Curious Cats Children’s Book Notebook Project
What I Did.
I undertook a freelance design commission with the Singapore Book Council (SBC) in conjunction with the launch of Curious Cats, a co-translated children’s picture book produced through a cross-cultural publishing initiative between the Philippines and Singapore. Although I was not involved in the book’s authorship or illustration, I was tasked with conceptualising and designing a fundraising notebook that would visually align with the book’s central themes of imagination, curiosity, and gentle exploration. This project was strategically timed with the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) 2025, one of the region’s leading literary arts events, which provided the broader cultural and thematic context that guided my creative direction. The brief required the notebook to act not only as a merchandise item but also as a companion to the picture book—one that echoed its emotional tone and narrative world without directly replicating it.
Drawing inspiration from Curious Cats, which tells the story of two white cats descending from the clouds into a world full of wonder, I set out to capture a visual tone that felt whimsical, warm, and contemplative. I handled all aspects of design—including visual styling, thematic cohesion, and layout—using a combination of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Canva. Over a span of three weeks, I worked closely with the SBC team, iterating on multiple drafts based on asynchronous feedback communicated primarily via email and messaging platforms. Particular care was taken to ensure the final product was print-ready, with attention paid to details such as bleed margins, alignment, resolution quality, and overall formatting. The notebook was eventually approved and launched to the public as a fundraising item priced at SGD $30, with proceeds going toward SBC’s community-based literary programming. Seeing the final product used in a real-world context—and supporting a meaningful cause—was an immensely fulfilling outcome.
What I Learned.
This project reinforced my belief in the power of visual design as a storytelling medium—one that can extend and enrich the narrative experience beyond the written word. Designing the notebook required me to think narratively, not just aesthetically. Every visual choice—from colour palette to typography, to the pacing of illustrated elements across the pages—needed to serve the emotional world of Curious Cats. The challenge lay in producing a companion item that felt intentional and cohesive, enhancing the overall storytelling arc without overshadowing the original publication. This exercise pushed me to be more thoughtful and precise in aligning visual design with narrative tone and to treat each page not just as a static canvas but as part of a flowing, thematic experience.
Moreover, working on a print-focused deliverable helped me hone my technical proficiency and attention to detail. Unlike digital designs that are fluid and editable, print designs come with non-negotiable constraints. This meant checking layout integrity repeatedly, ensuring accurate resolution and colour, and adhering to exact formatting requirements. I also learned how to effectively collaborate with an established non-profit literary organisation like SBC—balancing my creative ideas with their existing brand guidelines and operational needs. The remote nature of our collaboration further enhanced my communication skills, especially in articulating design rationale clearly, responding to feedback professionally, and managing asynchronous workflows efficiently. Overall, the project challenged me to grow both as a designer and a problem-solver within a professional, purpose-driven setting.
Goals for Continued Learning.
Looking ahead, I hope to deepen my expertise in narrative-driven and print-based design, particularly in the context of arts, literature, and community engagement. I plan to further develop my skills in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign, with a focus on editorial design workflows and multi-page publications. These tools are crucial for producing polished and cohesive design collateral that meets professional standards in layout, accessibility, and storytelling. I’m especially drawn to opportunities that allow me to apply visual communication to support social causes, cultural exchange, and educational engagement—projects that move beyond aesthetics to generate meaningful impact.
In addition to improving my technical fluency, I aim to enhance my project management capabilities, particularly when collaborating remotely. This includes building more structured systems for revision tracking, file versioning, and internal documentation to streamline production and reduce miscommunication. I’m also interested in exploring the intersection of design and social engagement—understanding how visual storytelling can become a tool for advocacy, empathy, and community participation. This project with SBC reaffirmed my belief that design is not just about making things look beautiful, but about shaping how people feel, connect, and engage with the world. I hope to continue contributing to projects that challenge me to think holistically about design and its power to tell stories that matter.