Pratt BFA Communications Design Thesis

Helen Geiger Illustration

A Thing with Feathers

Character Design
Comics
Concept Art
Human-centered
Illustration
Print
Storyboards

This semester I have curated and illustrated a children’s literary magazine called ​A Thing with Feathers.​ The magazine incorporates literary and educational texts that are accessible to children ages 9-14, but also introduces them to a rich literary tradition and historical context of writing. The texts include “The Grey Hare” by Leo Tolstoy, “Words are Birds” by Francisco X. Alcaron, “Some Beasts” by Pablo Neruda, “Hope is a Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson, as well as other classic stories and poems. These writings are beautiful, thought provoking, and sourced from stories and writing for children around the world.

I have spent the semester reading and creating visual responses, which were later designed and typeset digitally. The illustrations are created with gouache, colored pencil, and collage, to engage and excite young readers. I love the idea of illustration being the hook that pulls kids in to a love of reading and writing. As a child, I remember being drawn in by the pictures in my books, only to get sucked into engaging stories. Capturing that process and connection between illustration and learning was the discovery that this project brought to me.

helengeiger.com

instagram.com/helen_geige.r