward system towards the end of each recipe"

Zedd - "The design of the book is certainly colourful for a world war 1 cook book and that is a good thing. As you may have come across during your research that most world war 1 books contain a lot of greens and browns. It is nice to see something vibrant and encouraging children to get involved and find out the key facts of the relationship between world war 1 and children activity. I would buy the book for my son"

Fatima - "The avatars on the front cover of the book are so adorable. It looks fun and it is informative and am sure my kids will be attracted to the book. Yet, I do agree with Amina on the fact that you may need to add something to the book to make sure that the child is gaining something other than solid facts."

Once this discussion was over I was able to convince Fatima to put my book to test. She downloaded the front cover and the other pages of the book on to her iPad and printing a copy of the word search. Fatima  had an attempt at creating one of the recipes with her 6 year old daughter.

Fatima reported - "We did really enjoy creating the eggless sponge and it was interesting to see how my daughter used her sticky fingers to follow the arrows while reading out the steps. Lailah was fascinated by the avatar in the left corner and often questioned why the little girl does not move. So it might be a good idea to make the avatar come alive by adding sound and movement, if it is an ebook.  While the cake was in the oven Lailah and her brother completed the word search within 20-30 mins since, she currently into solving puzzles and competing against her older brother. Overall the eggless sponge seems to have work and taste good. Lailah, was interested in book and she did ask if we could cook the bread and jam pudding. The book does work my only criticism is that you need to think about adding more features within the book."

I am grateful that Amina, Zedd and Fatima were kind enough to participate in the process of User Testing. From the results of user testing the issue that was commonly raised was the fact that the appearance of the cookbook is great and it works, However, the parents did stress about they fact that there is no added feature.

Since it is now too late to make any changes to the design of the book. Yet, I do have an idea that will meet the demands of the children and parents. If I had time I would certainly add a sticker page. the stickers would have been design in the form of a medal and congratulat the read as he or she achieve to cook a certain recipe.

Finals

Draft recipe pages

EGGLESS SPONGE

Draft no.1

Draft no.2

 Draft No.3

 Draft No.4

Looking through my draft pieces you will be able too see that it was difficult trying to figure out the layout of the page. Since there are ten different diagrams that had to be edited individually and the layout of the text had to be carefully placed to go along with each diagram.

Bread and Jam Pudding

Draft no.1

Draft no.2

Draft no.3

Here you can see that I took my time with laying out each diagram and making the crucial decision what is necessary to keep and what to get rid of. the Typography with both recipes have not yet been finalised. By adding colour and arrows to diagram it seems to add another dimension which is working well.  Since, both of the recipes were too flat

Drafts front and back cover

Avatars

My first draft created on cover photoshop but it is not look complete yet. however this is the layout that seems to be working for the book right now

Blurb

Cook For Victory

A rare collection of recipes from the Word War 1.

Discover, Experience and Taste the creativity behind the food that was produced. Since, there was a limited amount of food during World War 1. Throughout the years of the war, Women and the Children of United Kingdom had to live without the luxury of Eggs and Meat. Potatoes and Bread were primary food as they were easy to access.

So, lets find out what can be done with Potatoes and Bread.

Generating Ideas

Generating Ideas 

To generate ideas I firstly brainstormed and scribbled my thoughts down. One of the issues that was raised within the brainstorm was who is my target audience. Since, Prof. Maggie Andrews left the age range for us individuals to decide. This was an important decision to make before I began to create thumbnails.  Hence, why I spent alot of discovering different forms of children cook book. 

refer to to my sketches 

Draft Learning Report

Learning Report: GDES3004 Children Book Design

Introduction

In this piece writing I will be discussing the knowledge and skills I have gained throughout the module GDES3004 Children Book Design. The purpose of the module is to consider the vital elements that go towards the production of creating Children Books. The module is designed specifically to teach us the techniques used within Children Book Design industry. Also, studying the significance of imagery, creative writing and typography to this particular genre. This module encourages individuals to use and take advantage of our existing skills, which we have been taught in previous modules. The module gives students an insight of history as well as other aspects of Children Book Design.

Lecturers and Tutorials

From the day of introduction of the module we have been bombarded with different forms of children books ranging from newborns to young adults books. Every book that we came across during the sessions we were consistently requested to analyse the art style, typography and question how the book is appropriate for the targeted audience. By taking part in these sessions I was able to understand how imagery, front and narrative of a book works as a whole.

Watching the TV programme "When We Were Very Young" by BBC remminded of my childhood. One of my all time favourite books was "Were going on a Bear Hunt" written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxbury. The imagery within this book is fantastic as and narrative works so well together. The book has all the elements of a good story which is demonstrated through the the amount of danger an ordinary family goes through to search for a Bear. The book is exciting as it contains an adventure and solutions to every problem they face. The programme discussed "The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Noddy and other classic children's book.

This programme benefited me when it came to the Major Brief. Since, it allowed me think from a childs perspective. During the sessions, we covered the benefits of added features, coloring and activity books. All the notes that I  had gathered form the sessions came to use when the Major Brief was released.

Major Brief

The Major Brief...

Generating Ideas 

To generate ideas I firstly brainstormed. I managed to gather several concepts ideas

Conclusion 

Conclusion

Typography for Cook for Victory

Typography that can be used within the book

Typography that can be used on the front cover of the book

London Trip to Children BookFair 15th April 2015

One of the most unique books we came across as in size and the format of the book is interesting.

Amazed to see publishers from different parts of the world. What I found fascinating is how you can easily identify and predict which part of the world these books come from. You can see where the illustrators inspiration comes from by simply looking at their work. 

It is too big to get around every store :(

These popup novelty books are incredible. It must take a genius to figure out how to engineer each piece of paper. But.. would the book live long in the hands of a child?

WW1 Cook Book Titles

My Cook Book Diary

My World War 1 Cook Book

Recipes for Daddy

Cooking for Victory (the book will contain a reward system)

More Books

Feeding Tommy: Battlefield Recipes from the First World War 

Contains 192 pages. Published by The History Press (15 May 2013) Book size 23.5 x 15.7 x 1.6 cm. Cost £10.00. Author Andrew Robertshaw.

This book is based on  an army that marches on its stomach and it fights on its stomach too. It talks about how hundreds of men are fed under the circumstance of a dangerous war. Great war troops are trained to male meal out of limited ingredients to feed the men. These men were mainly provided tins and more tinned food. They also had cooked many curries to feed hundreds of men. Feeding Tommy is a collection of recipes from the WWI. The book contains hints and tips from the Tommy Cook. Many recipes are illustrated with cartoons and drawings on how to assemble the perfect oven and kitchen tools at a moment’s notice from nothing. This book is the perfect inspiration for those who like to create an amazing meal anywhere, anytime, from anything. Includes dual measurements.

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1918 World War One Cookbook

 

 This cookbook was made in 1918, during World War One, when people were asked to limit their food supplies, from sugar to milk, to help with the war. People were asked to "stretch their food supplies". "What To Eat, and How to Cook It". It was "The Official Recipe" book. This booklet, along with the recipes, tells of how we can help win the war with food rationing, and other tips on helping to win the war with food.

This was written in 1918, distributed by Montgomery Ward and Co. This booklet is 61 pages, with three extra pages, which are blank, of "Your Own War Recipe". It measures almost 8 3/4" X 5 3/4". The issues of this booklet are as you can see in picture 3. it is separated from the front bottom cover and the booklet. Also, on the front, bottom right hand corner there is a small tear of the cover. The back, picture 2, has a small rip, about an inch. Otherwise the booklet is intact. For being almost 100 years old, it is in good shape. I see no writing in this book.https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/230930297/1918-world-war-one-cookbook?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_books_movies_and_music_low&gclid=CjwKEAjw9uypBRD5pMDYtsKxvXcSJACcb9AY9O3Sw6XZnYSj9GJttL3X55-VS1VPrYjhdrIX8ErH4hoCCHbw_wcB

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War Books

My war diary, 1914-1918 Bilbrough, Ethel M

Part scrapbook, part memoir. A colourful and eloquent diary brims with vivid observations, providing a rare snapshot of what life was like on the Home Front during the First World War. 

Amateur artist, animal lover and keen writer of letters to the papers, Mrs Bilbrough witnessed the men leaving for war (her husband, Kenneth, a banker in the City, was fortunately too old to be called up); the horses at Waterloo waiting to be transported to France; bombings and airraids; the introduction of the Daylight Saving Bill and food price increases (her consternation as the price of a tin of tongue rose from 2/- to 4/6 is clear!). She also writes at her outrage at the shooting of British nurse Edith Cavell; her sadness when Lord Kitchener is drowned at sea; her alarm as Zeppelins flew over Kent and her anger at the wide-ranging German atrocities. Her relief as war ended is palpable ('PEACE! The armistice is signed, "the day" has come at last! And it is ours!').

Interspersed with her daily jottings are cuttings and cartoons, her own watercolours and drawings and the colourful flags that were sold to raise money for the troops. Charming yet moving, this diary gives us a taste of what it was really like to live through the Great War, seen from the perspective of an acute social observer.

My Secret War Diary, by Flossie Albright

The year is 1939, and Britain is about to declare war on Germany. After Flossie's father joins the army, the nine-year-old girl is left to care for both her baby brother and her great-uncle. In a collage-style diary merging photos, postcards, and other memorabilia, Flossie relays events ranging from the arrival of evacuees to the wrenching news that her cousin has been killed. Her vibrant first-person narration reveals a humor and a fihting spirit that sees her through many a hardship until she welcomes her dad home at last

Archie's War by Marcia Williams 

Ten-year-old Archie, his family, and best friend in a scrapbook Archie has made himself, full of comic strips and plenty of other memorabilia. The year is 1914, and as the Great War begins, Archie’s scrapbook reflects the war’s impact on his life and on those who write back from the front. Marcia Williams retains her humor and energy as she employs a new collage style to present an intimate and compelling view of the First World War and its era.

Farm Boy Paperback – 29 Sep 2011 by Michael Morpurgo

The magical sequel to 'War Horse', soon to be a major motion picture. Joey was the last working horse on the farm, and the apple of Grandpa's eye. In War Horse, Joey was sent away from the farm to be a warhorse in WWI. Grandpa had joined the cavalry in order to find, and fight, with Joey. Farm Boy brings us forward fifty years with Grandpa not only telling his grandson, Joey's story but also a 'shameful secret' which he has held for years...The story is set in Iddesleigh in Devon and lovingly evokes the bonds between farm and farmer; grandson and grandfather. The spirit of rural life is superbly captured in both Michael Morpurgo's writing and Michael Foreman's illustrations. An irresistible title from acclaimed author-illustrator partnership.

When the comics went to war: comic book war heroes By Riches, Adam  

 

“When the Comics Went to War” by Adam Riches and published by Mainstream Publishing is an authoritative history of British war comics from the first publications to appear in the 1880s through to the last new titles to appear in the 1990s. The book has a wealth of interesting material from Victorian times, the end of the Empire, through both World Wars and up into the Cold War and modern times, when titles like “The Victor”, “Valiant” and “Warlord” had circulations of over two million copies a week. Tragically these books, like all British boys comics, have all now disappeared.

The early sections of the book covering the Victorian and Boer War periods are particularly appealing as they cover areas where there is very little detailed academic research. The story of the “penny dreadfuls” is fascinating, with the book following in detail the birth of the genre with Edwin Brett’s “The Boys of England” through to its evolution into what we would recognise today as the comic book. There are some interesting sociological points to be drawn, particularly the parallels between the persecution of the “penny dreadfuls” and later scares – be that the “Seduction of the Innocents comics panic” of the 1950’s or the “video nasties” furore of the ‘80s. Lord’s Shaftesbury’s comments of 1878 on the malign influence of these early comics are particularly revealing. Speaking about the “dreadfuls” his concerns were that they were “…creeping not only into the houses of the poor, neglected and untaught but into the largest mansions; penetrating into religious families and astounding careful parents with its frightful issues”. Never has the class basis of censorship been so perfectly and elloquently laid bare.

The book is well written although the language tended to become a touch turgid and repetitive in parts, but not enough to become overly distracting. A nice art paper is used throughout and this highlights the many and beautiful illustrations to excellent effect. Overall this is a superbly put together package and a truly fascinating read.

War comics: a graphic history By Conroy, Mike

As long as comic books have existed, there have been comics about war. War Stories: A Graphic History is the first book to examine this genre of comics in depth, tracing the development of warfare—from Thermopylae to the Napoleonic Wars; the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars to World Wars I and II; and from the Korean and Vietnam Wars to modern day conflicts—through the eyes of some of comics' greatest creators. 

Through the filter of sequential art, this lush and exciting visual compilation explores the history of global conflict—from the Alamo to Pearl Harbor, from Dunkirk to Iraq and Afghanistan—and features exquisite art from around the world.

Looking at comics book from the world wars. The colours are vibrant. the typography is bold and in the face. it is intense. I have to say the comics are sending out positive messages as well as entertaining them.